I was still a bit shaken after the lion incident the night before so was feeling I didn't really want to be going to a new place. Dave was very understanding and said that I didn't have to go if I didn't want to, obviously that had the affect of getting my arse in gear as I wasn't too keen on the idea of me staying in the tent here on my own. He said I wouldn't be able to get shampoo in though as we didn't have enough space plus the generator wasn't working over at Lusinge so they'd be no running water, so it would be washing in a bucket. I decided to have a quick shower before we left and whilst washing my hair I gave myself a stern talking to. I told myself to buck up my ideas and at least try not to be such a wuss. I got out the shower and plaited my hair like a proper little campaigner and by this time I was feeling a bit better about our little trip to Lusinge.
This didn't last long and about a hundred yards down the road I was really regretting agreeing to come along. I just wasn't comfortable on my perch on the side of the tractor, I kept feeling like I was going to fall off as my feet couldn't reach the floor to help balance me. Dave asked Sabiti (the tractor driver) to stop while we re adjust my seating. Instead of sitting beside Sabiti I was now behind him and facing backwards. I was in a firmer position but I really did not want to fall off from here as I would have gone straight under the cutter.
So hanging on for dear life we were off again. I couldn't look to my left as I was scared I was going to head butt the metal frame I was hanging onto. I started thinking I do hope my travel insurance covers me if I lose a tooth.
The comfort aside I did start to enjoy my game drive on a tractor. However the roads were tough going and a couple of times were non existent as the water which had come down from the mountains was like a river running through. The first one we came to like this, Dave waded across to see how deep it was and it came just above his shorts.
They decided the tractor would make it so Sabiti raised the cutter and Jose (the scout who'd been riding on the cutter) stood up behind him and they crossed. I'd decided not to go across with the tractor but seeing it cross so easily I was doubting my decision. Dave had volunteered to give me a piggy back across. I managed to stay quite dry except a small patch on my bottom. It was quite hard going for Dave though as he had to hoist me up really high and the water was flowing very fast. Safely on the other side we resumed our journey.
The distance between the camps is about 25km and it took us about an hour and three quarters. Despite being on a tractor we did manage to see a fair bit of game. We saw an ellie quite close to Lugenda and then a family of Water Buck, of which the male was stunning and even David said he would be a great trophy, which means a lot as these hunters are very fussy. We saw a few Impala, some Kudu cows and a Saddle billed Stork, which was very cool. We saw a few troops of baboons, which are much more yellow than the ones in Natal and if you're wondering why I don't have pictures of any of these it was because I didn't dare take my hands off the tractor frame for the fear of falling out. We then saw the biggest elephant I've ever seen and even Dave confessed later it was the largest he's ever seen. Dave ran off after the elephant with my camera and his rifle (only for protection) shouting for me to stay where I was. He got quite close to the bull but he wasn't too happy about Dave being there, which he showed by flapping his ears a bit. He then just strode off.
David reckons the tusks were about 80lbs each.
Just before Lusinge we came across another river, which isn't usually there and Dave wades across to check its depth. This time they decide the current is too strong for the tractor to attempt to cross and we will have to get a canoe across. We park up the tractor and unload and just when I ask where are we going to get a canoe from, one appears. The staff at the camp had heard the tractor and come to help us across. Dave introduced me to the two guys. The first, Januario who is the major-domo at Lusinge and was wearing the most ridiculous tiger print cowboy hat, where he'd got that from I'd no idea; he was a very friendly, happy man. The other guy who was to pole us across the river was called Sufu. We just smiled at each other after the introductions as neither of us spoke the other's language. Once across the river we had about a 15min walk back to the camp and I was so pleased I'd borrowed Carrie's wellies as I felt much more confident walking through the bush in those.
Finally we got to the camp and I was so grateful for that cup of tea. The journey had been worth the effort as the camp although more rustic than Lugenda was beautiful and so peaceful. The staff brought round a bucket of water from the river to our tent for us to wash from. I was so pleased to be able to wash off the mud I'd collected from our trip that I didn't mind the bucket.
We brought over some beans and meallie meal for the staff and a selection of tins for ourselves. For supper we had noodles with baked beans and tinned cocktail sausages. An interesting combination but I was so hungry I didn't care.
There were a few strange insects in our tent, which Dave identified as Whip Scorpions, they looked like a cross between a scorpion and a beetle. Safely snuggled up under our mosquito net we were both wondering why we weren't that tired. Dave looked at his watch and realised it was only 6.55pm!! That was probably why...
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