March 10, 2005

Hi Family!

Leah and I are in our last couple of days at Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa. We've been here for 4 weeks. We've had a terrific stay here. Leah has had a good dose of elephants. Unfortunately, she also go the flu (and got over it) and got tick bite fever (and is currently recovering after seeing the country doctor in Manguzi). Can you believe it?

We are on our way to Mozambique for some diving on Saturday. So we'll be diving on Leah's birthday on March 14th! We'll probably hang out there for about a week. We are thinking about getting our Advanced Open Water diving certification. And I'm hoping to see some Whale Sharks! We'll be out of cell phone communication while there, but I'll give you some Mozambique phone numbers below in case of emergency. Our rough itenerary follows:

* March 12 - Drive from Tembe Elephant Park to Catembe Gallery Hotel near Maputo with Ernest Robbertse (the owner of Tembe Elephant Park). He has a 4wd vehicle that can do the southern border crossing into Mozambique and up to Maputo. Phone numbers from USA at Catembe Gallery Hotel: 011 258 82 856437, 011 258 82 310999

* March 13 - Take public bus (Olivera Express) from Maputo to Inhambane. Take local transport (Chapas) from Inhambane to Tofo.

* March 14 to 21 - Stay at Barra Lodge in their bunkhouse accomodations. Phone numbers from USA: 011 258 23 20561, 011 258 82 320607. OR Stay at Turtle Cove. We have no phone number for Turtle Cove, but in an emergency, Diversity Scuba could probably reach us at Turtle Cove at 011 258 23 29002, 011 258 82 468531

* March 21 - From Tofu to Inhambane to Maputo via Chapas and Olivera Express.

* March 22 - From Maputo to Joburg via bus (Pantura Azul)

* After that? We can't decide. Tanzania? Malawi? Namibia? Madagascar? Maybe we can fit it all in...

Also, we've had a minor change in our return flight. We have built in a layover in London so we can see some of the friends we have met from the UK here in Africa. Crazy, isn't it? Are return flights are now as follows...

Joburg (depart 6/23) to London (arrive 6/24)

London (depart 6/28) to Los Angeles (arrive 6/28)

Let us know what's up at home!

Love you,
Cindy and Leah

Life is Beautiful!
Ubomi Bumandi (Xhosa)
Yinhle Impilo (Zulu)