I eventuallly got to sleep last night but was awake by 0630hrs and just couldn't sleep anymore after that. Then I discovered that the toilets didn't flush very well and while wanting a hot shower ended with a cold one because the power went off just as I was testing the water. Come to think of it there probably wasn't any hot water in any case. Maybe we were conned again and this time by the Tanzanians.

After breakfast and with the bills settled, USD10 for camping and 10 for the food, we decided to head for the base camp of Mt. Kilimanjaro. No we didn't have any intention of climbing it, not after the Visubio afffair, where it took me double the time others take to walk up the mountain.

Finding the base camp was surprisingly easy as it was well sign posted, and as usual when we got there all sorts of peddlers were around the car. We just ignored them! When I was ready to leave the car a gentleman who turned out to be the MD of the company renting out climbing gear approached me and on finding out that I was not going to climb, directed me to the shop. I learnt that it would take a normal person 20 hours to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, wthout stopping that is, while

Alison managed to get a discount buying T shirts. Before leaving we exchanged tie pins with Gabriel and promised him that I would add his company to link to our website.

We headed for Soni where there was supposed to be a good campsite, Meini farm. The road, although narrow, was reasonably good all the way to Soni until the turn off to Meini farm. Then we went off roading and got cheesed off when we were told by the owner that they don't do camping anymore as they lack the facilities for campers. They didn't have any rooms either except for domitories.

Fortunately we had an alternative site to head for, Inthern View Lodge and Camping, in Lisotho. That meant another 20 kms drive up the mountain. Then we had another 6 kms off road before we finally got to the campsite. Basic was not the word for it but there was a beutiful view of the valleys below. They claimed to have a toilet but there was no flush and when asked if there was a shower, the co-owner mumbled something about it being behind the main building which was partly supported by a twenty foot container. We didn't pursue the matter!

We had a good dinner of beef satay and potatoes and decided to go to bed early for a really early start tomorrow and hopefully I won't need the toilets in the middle of the night!