November 23 - Hike in Udzungwa National Park

 Today we had breakfast at 7, fresh fruit and french toast for me and the same fruit and pancakes for Pete.  We left camp around 8 and first went to the Idzungwa Visitor Centre.  As always, there are forms to fill out and many people in military-like uniforms.  We then toured the visitor centre and loaded up again to drive to the starting point for our hike.  We are hiking up the to the highest waterfalls in the park.  There is the option to stop at 2 different pools to swim.  Three guides accompanied us and they road to the starting point all together on 1 motorcycle.  John needed his own guide because of his injury.  He didn't want to slow us down and he could make his way at his own pace.  

Half the group stayed at the lowest swimming pool and half the group carried on to the top.  The top group was Fred and Linda, Ken, Gary and Rose and Pete and I.  It was a difficult climb because of the extreme heat and once in  a while we questioned whether we should have done it.  It was 2 1/2 km, hot and humid but we were rewarded with an amazing swim in cool water with a 170 metre water fall!  We ate our packed lunches there and then hike back down and returned to camp.  We showered upon our return because we were so hot and dusty again and then went to the bar for drinks.  We had a great game of 'Bug your Neighbour' while the pool was drained, cleaned and refilled.  In sympathy for the camp staff and all the work they did, Pete and I, Cornlius and Lizette, Johannes and John all went swimming in the most disgusting water, but it was cool.  That required another shower and rinse of our bathingsuits before supper.

Cornelius gave a great speech before dinner about his big ideas to safari and how Lizette looks after the details and then he talked about each couple and what they added to the trip.  Another great dinner followed and an early night.  Our last night on safari.  We are leaving at 5:30 a.m. for Dar es Salaam.








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