Senga Bay, Malawi

malawi/malawai_locals_baskets

Locals on the road to Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15, 1998


malawi/senga_bay_brian
Photo by Todd Monge

Enjoying Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15, 1998


malawi/senga_bay_campsite
Photo by Todd Monge

Camping at Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15, 1998

It was mango season when we were in Malawi. People were lining the roads selling tons and tons of beautifully ripe and tasty mangos. The going muzungu rate was around 90¢ for a bag of about 35 mangos. Not a bad price. It was at Senga Bay though, that my 8-mango a day habit began to bore me. I don’t think I could have eaten another. About this time a gang of mango-selling youth approached me at this camp pictured above. They had a ginormous bag of mangos and asked me to buy them. Thrilled about the rock-bottom prices, I began to negotiate for the muzungu price of about 35 kwatcha for the bag. In the middle of the negotiations, I realized these mangos would go to waste if I bought them. There were too many; I opted out. The kids became upset. One of them, in a moment of coercive ingenuity said, “If you don’t buy our mangoes, we’ll break your windshield tonight!” He pointed to Breakfast. And there you have it; the story of how a one dollar investment in a bag of mangos saved Breakfast’s windy.


malawi/senga_bay_brian_swimming
Photo by Todd Monge

I can’t believe this is a lake, Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15 1998

Lake Malawi is massive—so massive that you can seldom see the other side.

malawi/senga_bay_nicole_aren_brunch
Photo by Todd Monge

Indecisive brunch, Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15, 1998


malawi/senga_bay_roland_brunch_3
Photo by Todd Monge

Roland, Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15, 1998


malawi/senga_bay_whitey
Photo by Todd Monge

Anyone for a swim, Lake Malawi, Senga Bay, Malawi — November 15 1998

local_airport

Countries visited - Africa 1998 - 1999

Africa route map

Our scehdule

I am not sure how it all got started. It wasn’t a magical spark of lightning that began the cataclysm, nor was it the supreme words of a higher being sending us on our way. Somehow, though, the powers of the universe contrived enabling our journey through the Heart of Africa.

It began quite innocently as an alleged trip to Bulgaria and Romania. This idea was eventually vetoed and placed “on hold” for future girlfriends. Zap—a long awaited spark was kindled—The Middle East: Yemen, in particular. And the visas were applied for, the air tickets purchased; and on a fine March 4th day we were on our way aboard a gleaming Air France 747 en route to Cairo, Egypt, via a five day layover in France.

We never did make it to Yemen, nor the Middle East for that matter; we headed South, instead, into the Heart of Africa, and what follows is the story of events as they unfold.

Egypt Ethiopia Eritrea Botswana Tanzania Madagascar Namibia Zambia Kenya Zimbabwe South Africa Uganda Malawi Mozambique