I asked our walking safari guide how to be safe around the, "Big Five" (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) but instead of giving me safety, he misunderstood and explained how each would kill a person. This did not make me feel safe! Oddly, hippos are not included in the, "Big Five," but they are actually the most dangerous animal in Africa. The Cape buffalo is a close second.
Biking! I have been indoors in my living room biking for the last six months getting ready for this trip. Being on the open roads in Africa is amazing, but also really scary. In Zambia, Botswana and Namibia they drive on the left side of the road, instead of the right side of the road like in America. When I am out on the road I always have to remind myself of the new rules. Hopefully this will become easier! There are also roundabouts and huge trucks! Because my bike was lost somewhere in transit (England, I think?) I only have one day to practice before we leave tomorrow. Some practice is better than none and I am happy to have my bike.
I get to meet the new friends I will bike over 1,000 miles with this week. It is exciting and, of course, a little scary. I hope I like them, because we will be camping and challenging ourselves together for two weeks! The riders are mostly from the US and from England. About two thirds of them started earlier than me. They started back in March in Nairobi, Kenya. The last third, including my new friend Roz and I, are joining in now in Zambia. I hope we can keep up!
