What a true adventure! An opportunity for us to reflect....

Today we have had the opportunity to reflect on our journey. From the Look Wider... go further event in March 2012 to spending our last night together on the beach in Malawi at the end of August 2013 - we have all grown as individuals and as a team.

After a day spent relaxing beside the pool at a nearby luxury hotel, our day ended with a African Braai and Buffet on the beach at our campsite in Salima Bay. We then spent time discussing our experiences in Africa and how they have impacted us in different ways. The group identified that for some it has been the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. For others, they were able to reflect on their life at home in comparison to those that we have met on the trip and for some, Africa may even have an influence on their future career choice!

Nkopola, Lake Malawi

We also discussed how they may feel when they return to the UK and how they could support each other in the first few days when it seems odd to not be around 21 others; being on their own and going to the toilet on their own. Anyone who feels particularly down or is not coping with returning home knows that we (the leaders) are only at the end of the phone if needed and they also have each other.

As leaders this is our biggest project we have undertaken to date, we are truly pleased with the outcome, have a great sense of accomplishment and already are considering our next steps and wondering what to do and where to go in 2016. The girls are rightly very proud of their achievements and we have seen changes in each and every one of them. They took up the challenge so well and planned and delivered their own lessons and learnt to be flexible depending on the needs of their classes. Some set homework and others shared photos from their home. They had a unique opportunity to get to know the individuals and got to know them as children - some of whom were of a similar age or older. They also took to overlanding really well. All our training and preparation paid off and they coped with bugs, creepy crawlies, ants, baboons, monkeys, dogs, mosquitos and hygiene routines each and every day. We were very proud when Doc told us he was really impressed with our group at how they simply got on with a task and threw themselves into their duties and overlanding. He said he could tell they were well prepared and knew what was expected of them and enjoyed their company.

The Ulandi School library project was an unexpected bonus and thanks to the pledges of support which came in, we were able to support the local economy and hire a painter and carpenter to help us transform the existing space into a vibrant library. The teachers were motivated to lend a hand and one even painted a small mural as their contribution and the others got involved with cleaning and sweeping. The pupils were genuinely delighted with the end result and were eager to see it and use it ... and were amazed at the books and our decorations. We are delighted the Book Bus will return and get to see the school and are looking forward to hearing about their progress.

Having experienced several safaris in the past we were hoping the few opportunities we had to see the wildlife on this trip might show another side of Africa. Well it certainly did and more.... to have three leopard sightings, hang out with a pride of lions and to be so close to the cats was truly magical. And to see hippo, monkeys, elephants and giraffe on our commutes every day to school was wonderful - talk about a world away from life in East London! We were also delighted to be sharing our campsite with elephants - guide camp will never be the same again - seeing the girls' faces when one walked past a dinner time will stay with us for a long time.

Elephants crossing the Luangwa River at Dawn

  Africa is a truly magical continent, with so much to offer and give us all. We appreciate we have given a lot to Ulande primary school in Malawi and Mfuwe schools in Zambia but we have received so much more in return. Both countries have developed since Sharon and Kathy were last there in 2005 and the change is encouraging to see. Malawi is truly the warm heart of Africa and Zambia has an energy and personality which is infectious. We have a strong bond with South Africa and we were so happy to offer the girls an opportunity to spend a few days here. It has given them another view of Africa and has allowed them to compare and contrast a developed, with a non developed, African country.

Watching the final sunrise over Lake Malawi at Salima Bay on our last day

We hope our adventures have inspired our blog readers to get involved with the Book Bus, either individually or with Girlguiding. The Book Bus is a charity which operates around the world in India, Ecuador, Galapagos, Zambia and Malawi and throughout the year go to a variety of schools. For more information about how you can personally get involved and have a similar experience, visit thebookbus.org

KB, SA & HC