Martin & Garth at David Livingstone memorial

23 Jul We get up and drive to Manda Hill Shopping Centre to meet Garth as we have to get our visas extended for another month. He also has to get his work permit reknewed. We have a lovely breakfast at Kilimanjaro Cafe and then head off to the immigration office located by the Intercontinental Hotel. We go straight over whilst Garth tries to find his man. We sign in and are told to wait at an empty desk for a lady to come. We finally have someone arrive after about 40 minutes only to be told that we were in the wrong office! We had explained to the first guy what we wanted, but be neglected to tell us that we couldn’t do it there and the lady that turned up at the desk was in fact a man!! Oh well Africa I guess. We have to wait around for half an hour or so while Garth gets sorted out and then drive down into the city centre which is where the office is. We manage to finally get a park and get to the building which houses immigration. We sign in and go up to the 2nd floor – no one appears to be at reception so we knock on a door down the hall and speak to a man there and tell him we hope we are in the correct office this time – he tells us we are, but we need to see the lady at the front desk. We tell him there was no one there and he says there will be just to go and wait. When we get back to the front desk there is a lady putting away her hair straighing tongs – I ask her if they work well and she pats her hair and says yes – you have to get your priorities right out here you know. Anyway we got the extension no problem and took all of about 2 minutes so all good. We then drop Garth off at his friends so that he can get the bus to Livingstone and then we go to Arcades the other shopping centre to buy some books and get some supplies on board. We happen to meet Polly who worked with Ian out at Bangweulu and decided to do lunch, Ian also joins us which is great to catch up with them both. We get back to Pioneer Camp too late to take the trailer down the road to be welded so we just have an early dinner and off to bed.

Okay slowly but surely I am getting pictures on and getting more up to date for you all. Pole pole as they say in East Africa!! By the way I have managed to get rid of my cold and alot quicker than the last one which is great news, but I have managed to get atheletes foot and I am sure it is from walking around the swamps looking for shoebills! I have finally got some powder spray which will work quickly as it is really icthy and quite sore as well - sorry enough of my manky feet now and hopefully the summer in UK has been a really good one for you all?? I am actually hoping for a white christmas as I have never had one and also because Wizzy loves to shovel the snow around with her nose - all good fun. Will try to get this all finished tomorrow.

Julie, David & Helly have a lovely holiday and hope the weather is nice. How was the sleep in the treehouse?

Well take care and love and hugs to all xxxx