Giving up: a few pounds from the travel kitty and getting into the spirit of FIFA 2010

Dear “Addicted to Africa Diary”…Our football team has been aptly titled “Girls just wanna’ have fun." Yes, I know it’s kind of cheesy, but I’ll let you into a secret, this wasn’t my suggestion :) I’m now committed to the position of striker so those early stints at university must have paid off. After scoring twice in the last session I’m now ready to put my skills to good use on the next overland tour.

We’ll be kicking off the 2010 celebrations in style and participating in some adhoc matches with the locals en route. It should be a great ice-breaker and it's all thanks to “Footballs For Fun” an organisation which is hoping to spread the word about 2010, create a sense of involvement across Africa and also contribute to various charities on the continent in one fowl swoop. You could say overlanding with Acacia now comes with a feel good factor :)

All we have to do is buy a ball at the start of the tour costing just £10 each. With 24 people overlanding together I think I can break into the kitty for that! The idea is to leave the ball behind as a gift, and knowing that my travel kitty cash is going to help some needy causes on the continent is a real buzz. Africa – here we go…

N.B. TOMORROW is the day I've been waiting for. The 14 August is the date for the Big Five Flash Sale – 12-5pm BST – must make a mental note not to forget…

Amelia Smith...

Saving up for your next Africa trip...any great ideas on how to generate more cash for Amelia's travel kitty? From the weird to the wonderful we're all ears...

Given up: cooking my own Sunday dinners...

Dear "addicted to Africa" diary...Mother has agreed to serve up regular Sunday roasts - I wonder, are my parents warming to my continual travel bug and are they secretly looking to boost my travel kitty?

I’ve been trying to avoid any invitations for Sunday dinner, as if we broach the subject of Africa I know it’s going to lead to a full-length analysis of my career and its future prospects. Mother doesn’t seem to understand that there’s more to travel than just jetting around the plains in a 4X4 and meeting like-minded people.  

In fact, trying to explain to my parents that travel broadens the mind on lots of fronts, including work, is like navigating a canoe through a crocodile infested river. On my last trip I ended up in Moshi helping a bunch of African children. Some had just been abandoned and others were victims of AIDS.  It was a truly uplifting and unforgettable experience.  

As soon as you arrive the children rush out to greet you like a swarm of bees and you're literally surrounded by a never-ending river of smiles. Whether you were painting, playing cards or just having a kick about with the kids – you couldn’t help but be inspired. It's the kind of place that makes you want to return. It's more than just another African destination to tick off the list - as the people, the project leaders and the children, make the holiday. 

We even packed in three-days of game viewing in the Serengeti (camping in the heart of the park was awesome - a 24-7 safari, the animals even tramp through the site under cover of darkness!) and the Ngorongoro Crater at the end of the tour – now that’s what I call an adventure! Can't wait to get back. Africa - madly, deeply...

Amelia Smith...

Saving up for your next Africa trip...any great ideas on how to generate more cash for Amelia's travel kitty? From the weird to the wonderful we're all ears...