We have completed our journey from Kent to Cape Town. We arrived in Cape Town on 19th March, spent a week celebrating our achievement, flew home to Britain and now, three weeks later, are just starting to contemplate and rationalise our experiences. It is a very different world here in England from the one we have been subject to for the past eight months and it seems rather as if we have woken from a vivid dream. With familiar friends and surroundings it is easy to brush aside the last eight months as if they had been a dream and start to get on with 'real life'. Our journey into the third world was a gradual one. We had time to acclimatise to the relative familiarity of Europe before venturing slowly into the Middle East and then pushing tentatively into the Sudan and Ethiopia. The return leg, in comparison, took the form of ten hours upon a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747. It was a rude and brutal awakening and our worlds literally changed overnight. Reverse culture shock is a dramatic and confusing experience.

When I last wrote for LRM we were working with HIV orphans at Deduza Home, a scheme run by Project Gateway in Pietermaritzberg, South Africa. We continued to care for the young children as well as devoting a lot of time to redecorating their shabby premises. As well as giving the whole building a much-needed lick of paint we painted murals of African animals on the walls in an attempt to brighten the place up. The building was formerly the local gaol, housing such prisoners as King Dinuzulu, king of the Zulus, and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the famous non-violent campaigner for justice in South Africa and India. It is ironic that the building, once a place of despair where people were executed daily is now a place of caring and compassion.

Local child with toy

Before our time at the third project was up Charlie and I both suffered from the dreaded malaria. We both started to complain of flu like symptoms and, as they got rapidly worse, we decided to go to the local clinic for blood tests, 'Just in case. You never know.' Later that evening it was confirmed that we both had malaria; we were prescribed a week's intensive course of quinine and settled back for what was to be a rough ride. Malaria itself causes you to alternate roughly every seven hours between fever and sweating to feeling cold, shivering and aching all over. The medication, however, gives you an intense headache, makes you nearly deaf, gives you diarrhoea and makes you feel sick. Quinine is a powerful drug but an effective cure for an illness, which if not dealt with early, will kill you. After a little over a week we were both back at work and, although feeling fragile, were able to contribute to the team's efforts. We left Project Gateway feeling impressed by how it is run and with huge admiration for those who run it.

Jon and Charlie back at work

Two little boys

Birthday boy with birthday girl

Our first days driving took us to Margate, on the coast south of Durban. We stayed with friends for a night before pushing on all the way to Grahamstown, one of the longest days driving of the entire trip. After about twelve hours we arrived in time for Helen to give a talk to the film students at Rhodes University. The next day we rose early and set off for Knysna, a beautiful town by the sea where Helen's family own an incredible holiday home. We were, however, due to break the journey in order for me to do the famous bungy jump at Bloemfontein. At 216 metres it is the highest jump in the world. I was terrified but managed to launch myself from the bridge and was delighted to have done it. A few days of celebrating in Knysna and relaxing on its gorgeous beaches and it really was time for the last leg.

Vehicles under shade of trees

Jud and Charlie through window

Charlie with guitar

On Tuesday March 19th we set off for Cape Town. We prayed that the vehicles would hold up and drove through the breathtaking scenery along 'The Garden Route' and later the Little Karroo. It was when we reached the summit of a large hill and caught our first glimpse of table mountain that we realised we had made it to Cape Town. The flat-topped mountain looked awesome with the sun setting behind it and Cape Town sprawled majestically in its shadow beneath. It was a wonderful moment and one which we had been trying to imagine since the project was conceived in July 2000. For me it was the moment when I knew that Kent2CapeTown.com was a success. The idea I had had twenty-one months previously, which had been laughed at by so many, had finally become reality. We arrived in the city and drove around the headland. It was like doing a victory lap as we passed the waterfront and noticed people's heads turn to follow us. 'Kent2CapeTown' is written clearly on the sides of the vehicles and those who knew where Kent is smiled and waved as they realised what we had just done.

Scenery during last leg to Cape Town

Celebrating our arrival in Cape Town

Cape Town is a beautiful city with a superb climate and a laid back atmosphere. We were made to feel extremely welcome by Bytes Technology, one of our sponsors. They are based in South Africa but have a branch in the UK and have taken enormous interest in our project throughout. We met them outside the Ferryman pub at the city's famous Waterfront. The press attended and we had an enjoyable afternoon relaying some of our experiences and discussing ways in which we intend to support our chosen children's projects in the future. They kindly arranged for us to spend the following afternoon in their corporate box watching Cape Town's rugby team, The Stormers, playing Australia's Brumbies. The rest of our time in Cape Town was spent meeting the Mayor, speaking to radio stations, visiting a wine farm and attending a concert given by Cape Town's philharmonic orchestra. During our last couple of days in Africa we experienced a mixture of emotions. We were desperately excited about the prospect of returning home to friends and family and yet we all new that life would be very much tamer and more ordinary. The reality of returning home is only just beginning to dawn on us. It is possible now to see life in England from a new perspective. We realise now just how much people here do take for granted and, at the same time, realise how much they are denied.

Project Kent2CapeTown.com is far from over. The expedition has been completed but we still have much to do. We are due to seek further corporate sponsorship and donations from individuals, we are in the process of editing a documentary about the trip, selling articles to magazines and giving talks and showing slides to schools and clubs. In addition to this we are awaiting the arrival of our vehicles (which are currently being shipped home) and plan to sell these privately. All funds raised will go to either Demelza House or to one of the three Children's projects in Africa. Do please lend your support. We would be delighted if you would either contribute financially to our cause or lend your time. If you would like to offer your support or to find out more about our future plans then please email me on info@kent2capetown.com

Jonathan Besley - Project Leader

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