Bored with life in Sydney about 18 months ago, I watched 'The Long Way Down', a documentary-style series about Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman's journey on motorbikes from Scotland to South Africa, and was awe of such an adventure.
At the time I had begun freelance writing for Medecins Sans Frontieres, interviewing health professionals who had worked in war zones, disaster areas and places the rest the world has forgotten. I have always felt drawn to the aid and development sector, and after gaining a masters degree in International Studies and enough media experience to feel confident to go it alone, inspired by other people's stories, I decided the next step would be to see it for myself.
Convinced that Africa would be the best place to find a multitude of stories and photographs depicting hope and struggle, as well as unique scenery and wildlife, I found a tour that spanned most of the continent over a decent period of 5-months. A tour would be the safest and easiest way for an amateur freelancer to travel through countries where freedom of information – in fact, most forms of freedom – simply doesn’t exist.
This particular tour will take a group of 15 intrepid travellers through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland, before ending in South Africa.
There is currently a bet among close friends and family for how long I’ll last on this mostly-camping adventure. However, I've been tasked with taking some certain photographs for a friend, including one of a tiger with a mane, so until I find one (unlikely, given the minor genetic and geographical specifics) or we reach our final destination of Cape Town – whichever happens first – you'll be able to keep following this odyssey. Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment