Being at the right place at the right time

Photo 1: That’s what a GDP of $312 per capita means.
Photo 2: The skeleton of the Golden Sands Reception
Photo 3: I’ll swim when I get to Lake Malawi

We started working our way back south on a long roundabout route today. I felt like a swim in the river first with the elephants, but hey, those big okes are messy. But I knew we were on our way back to Lake Malawi, so it was ok really.

I woke up in Lilongwe when the whole convoy came to a screeching halt. It was a minibus taxi that decided to cross a big intersection, couldn’t find enough space to manoeuvre in and blocked the whole intersection. What interested me the most was not the commotion, but the amount of words written on the side of the taxi, under the word, taxi. I couldn’t find my notebook in time, so I couldn’t write them all down. Whether the words mean taxi in 17 dialects or whether they are 17 destinations are both possibilities. You see what travelling in Africa does to a city dog? You learn patience. You wait. You keep yourself busy. Eventually the taxi managed to get out of our way and we moved on. No problem.

I looked out the window and realised something. This Lilongwe is a typical overfull African city, but yet it is different. Something is not the same to what we are used to. Then I realised what it was. It was clean. There were very few papers lying around or blowing in the wind.

As we drove out into the rural areas, I realised the same applies there. I asked Gerhard about it and he thought maybe they are too poor to buy anything with plastic or wrapping paper around it. Or maybe they just re-use the paper and wrapping, because of poverty.

Somehow Malawi is like the orphan of Africa to me. Everybody makes a big thing about a lot of countries, but somehow these people are being overlooked. Everywhere you look you see people. Some fortunate ones in cars. Some less fortunate on bicycles, but most on foot. They walk miles just to get water. They walk miles looking for food. They don’t always find it.

Malawi is a small country. It is only 118 000 km² in size with over 20% under water. Yet it has a population of over 15 million, resulting in a density of 128 per square kilometre. But that is not the big problem. It is the gross domestic product per capita. Only $312.

That doesn’t look too good, but what does look good is that they are not throwing their hands in the air. Especially when it comes to balancing the environment between people and nature. With such a high density, 11,1% of the land is proclaimed as national parks. That is why it is so important to work with the communities and make them understand that environmental conservation is the only way forward.

What looks even better is that a great jump forward has taken place. Dr Leonard Sofu, the director of Malawi’s national parks had a meeting with representatives from the World Bank. They have agreed in principle to donate money to get the parks back to life, especially to make them attractive tourist destinations. If you look at what is left of the Golden Sands campsite in Lake Malawi National Park where we are staying, you will understand. The reception room is only a skeleton and flushing toilets don’t flush unless you add you own water into them.

But the best news of all is that, because the Toyota Outreach was at Kasungu National Park with Dr Sofu, he invited Theresa to a meeting in Lilongwe today regarding the issue. The deal was clinched and Jennifer Newenham will champion the tourist development on behalf of the parks. Talking about being at the right place at the right time.

Well, I’m also now making sure I’m at the right place at the right time. Right next to the fire where dinner will be served.

This is Buddy the blogger barking off.

Download GPS Tracks for today: Google Earth Format & GPX Format