Now that I am based in South Africa for a while I have time to reflect on the past 5 months that I have been travelling. A lot of countries, a lot of wonderful experiences and a lot of new friends. The creamy soft sandy beaches shaded by coconut palms and cooled by the sea breeze were true paradise and a perfect place to relax between the busy truck trips which transported me across Africa. Stone Town was able to teleport me back to the middle ages when spice and slave traders walked the narrow alleyways which are now occupied by mopeds and stray cats. At night the port comes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the craft and food stalls.
Squid tentacles are on offer along with meat kebabs and chapatis.
On the next stall are beautifully carved sculptures of wood, gemstone jewellery and cloth batiks. Gorilla trekking is an apt title when it comes to searching out our ancient ancestors. After three and a half hours of scrambling through mountainous jungle with strangling vegetation and persistent insects we stumbled, literally, into these fascinating creatures. The Silverback of the group, a large 'King Kong' male, charged us. Nairobi is hell on earth.