Hakuna Matata

They actually say that in Eastern Africa. It's Swahili (for Disney fans, Rafiki means friend and Simba means lion!). I'm writing this a few metres from the white sands and crystal clear water of the beach in Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania. If that hasn't made you jealous yet, I've just finished three days of safari, where I saw (among other things): zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, jackals, hyenas, leopards (one was licking its paws, having just been chased off a kill by two lions), elephants, cheetas, lions (including cubs). The highlight was seeing a male ostrich doing a crazy flapping mating ritual dance before mating (had us in hysterics!).

Also saw a Masai tribal village which was interesting but also a bit depressing - we paid to get in and it was like a zoo. They had a "school' at the back which even looked like a cage, and the kids were doing nothing until tourists went past when they would start reciting 1 to 40 in English. Don't think they even understood the words, but there was a money box for 'donations'.

Been taking lots of pictures with my old school SLR, but can't get them developed. Everything is manual and there's lots to remember, so I think I keep messing up - I think I'll have missed out on lots of pictures. Got some with my digital though, which I've uploaded the best of - click on the link on the right of this page.

There's so much to tell, this is just a snapshot. Hope you're all having good summers - email me or leave comments here. But the beach is calling so that's all from me for now.