It is the final countdown!! In less than 24 hours I will be off in an airplane flying to the other side of the world. I couldn’t be more excited because this time I am heading back to South Africa and then Mozambique and Swaziland (which is now called Eswatini). For this trip I am lucky to have my partner in crime join me…you know the other half of ‘Dumb & Dumber’. Kris has never been to Africa so I am so excited to be with her when she experiences the incredible things like a safari for the first time.

Our first stop will be in Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth is a coastal town at the southern part of the country. We will be there for 2 weeks volunteering at Missionvale Care Centre. Missionvale is a non-profit organization that operates in the extremely poor township of Missionvale. It is a centre that provides care for the poor with emphasis on those living with HIV/AIDS. I am not exactly sure what either of us will be doing during our placements as they have told us that they will decide upon arrival what they need most. The community centre offers a variety of services which include a primary school, child support and development, adult skills development, community gardens, a crafter’s unit, a medical unit, a nutrition & wellness unit and a distribution warehouse. I am really looking forward to this part of our trip. I am excited to see what I will be doing and hope that I can make a positive impact in some small way.

While in Port Elizabeth, we will be staying in a volunteer home where there will be others who are doing the same thing. From what I know, it is pretty close to the beach (however we will obviously be working during the day). I have to admit that I am hesitant to swim off the coast of South Africa anyway as I know there are plenty of sharks. Apparently there is a pool at the volunteer house, so that will be a bonus.

Once we are finished with our 2 week volunteer stint, we will be flying back up to Johannesburg to meet up with a G Adventures Tour group. Not only am I super pumped about where we will be going, but my friend Lucy (aka Sally) will also be joining up with us. Kris and I met Sally last year on our Brazil trip. If you can recall, Sally (we like to call her Lucy) is from the UK and met me in Greece this past September. She is absolutely hysterical and will round out the Dumb & Dumber duo quite nicely. Instead of Dumb & Dumber, it will be Dumb, Dumber & Dumbest do Africa. Who is Dumbest you ask? Well, I am sure that our roles of who is dumbest will change on a daily basis.

The G Adventure tour travels through South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland. There will be some camping involved (lord help me), as well as some rustic lodges. The itinerary is quite spectacular so I can’t wait to share my adventures with you all.

Our journey there is going to be a long one as we go from Edmonton to Calgary. Then to Amsterdam and on to Johannesburg. We arrive late at night and don’t leave for Port Elizabeth until the next morning so we have booked a hotel for those few hours. I am unsure how good our internet connection will be once we are there. From past experiences I can expect it to be pretty spotty with electricity cuts being a common occurrence. Needless to say, I will write as I go and send off my emails when I reach areas with WiFi. Everyone keeps telling me to promise them to not injure myself. I can’t make any promises but I will try my very best! The problem with me is that I usually sustain my injuries during the most mundane activities like walking to the breakfast table. I am going to be as cautious as I possibly can – that I can promise.

Anyway, I look forward to sharing my adventures with all of you. Thanks so much for all your love, support and interest in my travels. It means the WORLD to me!

See you on the FLIP side!