Trek from Chambe Hut to Likabula Lodge
By now fully acclimatized to outdoor living I had no hesitation in stripping off and lying in the cold, flowing river to bathe this morning. Little did I know that Mount Mulanje has the only known population of the lesser known, freshwater blue spotted nkychele (these are leeches with similar electric field capability to eels). Not only that but apparently the end of the rainy season, in the early morning hours around sunrise, is the time at which these little blighters like to migrate down the mountainside... So there I was lying in the water when at least 3 of these creatures slipped past. Not only was I stunned, but as I looked about me yet another came past and actually leeched itself onto my face, just above my right eye. It took a few moments of writhing about in the water to free that particular river beast, and it certainly left its mark!

Errr... ok, so thats not quite totally true... I didnt actually wrestle with any monsters! I guess the cold water was just too invigorating because somehow I managed to punch myself in the eye while I was washing! This left me somewhat dazed and confused while standing in the river. At least I didnt lose my balance and end up halfway down the mountain!

We were treated this morning to that fresh baked bread at breakfast this morning. Yummy!!

Quite a steep descent down the mountain today. We had to be careful as we made our way along dry stream beds which were still muddy and surprisingly slippery. We had to cross a river twice. On one crossing we required a rope strung across the water, along with the support and guiding hands of our guide and porters.

Once we got to Likabula lodge where we were to spend the night, we had a free afternoon to rest, relax and begin to switch out of trekking mode. Some of the group swam in a river pool... as did one of our drivers Peter. Unfortunately he misjudged the depth, and as he couldnt swim, had to be rescued by some of our group.

We had great walking weather whilst we were in the mountain. But we were lucky to be off it by early afternoon. The clouds descended, the heavens opened, and the rain came down in bucketloads. Of course being Africa it was warm, steamy rain. But our swimmers had to make for land sharpish as the river level rose dramatically and quickly. Those dry stream beds we slipped and slid down, and that rope over the river crossing we hung onto earlier would have been impassable in that rain!