At the start of the week my SME seminar had to be postponed. We couldnt understand why there was so little interest until we realised it was the end of Ramadam and if the moon could be seen on the Monday night then tuesday would be a holiday. as it happened Monday was cloudy so we had the holiday on Wednesday instead! Having some time to work from ther house during wednesday provided a great opportunity to catch up with all those little jobs and also relax a little. I spent some time sat on my balcony with a cup of tea just taking in the sounds and the sights. The picture above is the view from my balcony looking south. Thursday we went ahead with the workshop for the private school and had a good day and I look forward to meeting them again to see how things are going for them. Friday morning I received last minute confirmation of meetings with management from a bus and coach company so shot off to their offices to Interview the CEO and two of his management team. Will consider the information I have gained and look at putting a proposal to them for how we can assist in moving the business forward.
Saturday. I decided to go and take a wander around Blantyre's nearest conservation area, Michiru Mountain Conservation area. Michiru is only 8km northeast of the city but 6km of the road that takes you there is just dirt track which must be difficult to pass along in the rainy season. very soon out of Blantyre the track runs through villages with their ramshackle stalls and trading posts on either side and people, like everywhere else in Malawi, walking too and fro some laden with goods others just walking. people with their suitcases on their heads heading towards the bus station at Doogles probably some 7 km away.
I arrived at the office of the conservation area and was met by one of the wardens (above) and then set out for a walk. There are three clear trails and I had wanted to do the 3 hour one which went to the peak but I wasn't feeling too great this morning (dehydrated i think) so decided just to do the half hour one. Michiru faces pressure from population expansion and the need of locals to collect firewood but it still protects an area which inludes open grassland as well as indigenous woodland and plantation. It is also home to a number of naturally occuring species including serval, bushpig, vervet monkeys, baboon, spotted hyena and! which I thankfully found out after my lone walking expedition through the bush....leapard!
Having made my way along the track for a little over twenty minutes I found the way blocked by an area that had been burned so rather than backtracking I turned onto another track to take me back to the office. You wouldn't want to wander off the tracks here. i have a good sense of diretion but even 5 minutes out from the office it was difficult to get bearings and getting last here and in this heat could have serious consequences. Taking the alternative track took me on a slight climb which provided great views out across the conservation area although it was a little longer and I ended up walking for about one and a quarter hours which was plenty for the half litre of water i was carrying. The picture below left is me taking a water break along the trail.
Having got back to the office without getting lost, dying of dehydration or being eaten by a hungry leapard I went down to Blantyre market. An amazing huddle of shacks and stalls that you wander between along rocky uneven walkways, turning left and right into little passages which someimes lead into more maze like walkways and sometimes open out into larger sheds full of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and spices. I had come to find a small backpack for my trip to the lake next weekend and a ball for the kids next door as they had completely worn the last one out. bargaining done and purchases made I headed home and then down to TJ's for a bottle of Carlsberg green and some chicken wings for dinner.
Sunday. I was up and out by 9am and driving south out through Limbe and along the Thyolo (pronounced cholo) road for about 14km until I found the turn off for Game Haven. Two kilometres down the dirt road and I arrived at the main gate of this 900 hectare private game reserve. The reserve contains zebra, wildebeest,sable, antelope, giraffe and other creatures. I was escorted to the lodge where i was informed that the reserves truck had broken a half shaft but if I wanted to use my vehicle i could do. Off i set as driver on my own safari with my game warden as passenger. The picture is my warden leading me through the scrub to look at what I think was Sable? which you can see if you look hard (honestly!)
The drive around took about 45 minutes and i did get to see all the wildlife. some from the vehicle but also some from on foot.
Back at the lodge I sat under the veranda and had a cool beer. the day was starting to get very hot and being the dry season it was dusty. Driving around the dirt roads had kicked up a lot of dust and what wasn't in my clothes or my hair felt like it was down my throat and in my ears. saying goodbye to Game Haven I drove back to Blantyre and did a bit of shopping at shoprite before going for a nice cool plunge at the sports centre pool to get the dust off me and cool my body down.
Next week I am off to lilongwe on Tuesday for a two day workshop then on friday going over to Cape Maclear on the southern end of lake Malawi for a two night stay before making my way south the Mvuu camp in the Liwonde national park where i will stay another two nights before travelling back to Blantyre. I will not be online during my travels through thenational parks but hope to have some great wildlife and scenic pictures to blog on my return. Until then, take care
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