In just 25 days we will be back on British soil. Home is calling now and we are all excited about the prospect of reuniting with friends and family. We will have a busy programme when we get home though, and, of course, we still have two and a half weeks of hard work ahead of us at Project Gateway, Pietermaritzberg.

Our journey from Tanzania, from where the last article was written, was an eventful one. Due to extreme lack of funds we were forced to spend the bare minimum. At night we would pull off the road and find a secluded spot on which to camp without cost. We would cook pasta and vegetables, which, although bland, were satisfying and nutritious. We came across huge amounts of game whilst driving and so, unaccustomed to the wilds of the African bush, we slept in fear of being munched by hungry lion or trampled by clumsy elephant! We all found Tanzania to be an incredibly beautiful country and one of dramatic physical and cultural diversity.

Driving about Lake Malawi

Yellow perils with the snow capped Kilimajaro in the background

We crossed Tanzania in just three days and entered Malawi by way of the border post near Mbeya. With no Malawian Kwacha and unsure of where we could find a bank willing to accept our visa card, we set off with fingers crossed. We made it as far as Nkhata Bay on the shores of Malawi's wonderful lake and found a suitable spot to camp. We planned to go to the bank in the nearby town of Mzuzu the following day. It seems that we must have eaten some bad food or drunk some dirty water. Three out of our five spent the next day groaning in discomfort. On the way back from my solo mission to Mzuzu I had to stop due to sickness. When I finally arrived back the others were busy organising a search and rescue mission. We were reminded of the stupidity of going off alone. Lake Malawi, with its white sand, palm trees and seemingly endless clear waters is comparable to the Caribbean. It provided us with the perfect location to rest, wash our clothes and ourselves. In just four days we had travelled from Nairobi to Central Malawi!

Tofu beach

Tofu beach and team

Rory with fish supper

A day later we set off again, this time our destination was Mozambique. For the past two years February has brought appalling floods to this part of the world. As we headed south the heavens opened and the rains came thick and fast. There was news of bridges being washed away in the North of the country and we began to consider alternative routes. Zimbabwe was out of the question. With all our communications equipment we are easily mistaken for journalists and, during the present political climate, we would have been under threat. The Zambia and Botswana route to South Africa was the other alternative. In the end, however, it seemed that southern Mozambique was experiencing fine weather and so we crossed the Zambezi, drove through the Tete corridor and headed straight for the coast at Tofu beach near Inhambane. Here we began a period of relaxation before the final project and the last leg to Cape Town. We spent our days walking on the baking beach and swimming in the impressive surf. We ate Barracuda, Snapper and Cray fish bought from local fisherman and spent the evenings swinging in hammocks.

Team with Sue Bennett at Simbambili game lodge Sabie Sands Game Park

After five superb days we set off for Ressano Garcia, the border post that would allow us to enter South Africa. We were excited about a stay in a luxury game lodge, which had been donated to us and arranged by Helen's mother, Sue Bennett.

On the way we stopped at Nelspruit to buy provisions. It began to rain and so we sought shelter at the rear of one of the Land Rovers and began to make sandwiches on the back shelf. Whilst doing this someone opened the front door, grabbed the attaché case, containing all our passports and vehicle documents, and ran off. We chased the suspect, a man running away with an attaché like object in his hand. We followed him to his home but had no proof and the police were unable to search his premises. It will cost about £250.00 to replace these documents, an expense that is highly unwelcome. We have received some funds from generous individuals though and so, with care, should have enough to see us to Cape Town. Any extra support will be a huge help!

Safari drives at Sabie Sands Game Park

The powerful Rhino at Sabie Sands

Returning from the cool waters of the lake

Wild life of Sabie Sands

Our time at the Simbambili game lodge in the private Sabie Sands game park was unforgettable. The food and accommodation were luxurious and the safari drives were superb. We were lucky enough to see 'the big five' i.e. Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and Leopard within the first twenty-four hours. Feeling totally refreshed and ready for some hard work at Project Gateway, we set off for Pietermaritzberg via Johannesburg.

Massai warrior

Mark looking very small within the outline of this enormous tree

We were met at Project Gateway with clapping, food and drink and were each presented with a teddy bear by some of the younger children. Project Gateway is housed in Pietermaritzberg's old prison. We were told that, rather than staying in old cells, as was to be the case, we were to stay with the Vandermaaks, a local Afrikaans family. That night they put on a spit braai, or spit roast, and have made us feel incredibly welcome ever since. Project Gateway is a superb organisation that aims to help the needy. It achieves this through a network of Christian Churches. They offer a Pregnancy Crisis Centre, AIDS counselling, a home for orphaned babies with HIV, a Christian school and a night shelter for the homeless. These projects are funded by charitable donations as well as profit making enterprises run on site such as fabric painting and the wonderful Jailbreak café and gift shop. They also aim to equip the needy with the skills required to start and run a successful business. As well as teaching skills such as carpentry, metal work and sewing, they teach necessary business strategies such as marketing and accounting.

Starting work at Project Gateway

Mark in old prison at Project Gateway

Teaching sewing at Project Gateway

Our work here will focus on Deduza House babies home. It's a very sad project to be involved in as every child has HIV and is not expected to live for long. It is a wonderful place though, and children are given the love and attention they need by surrogate 'mother' figures. We spend our time caring for the children and re decorating the rather dilapidated building. As with the other projects, our main aim is to get to know the project, the staff, how it is run and how we can best provide long-term support once we return home. Helen continues to gather superb footage for the documentary and we, as a team, are in high spirits.

Jonathan Besley - Project Leader

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