1, 2, 3, Lift Off!

The last few weeks seem to have flown by!

On Thursday I had to go to London to pick up my visa, on the train I was really worried that it won’t be there or that I would require something extra that I didn't have, I arrived in London nice and early ready to collect visa, after a few hours killing time in costa, yummy, I queued up at 10:30, When it was my turn the guy behind the counter seemed to take an age to find my application, eventually after a minute of my heart leaping into my mouth he brought it out and put the all-important stamp onto my passport and I could relax!,

Finally! My Visa!

The next day was spent buying the last remaining things and having a nice pub meal out with my mum to say goodbye, After we got home it was packing time, with everything packed eventually (after quite a bit of a struggle trying to get it under 23kg) I got to bed,

All Packed and ready to go!

Departure day was really spent moping around waiting till I was due to leave at 5… and after a very, happily uneventful drive I arrived at Heathrow with plenty of time before the flight, and after checking in and final goodbye’s to my dad I was on my own, wow! This is really happening,

Departure Board

After take-off in the cramped airplane seats and 3 hours into the 11 hour flight, I decided I should probably get at least some sleep, though it is rather hard to sleep on the plane, not just because it is uncomfy but it doesn't help that the air con goes between Sahara and Antarctic settings without any in-between, Time seemed to have a different dimension within the confides of the plane, as every time I checked it seemed that the clocks had all stopped!

Eventually light started creeping into the cabin, and with the sun rise came my first glimpse of Africa the golden red glows of the rising sun on the horizon was absolutely stunning, to be precise we were flying over the Democratic Republic Of Congo at the time, Finally the captain came on over the PA saying that there is 30 minutes until landing, I think at the same moment I heard a collective sigh of everyone on the plane, Finally.

My room in Jo'burg for the night

I then got through security and bag pick up without any hassle and waited to be picked up and taken to Shoestrings Airport Lodge, which incidentally is where I am writing this post from, I am really looking forward to my trip up to Lajuma tomorrow, apart from the 5:30 start! Anyways I am off to get some sleep now as I am absolutely exhausted J