Maggie Maps
  • Travel Blog
    • Feedback
  • Map Tools
  • Projects
  • Maggie's Map

Convoys, Diesel, and Sense of Direction...

10/6/2013

0 Comments

 
PictureGorgongosa Campsite
Dawn came early after our night out in Vilankulos... but it was well worth it check out some local music. Leaving the cool ocean breeze was tough, but there was much to see and Malawi was calling. It was a long drive to Gorongosa National Park, and due to the political unrest we had to catch up to a military convoy by 9am. We were running late.... but we made the checkpoint around 9:30 – late but were waved through behind a tank. Nerve wracking, but just 1Km into this convoy, we are waved around – then dodge a few large trucks, and that's it. No more military all the way to Gorongosa – no worries! Gorongosa is a lovely and clean campsite with a cute camp dog. :)

Next morning – off to Malawi! Crossing the border was a breeze – only after waiting on a "ferry" to be fixed (aka metal barge on wires...) - but it was a fun checkpoint with many children again wanting to sing and dance :)  It's pitch dark and 18 hours later we are nearly to Blantyre and the Landie comes to a puttering halt. We are out of gas. Two “24 hour filling stations” happened to be closed. Luckily we were at a police checkpoint, and they happened to arrest someone selling diesel illegally a few days back that lived nearby. So we send the South African to track him down... 2 hours later – by midnight – he trudges back with a can full of diesel. A trooper! We arrive in Blantyre by 1am, and hit the sack – real bed #2! Zomba Plateau is our first stop after stocking up in the big city. We arrive late again, and must wander through the mountain in the dark searching for the Trout Camp. Wrong road #1, wrong road #2... back up, turn around, don't fall off the cliff.... and then finally we see a sign and a man appears out of nowhere to point the way. It was a bit creepy at night, but we awake to a jungle paradise. A forest hike revealed lots of deforestation in the surrounding area – depressing but it was nice to see there was a small piece of jungle remaining, and you could drink straight from the cool stream. Delicious. But there is more to see, so off we go! Next stop? Liwonde National Park for more wildlife!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    ABOUT

    Combining a passion for travel, the desire to make a difference & a love of maps, MaggieMaps was born.
    ​A place to share stories, resources, and a way to inspire others to realize their travel dreams. 

    PRESS

    Women & GIS, Vol 3: Champions of a Sustainable World 
    Sustain Podcast: What is OpenStreetMap US?
    GeoHipster Interview:​ 'What else can we do but keep going?'
    Jamaica: Nationwide News Network Interview  'Open Data Mapping'
    WYPR: Interview on 'Baltimore's Future' with David Warnock
    Baltimore Social Innovation Journal - Winter 2015
    OpenStreetMap US: "Say Hello to Our Argentina Scholars" ​
    All the Pieces Matter: "Mapping Baltimore's Hidden Wealth – People, Places, Creativity, and Nature"
    FORBES: The Female Solo Traveler: When 'Don't Go' Isn't The Solution
    View my profile on LinkedIn
    Unless otherwise noted, all prose, poetry, maps and photography posted on this blog are Copyright 2013 Maggie Maps

    Archives

    March 2020
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    Conference
    Europe
    FOSS4G
    Packing
    STEM Education
    Travel
    USA

    Blogs I like

    Thematic Mapping
    HackGeo

    RSS Feed

We Would Love to Support Your Next Adventure!


Email

info@boomgeo.com
All rights reserved. Photos and content property of Boomerang Geospatial, LLC.
  • Travel Blog
    • Feedback
  • Map Tools
  • Projects
  • Maggie's Map