Rich and Carlos carefully loaded up the back of our extended cab Toyota Hilux, carefully wrapping the whole load in plastic and tying it all down with rope and plastic-coated laundry wire for the long trip north. All of the worldly posessions we are takng to our new life in Mozambique are in this truck -- too much to make the trip by airplane, the usual (and more quick and comfortable) transport to the park. We also needed to bring this new vehicle to the park for the Rich's Science Services Department to use for research and other work in the park. Good thing 
they spent the time they did doing a good job, as we had a terrible storm with lots of rain and lightning the night before we left - and more rain along the way. The storm during the night, the heat, and the whining and barking of the dog (who got locked up during the night for bad behavior) made for a pretty bad night's sleep for us all on a night that was already short because of our 3:30 AM departure for the 14-hour trip north. Because the roads in Mozambique see all manner of traffic, including cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, chickens, goats, and cows, we wanted to get most of our driving done early in the morning while people were asleep, and to finish the drive before dark (early evening is the worst time for driving here). We also had to make the park gate by 6pm, as a new strict gate closure rule is being enforced.
they spent the time they did doing a good job, as we had a terrible storm with lots of rain and lightning the night before we left - and more rain along the way. The storm during the night, the heat, and the whining and barking of the dog (who got locked up during the night for bad behavior) made for a pretty bad night's sleep for us all on a night that was already short because of our 3:30 AM departure for the 14-hour trip north. Because the roads in Mozambique see all manner of traffic, including cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, chickens, goats, and cows, we wanted to get most of our driving done early in the morning while people were asleep, and to finish the drive before dark (early evening is the worst time for driving here). We also had to make the park gate by 6pm, as a new strict gate closure rule is being enforced.We stopped only once, for breakfast at about 8am, pressing on the rest of the day, eating food we had brought in the car. Ian was amazing, keeping himself entertained with little matchbox cars and plastic animals who had all manner of adventures in the back seat. I don't recall the details but the play involved time in jail for naughty animals, lots of fights between animals (we are learning about agression between animals in pursuit of females and territory), and trips by the ambulance to deal with injuries. Thank heavens for the portable DVD player, too. We are not a TV watching family for the most part, but I am often thankful for our decision to buy this little piece of electronics when my patience for entertaining Ian is wearing thin and I can keep him entertained for even just thirty minutes by turning on the DVD...
We made the gate by 6pm and arrived at the camp just as the sun was setting, passing many scurrying baboons along the road on the way in to Chitengo. Happy to have finally arrived...
