Our adventures are coming to an end. Today's boat trip to Changuu Island will be our last chance for exploring the sights before we head south for some r'n'r away from all distractions.

The name Zanzibar has always conjured images of an exotic Indian Ocean idyll. Also known as the Spice Island, the romantic dream of tropical imagination is tempered, however, by the reality of life on the island, both past and present.
 

It's our final safari today, before we head on to the exotic beaches of Zanzibar, and ahead of us lies a journey into the birthplace of humankind. When we arrive at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area we find it houses a small exhibition detailing how the oldest known fossils of our distant ancestors, some five million years ago, came from this area.

Having slept the sleep of the dead last night we awake early, refreshed and recovered, with a bit of time to kill before our departure. Sitting on our little verandah watching the wildlife drinking at the watering holes is so peaceful. On the lake the fabulous pink glitter of the vast flamingo population reflecting in the water is a truly magical spectacle.
 

One of the joys of camping - albeit in the rather upmarket way we are here - is the sense of being at one with nature. The exotic birdsong that wakes you up, the rain drumming on the roof of the tent and the sight (I think) of two lions slinking by at 6am.
 

Africa is full of surprises but it should be no great surprise when things don't go according to plan. Having had a great experience so far, it all starts to unravel from the moment the alarm goes off at 4am.
 

It's our last day in Kenya before we head to Tanzania, but rather than drive ninety minutes to the border for the reportedly chaotic and time-consuming land crossing (as the Aussies in our party are doing) we are heading back to Nairobi for some chill-out time at the beautiful Safari Park Hotel and flying into the country early tomorrow.

As dawn raisers go, Mount Kilimanjaro in all her glory is a sight to behold. Over breakfast Sami's prediction comes true as gradually the clouds part and there she is, huge and magnificent, standing 5891 metres high, her crater-formed crest tipped with snow.
 

A beautiful dawn greets us on Boxing Day morning, along with the tragic news that George Michael has passed away. Having had almost no wifi signal for days it's a terribly sad way to connect with home.

We wake early on Christmas Day, ready for a 7am departure for the long drive to our next destination, Lake Nakuru. Returning along the bumpy road to Narok, we stop for a toilet break at a souvenir stall where we buy ourselves a little Christmas present, having come empty-handed. It's a colourful, abstract painting of African figures for just a few US dollars.

So here it is; the Africa of the imagination. We've been waiting months for this - if not our whole lives - so are well prepared, having invested in the full regalia of khaki clothing, wide-brimmed hats, binoculars, a 32G memory card, guidebooks, tropical medications and gallons of factor 50 and insect repellent.
 

We meet in the lobby at 7am, eight intrepid explorers gathered for an African adventure. From Detroit come the Chen family - Harrison, Olivia and Lee; from Australia husband and wife pair Keith and Nancy; travelling solo but a fellow Aussie comes Karen; and then from Ireland and England there's Coman and me.