Our African hound, bounding through the Scottish heather.

Up until just over a month ago, Bow Wow was temporarily being cared for by a lovely K9 foster mum while Lachlan and I returned to work in Blighty. It was hard to leave him behind, but we couldn’t bear to think of such an active dog unnecessarily being put into quarantine just as the laws were about to be relaxed. When my family arrived in Cape Town for Easter, they were able to take over his care and were delighted to discover that Bow Wow hadn’t forgotten them or any of his tricks!

Surf Buddies - Bow Wow and my brother, Hamish, after catching waves together at Muizenberg.

Here’s an extract taken from my mother’s journal before Bow Wow’s flight:

‘Thursday 19 April 2012: I’m leavin’ on a jet plane…woof!

A couple of days ago, Jaco from Animal Travel Services (who recently transported a lion and several baboons!) came to the house to introduce himself and deliver the crate that Bow Wow is to travel in on his long journey to Scotland. He suggested ways to prepare for the flight, including administering Rescue Remedy, personalising the crate, and encouraging the dog to familiarise himself with it.

Effort has been required to get Bow Wow to take the Rescue Remedy – some bread, two pairs of hands and lots of determination! I carpeted the bottom of the crate with his sandy beach towel and threw in my well worn pyjama top as a ‘security blanket’. The crate has rarely been empty since, so this has certainly worked.

Bow Wow getting used to his crate - "I really like it in here. I get special biscuit treats when I go inside and it is filled with my favourite things."

When Jaco appeared with the van, it was carrying a cat, and another Africanis dog called Jamieson who were to board the same flight. It was a relief that Bow Wow was happy to meet his travelling companions and readily jumped into his crate before being waved off.

"Hi guys!"

We later met Russ at Royale and were amused to think of Bow Wow relaxing in the ‘Pet Lounge’ before his departure.’

Meanwhile, in Scotland, Lachlan and I were very much looking forward to seeing Bow Wow. At the cargo part of Edinburgh airport, we could hear Bow Wow’s yelps before we saw him. It was almost as though he had recognised our voices and was saying ‘I’m in here! Come and get me!’. He had finally arrived after almost 24 hours since my family had said goodbye to him in Cape Town.

The airport handlers were giving Bow Wow’s crate a wide berth, unaware of his gentle nature and afraid he might bite. Someone gingerly wheeled the box out and, as Lachlan and I approached, Bow Wow’s tail  started to beat against its sides with great excitement. Lachlan unbolted the crate and Bow Wow bounded out, clearly thrilled to see us and be free to stretch his legs. He greeted us wildly before doing the longest wee we’d ever seen. His crate, complete with first class British Airways blanket, was bone dry – what incredible bladder control! 

We’ve now had Bow Wow for a whole blissful week and he has not complained once about the weather! He’s been far too busy enjoying all the new sights and smells. It feels as though we’ve never been apart.

We cannot recommend Animal Travel Services highly enough. Their advice, preparation and care were exceptional. 

Similar Posts:

• Bringing Bow Wow to the UK
• Rusape, Zimbabwe (Photo Diary)
• Bow Wow’s First Entry
• Favourite Snaps from the Road
• WE ♡ CT

The new pet immigration laws mean that Bow Wow has not had to go through the trauma of quarantine. Instead he has been having a great time, staying with a lovely family in Cape Town who have two other dogs, waiting for the required three month period before he can travel. 

For Bow Wow to enter the UK from South Africa he needs:

• a microchip 
• a rabies vaccine (must have been vaccinated after being microchipped)
• a blood test confirming he’s rabies free at least 30 days after the vaccination (of course, Bow Wow passed)
• an Official Veterinary Health Certificate from his vet certifying the microchip, vaccination and blood test result

Three months must pass from the blood test date prior to travel and 1-5 days before Bow Wow’s arrival in the UK a vet must treat him for tapeworm.

We are beyond excited for his arrival next month. How we have missed him!

What will Bow Wow make of London’s stylish mutts?!

Notting Hill pug, Missy Elliot, rocking brown leather.

An apricot toy poodle wearing a fetching gingham bandana.

Punk dogs in Camden.

Pickles was the ultimate accessory at London Fashion Week.

Studded bruiser at the park.

Similar Posts:

• Raising Flags & Vuvuzelas in Durban by Bow Wow
• Just Nuisance by Bow Wow
• And We Are Complete!
• Johannesburg (Photo Diary)
• The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho

After the Vic Falls, we drove to the Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo. We camped in a hostel garden with a very round, resident pooch called Tom. As we were setting up our tent in the dark, we noticed Tom sampling Bow Wow’s previously untouched dinner. Bow Wow wouldn’t come out of his kennel and looked so crest fallen, we wondered if Tom had bitten him. Even then, it was totally out of character because Bow Wow is a tough township dog and usually right in to rough play. When we threw Bow Wow’s ball, he’d make a half hearted attempt to go after it but had no balance and stumbled. We knew there must be something seriously wrong. 

Thank goodness we were in a city and could visit a vet. The next morning we took BowWow to be tested and it turned out he had biliary, a very dangerous tick borne disease. Biliary for dogs is a lot like malaria for humans, except that in the latter, a mosquito is the cause rather than a tick. If left untreated, Bow Wow would have died. 

Luckily, Bow Wow was treated for biliary in time. For the next few days, his tennis ball was confiscated because, even though he was clearly so ill, he still wanted to play. Note the 'Bow Wow' dog food advertised on the vet's wall.

The flamboyant lined city has a lovely old colonial feel. When Bulawayo was being designed, Cecil Rhodes ordered that its streets should be wide enough to turn a wagon and oxen.

Its mix of Victorian and 60's/70's architecture presented wonderful contrasting textures and shapes.

Only 1150 miles to Cape Town! We were on the home stretch.

From Bulawayo, we headed for the Zimbabwean border and spent a night camping by the Cleveland Dam in Harare. Bow Wow just wanted to be close to us while he was recovering.

Harare's roadside traders sell forest fruit they've gathered. We were given this fruit to try in Nyanga. You bite the tops off and suck out the sweet flesh. It tastes like creamy passion fruit.

You can tell that this man is a member of the Apostolic religion because of his white robes. We saw a lot of Apostolics in Zimbabwe, especially around Harare.

They're church is anywhere outside in nature.

The locals call these taxis Police ATMs because often they are breaking some law, carrying too many passengers, for example, or driving with a broken tail light and so they are a sure fire way for policemen to extract bribes.

Leaving Harare, we approached a set of lights that had turned green and were so busy chatting we failed to notice Mugabe’s cavalcade going past until the last moment. We’d been warned that if you see smart motorbikes with flashing lights, the president is following close behind and you must get off the road to make way or risk his body guards opening fire.

We stopped just in time but were pulled over by some policemen who asked, “Are you on a mission?”. Thinking they were referring to the stickers on the car, we said “Yes,” but before we could explain that our mission was to innocently source fair trade fashion and raise awareness for the charity called Back to Africa, they proclaimed, “You are on a mission to kill the president!”. They took Lachlan’s driving license and ordered him to come with them for questioning. (Bow Wow and I waited in the car. Luckily it was locked because at one point, a man tried to break in, tugging every handle with all of his might while ignoring Bow Wow’s barking.)

The police told Lachlan that they were arresting him. He tried to explain that he had no interest in killing Mugabe, that he couldn’t just leave Bow Wow and me and that we were supposed to be crossing into South Africa that day but the police would not budge and kept insisting that he would have to spend the night in a cell. After an hour of protesting, Lachlan called their bluff and said “OK, lets go then! Lets do this, lock me up!”. Of course, the policemen suddenly had an alternative, they would forget the whole episode if Lachlan handed over $60. He managed to get it down to $30 and we were on our way again. We are not proud of giving in to bribery but Lachlan spending the night in a cell, while Bow Wow and I took our chances camping alone, was not an option.

Once at the Beitbridge border, we parked and queued on foot for a few hours in the oppressive heat. When our papers had been stamped, we returned to our car to find that the wheel had been clamped! For absolutely no reason! We were in a proper parking bay alongside other cars (although, admittedly less pimped) which were mysteriously not clamped. Furious and frustrated, Lachlan eventually managed to be seen by someone in management who simply said that we must pay the fine or stay clamped in Zimbabwe. We felt utterly powerless and grudgingly coughed up another $30! It was such a relief to finally be through the border and no longer at the mercy of the Zimbabwean police.

More importantly, Bow Wow was back to his usual full of beans self. His only symptom was severe tennis ball withdrawal and we knew exactly what to do about that!

Similar Posts:

• Nyanga, Zimbabwe (Visual Diary)
• Johannesburg (Photo Diary)
• Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe (Photo Diary)
• Trouble in Lesotho
• And We Are Complete!

If you get a chance, pick up the lastest edition (April 2012) and flick to the Travel section… 

Similar Posts:

• Meeting the girl called Marvelous
• Harare, Zimbabwe (Photo Diary)
• WE ♡ CT
• And We Are Complete!
• Bringing Bow Wow to the UK

Quit Your Job.
Buy A Ticket.
Get A Tan.
Fall In Love.
Never Look Back.

Travelling through Africa with our dog, Bow Wow, has been an experience we will never forget. Sadly this adventure must come to an end for now so we can focus all of our energies on The Band4Hope Project.

We spent months driving all over Southern Africa in this incredibly reliable pimped out Defender. We had it serviced regularly wherever we were and it never let us down. With traction control, you can go pretty much anywhere in this 4×4 as you can see from the pictures below. No need for roads, we prefer dry riverbeds anyway.

This is your mobile home on wheels with everything you need. We’re including a complete package as detailed below.

This is a UK registered vehicle currently parked in Cape Town, South Africa with a current Carnet de Passage. It expires on 30th November 2012, though can be renewed for another year or more for further travel through Africa and beyond.

Scroll down for more pics and price.

The Vehicle

Registration: UK registered – L40 CWT (in South Africa with current Carnet de Passage)
Year: 2006 (reg’d 26-Dec-2005)
Make: Land Rover
Model: Defender
Wheelbase: 110
Engine: Td5 Diesel
Engine Capacity: 2.5L (2498 cm3)
5 Speed Manual with High/Low and center diff-lock
Traction Control
Mileage: approx: 66,000 miles (106,216 km)
Air conditioning
Power Steering
Immobilizer
Fully serviced

Vehicle Modifications

• Full Length Alu Roof Rack w/ ladder
• 74L Aluminium Box installed on roof (Size 780 x 580 x 200mm)
• Eezi Awn T-top roof tent 160cm with Shower Skirt (additional bedroom)
• R/H Wing Mounted Rear Fuel Tank 45L
• Water Tank – 44L – RH Rear under car
• Eezi Awn 2.5m Awning
• Snorkel
• Diff guards
• Lockable Safe under the center console
• N. Luna Portable Power Pack c/w Deep Cycle Battery
• Secondary Battery (2 batteries in total)
• Solar Panel – 80w on roof
• 50L National Luna Fridge / Freezer
• Little Black Box – Alerts you to any engine problems (oil / water / temp / charge etc)
• Heavy duty tow bar with pin and ball mount – use as recovery point
• 1 x 20L Double Aluminium Jerry Can Holder with 2 jerry cans for diesel fuel mounted
• 6 x brand new Tyres – BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain T/A (spares: 1 mounted on rear and other on roof)
• Shovel & Axe – bolted onto front of vehicle
• Side Wing Doors – Lockable. Provides easy access.
• Right Hand Wing Cupboard
• Spare Wheel Carrier
• Thule 2 Bike Carrier
• Hi Lift Jack – Bolted on the outside to save space.
• Gas Bottle and bracket – mounted on rear
• Tow Ball with Towing Points
• All exterior lights protected
• Strong interior wall installed separating the rear and front cabins. Near impossible to break in!
• Sound – Amp & Extra Speakers (standard LR speakers are terrible!)
• New CD player with USB and iPod connection
• Seats removed for extra space – only 1 seat in rear
• Pullout Drawer at rear of car to store bits and bobs – super handy!
• Hot Shower – heat produced from mod in engine using coolant. Keep car running for hot water.

Tools & Spares

• Almost everything you can think of that you would need to get through Africa!
• All required spares
• Defender Workshop Manual
• 3 x Oil Filters
• 4 x Fuel Filters
• 2-3 x Air Filters
• Variety of Fuses
• Power Drill
• Light Bulbs x 2 of all
• Tool Kit – top of the range, can’t remember brand but very good
• Including the following plus more
• Vice Grips
• Water Pump Pliers
• 2 x types Wire Cutters
• Pliers – various types
• Metal Hammer
• Assorted Open & Ring Spanners
• Socket Kit
• Screwdrivers – assorted
• 2 extra large Shifters
• Water Pump
• Small Blow Torch (welding)
• Multi Meter to measure voltage
• Silicon Bandage to fix hoses – MI 4X4 SILICONE TAPE
• Magnet on a stick
• 12v portable drill – rechargeable / 12v
• Pop rivet gun + pop rivets
• Tyre Puncture Repair Kit – Tech Brand
• Tyre Pressure Guage
• Tyre Pressure fast let down tool
• Tyre Valves Spare
• Fuel Funnel
• Jubilee Clips
• Vaious Cable Ties / Hose Clamps
• Plastic Fuel Line and Connectors
• Prately putty / flexible HEAT RESISTANT
• Tubes of Silicon
• Glue that petrol doesn’t dissolve
• Glues – Q.Bond, Pratley Steel, Plastic mix glue
• Contact Adhesive
• Rapid araldite/plastic metal glue
• Silicon Spray
• Instant Gasket Paste
• Exhaust Repair Putty
• Radiator Sealant
• 2m fuel hoses (long enough to be used as a siphon)
• WD40 / Q20 Spray
• Hand Cleaner
• Spray Degreaser
• Diff types of Electrical Wire 2 m lengths
• Roll of wire
• Crimp Connectors
• Electrical Connectors
• Masking Tape
• Gaffer Tape
• Electrical Tape
• Rubber Mallot
• Mole Wrench (lge & sml)
• Pipe Wrench
• Grease Gun
• Length of Pipe (to extend power bar for stubborn nuts)
• Self tapping screws
• Assortment of nuts, bolts & washers
• Thick Plastic Sheeting 1.5m x 2m
• Nylon 6mm string
• Nylon 10mm string
• Stronger Normal Rope 20m length
• Some pieces of Aluminium & Metal Plates 10 and 15 cm sq
• Rolls of Mutton Cloth

Oils

• Engine Oil – enough for 2 changes
• 5L of Gearbox & Differential Oil
• Grease
• Transfer box Oil
• 1-2 L Brake and Clutch Fluid Oil
• 1-2 L Coolant (water is possible)
• Radiator Sealant

Cooking

All cooking equipment you need including items such as pots, pans and a great Potjiekos

Recovery Kit

• Kinetic Rope
• Tow Rope (static)
• 2 x Short Bridle Ropes
• 4 x 3/4 tonne Bow Shackles
• Aluminium Track Mats / Sand ladders – VT SAND PLATES ALU
• Gloves – WI GLOVES LEATHER
• 2 pieces of wood (for chocking wheels & bottle jack)
• Geared Bottle Jack
• Heavy Duty Jumper Leads – BE 450A BOOSTER CABLES
• 1.5KG FIRE EXTINGUISHER
• Dry Powder
• Garden bottle and sprayer
• Triangles – warning x 2
• Y/W/R Coloured Reflective Tape for Vehicle – ZA Zambia Tape

Accessories

• LifeSaver Jerrycan – the ultimate in water filtration
• 3 x 20L Green heavy duty Water Cans
• Washing Machine – Water tight container. Put clothes, washing powder and water in and hit the bumpy road!
• 12v Torch – rechargeable – strong
• Big Country 1200 x 800 Aluminium Table with Rip Stop Canvas bag
• 2 x Campmor Directors Chairs with Rip Stop Canvas Bags
• 6 x Gommo Boxes
• 1 x Ground Sheet for Awning
• 1 x Small Inverter 1000w
• 1 x Twin Cylinder Compressor
• Plus much much more!
• Stool (fold up) – CH Goanna Chair
• Washing Line
• 2 x Mosquito net – Large
• Citronella Oil – mosquitos – CE Citronella Oil Refill
• Cloths / rags
• Padlocks
• Multi 12v Cig power board – BE 3 IN 1 POWER SOCKET 12V
• Front windscreen sun protector – VT ALU CARCOOL 4X4 160X90CM

Scroll to end of post for price.

Awning retracts away nicely. Also easy access to roof ammo box.

Roof consists of the tent, 2nd spare wheel, ammo box and 2 jerry cans.

Right side lockable wing door opens to food cupboard. With the awning extended, this becomes the perfect outdoor kitchen.

Left side lockable wing door provides easy access to fridge and freezer.

The pull out drawer system keeps you organised. Provides easy access to all you need.

10kg gas cylinder mounted to the rear. Perfect for messy cooks.

2 jerry cans mounted and 2nd spare wheel.

Using the hot shower heated by the engine. Nothing better than an outdoor wash.

Additional speakers with amplifier to replace the terrible factory made kit.

Axe mounted on the front. Shovel is mounted on the other side.

The ultimate in water filtration. See www.lifesaversystems.com.

Bikes mounted on Thule 2 bike carrier.

Hi Lift Jack mounted on rear for easy access.

All lights are protected in this way.

Inside rear view: Pull out drawer, fridge, plenty of space. Note there is now a wall dividing this cabin and the front seats for extra security.

Tent fully setup with additional room and 2 mountain bikes mounted on Thule bike rack.

King size bed comfortably fits 2 people.

45 L water tank with tap at rear.

Meeting the bushmen tribe in Namibia.

Don't miss the Sani Pass in Lesotho.

River crossings are too easy.

Go wherever you desire.

Life on the road with the friendly Africans. Next stop Cape Town.

As previously mentioned, this is a UK registered vehicle currently parked in Cape Town, South Africa with a current Carnet de Passage. It expires on 30th November 2012, though can be renewed for another year or more for further travel through Africa and beyond.

We can also ship the vehicle back to the UK within a month or so if required.

Please contact us for more info.

Good luck! 

Update (13-Apr-2012)

We’re excited to announce that we’ve decided to keep Lula and she’s floating her way back to the UK now. We’re going to re-brand her as The Hope Truck with a new mission… bringing The Band4Hope Project to this summer’s UK festivals!

Similar Posts:

• Johannesburg (Photo Diary)
• There are many ways to cook a chicken
• Tonga Tribe near Binga, Zimbabwe
• A Pint of Milk
• Horn & Bone Earrings from Zimbabwe

We’re always on the look out for craftspeople who we can develop products with to sell through our shop, Vagabond Van. Through ongoing trade, we hope that we can help the wonderful people we meet along the way and share their talent with you.

Near Harare, in Zimbabwe, we came across a business which produces copper and zinc bands (which are believed to have empowering properties but I’ll save that for another post).

B A N D 4 H O P E  M A N U F A C T U R E. Great skill and care goes in to the handcrafting of each band.

After wearing these special copper and zinc bands for a few days, inspiration struck. We came up with an idea which has the potential to spread hope, not just in Zimbabwe but across the globe. (When you’re stuck in a Land Rover for hours every day, its amazing the ideas you come up with )

We had the bands made in our own design and, here’s the significant part, each was engraved with its own unique ID. We then built a website so that, when it goes live in the next few weeks, owners will be able to pass on their Band4Hope and watch its journey unfold online as it travels from person to person, gathering hopes and memories. 10% of the sale price from each Band4Hope goes to a charity of your choice and there’s also the option for people to donate through your band to this chosen charity.

B A N D  4  H O P E. Each band has a unique ID engraved on the inside that links it to a HopeTrail, connecting all of its owners.

The project aims to band people, hopes and actions together, while raising funds and awareness for charity through the continual passing on of Band4Hopes and the recording of their journeys online in a HopeTrail.

[hope + action] x crowd = a movement 4 positive social change

B A N D  4  H O P E. Copper and zinc band, ethically handcrafted in Africa.

{… inspired by the carved geometric cuffs of the Himba people we met in Namibia. Traditionally these cuffs have been carved from bone but often today they are made using plastic piping.}

D E S I G N  I N S P I R A T I O N. Himba tribe, Namibia.

B A C K  T O  A F R I C A  offers an alternative approach to species conservation.

The wildlife conservation charity, Back to Africa, is close to our hearts. We hope that this is just one of the great causes which will benefit from the Band4Hope project.

The Band4Hope Project – Launching very soon! Enter your email at http://band4hope.com and get an early invite.

Similar Posts:

• Welcome to our Vagabond World
• Favourite Snaps from the Road
• Deep in Kaokoland (Photo Diary)
• Epupa Falls (Photo Diary)
• The Bushmen Tribe of Tsumkwe (Photo Diary)

We’re back in Britain trading with our shop on wheels, Vagabond Van and launching our new project, Band4Hope. Here’s a snap shot of Vagabond Van life.

W E L C O M E  * T O * O U R * V A G A B O N D * W O R L D.

{Life’s beautiful here… www.vagabondvan.com}

T HE * V A G A B O N D * A D V E N T U R E S

{We’re always on the look out for craftspeople who we can develop products with to sell through our shop, Vagabond Van. Through ongoing trade, we hope that we can help the wonderful people we meet along the way and share their talent with you.}

V A G A B O N D * V A N. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

{…it’s a bohemian princess shop on wheels!}

S E T T I N G * U P. Inside Vagabond Van, our 1952 Flying Cloud Airstream.

O N E * O F * A * K I N D clothes and accessories as individual as you are.

T R A V E L * L I G H T * F O R * A * M O R E * C O M F O R T A B L E * J O U R N E Y.

U N I Q U E * S T O R Y.

{Materials used are ingeniously recycled, adding to the unique story which each piece has to tell and minimising its effect on the environment.}

S U S T A I N A B L E * F A S H I O N from Africa.

{…people are beginning to question where their clothes are made are starting to realise the true human and environmental costs involved.}

M A D E * B Y * H A N D creating as many jobs as possible, helping to keep communities self sufficient and restoring hope.

C R A F T I N G * 4 * V A G A B O N D * V A N.

{While the women worked deftly, the piles of candy beads grew and the radio spluttered soft African beats.}

R E C Y C L E D * J E W E L S of Harare, Zimbabwe.

{Baby Future snoozed contentedly on her beading mother’s back.}

H A N D C R A F T E D by recycling old magazines and bottle caps, now available to buy at VagabondVan.com.

{It’s a great way for farm workers’ wives and sisters to help support themselves and their families. They come when they wish and can bring their children too.}

H O R N * A N D * B O N E * A D O R N M E N T

{Although horn and bone is traditionally used in African adornment, Joseph has modernised the process by inventing an amazing electricity driven cutting and buffing machine which gives his creations their fabulous polished finish.}

H O R N * A N D * B O N E * E A R R I N G S. Made by Joseph in Zimbabwe. Now available to buy at VagabondVan.com.

T R I B A L * H O O P S * A N D * S P I K E S. Now available to buy at VagabondVan.com.

M I E L I E * B A G S. Made from waste t-shirt fabric.

{…we sat under a tree and watched as they gossiped in clicks and completed their Mielie bags.}

C H I P * B A G S. Hand woven with reeds and reclaimed plastic by Penane in Maun, Botswana.

C H I P * B A G S.

{…we spied an incongruously space-age looking hand bag, twinkling on its owner’s arm in Maun, Botswana. Like magpies we pursued the bag and discovered that its owner, with babe balanced on hip, was called Penane and that she had woven the bag herself! We visited her well swept, solar panelled home across the way and with chicks twittering around our feet, Penane’s children proudly showed us their mother’s handiwork.}

H A N D M A D E * C H A R M S in silver and gold.

{Charms are bringers of good fortune. Wear your charm to attract love, luck and abundance each day.}

B A N D 4 H O P E * M A N U F A C T U R E. Great skill and care goes in to the handcrafting of each band.

B A N D 4 H O P E. Copper and zinc band, ethically handcrafted in Africa.

{… inspired by the carved geometric cuffs of the Himba people we met in Namibia. Traditionally these cuffs have been carved from bone but often today they are made using plastic piping.}

D E S I G N * I N S P I R A T I O N. Himba tribe, Namibia.

B A N D 4 H O P E. Each band has a unique ID engraved on the inside that links it to a HopeTrail, connecting all of its owners.

The Band4Hope Project – Launching very soon! Sign up at Band4Hope.com and get your early invite.

[hope + action] x crowd = a movement 4 positive social change

Hope is contagious… [pass it on]

H A N D * E M B R O I D E R E D * T – S H I R T S.

O N E * O F F * D R E S S E S made from recycled fabrics.

T R I B A L * P R I N T S.

E C L E C T I C * A N D * C O L O U R FU L.

{…infused with African sunshine and the creative spirit of this vibrant continent.}

A * S T I T C H * I N * T I M E * S A V E S * N I N E.

{…we hope that one day sustainable fashion will become the norm.}

V A G A B O N D * V A N. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

T H E * B A N D 4 H O P E * T R E E. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

P L A N T I N G * H O P E S. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

I hope that in my lifetime… H U M A N S * C R E A T E * M O R E * T H A N * T H E Y * C O N S U M E

Hope is contagious… [pass it on]

J O I N  >  W E A R  >  G I V E  >  F O L L O W  >

The project aims to band people, hopes and actions together, while raising funds and awareness for charity through the continual passing on of Band4Hopes and the recording of their journeys online in a HopeTrail.

[hope + action] x crowd = a movement 4 positive social change

Similar Posts:

• A Movement 4 Positive Social Change [Band4Hope]
• Horn & Bone Earrings from Zimbabwe
• Favourite Snaps from the Road
• Introducing Chip Bags
• Bow Wow’s First Entry

We are currently back in Britain trading with Vagabond Van at the summer festivals and launching The Band4Hope Project. We’ll return to Cape Town in a few months to embark on the drive back to Britain. We are unsure of our exact route but dream of shipping our home-on-wheels from Kenya to the south of India where our Bollywood adventures will begin!

Here are some of our highlights so far…

Who: L U C I E,  L A C H L A N, and B O W  W O W.

Their occupations: Gypsy, Slick Suit in Finance, Dog

The trip: Crossing Africa by 4×4, helping communities through trade.

{We’ve cut our teeth on over 25,000km of dirt roads across Southern Africa with our dog, Bow Wow, sourcing wonderful, handmade treasures… Think Summer of Love!}

S U M M E R  O F  L O V E.

B U S H  C H I L D R E N. eastern Namibia.

{On our arrival, these spirited youngsters greeted us in threadbare, western clothing. In the heat, wind and dust, it wasn’t long before we too were similarly begrimed.}

S A L T  P A N. Makgadikgadi Pan, Botswana.

{In life you should travel light for a more comfortable journey.}

LUNAR LANDSCAPE. Makhadikhadi Salt Pans, Botswana.

{We’ll never forget the otherworldliness of waking up in the middle of the Makhadikhadi Salt Pans and gazing out from our tent as the sun rose over the lunar landscape.}

B U S H  C A M P I N G. Ombuku river bed, deep in Kaokoland, Namibia.

{We could hear music and laughter coming from a nearby Himba settlement well after the sun had dropped below the trees.}

H I M B A  K I D S. Gurgling with laughter, Epupa Falls, Namibia.

H I M B A  H O N E Y S. Purros, Namibia.

{I asked if it is uncomfortable to sleep with their hair caked in clay. Once translated, they all groaned in agreement in just the same way a group of girls in a Glasgow tanning salon might have done if I’d asked about leg waxing.}

H I M B A  T R I B E. Purros, Namibia.

{Such warm, kind people. By the time we left, Bow Wow was a red head from all the stroking.}

C A M P  L I F E. Deep in Kaokoland, Namibia.

{Being together 24/7 (for the most part cramped in an extremely small space) highlights any flaws and the Landy has dents from stones meant for Lachlan to prove it! }

L O V E L Y ‘ S  H A I R  S A L O N. Rusape, Zimbabwe.

L O Y A L  P R O T E C T O R. Lesotho.

F E E D I N G  A  N Y A L A. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland.

L I L A C  B R E A S T E D  R O L L E R. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, Kruger Park, South Africa.

R O A D  T R I P P E R S.

L A N G U A G E  O F  P L A Y. Lüderitz, Namibia.

{Coming face to face with a jackal is a potentially dangerous situation for a dog but one night in Namibia Bow Wow taught us an important lesson; life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react. He approached the jackal in play mode and we watched for several minutes as the two bounded around together. The language of play is universal.}

R A D I O A C T I V E  R O L L E R S. Mel G’s kitsch salon in Lüderitz, Namibia

H O W  T O  W O R K  A  T O O T H P I C K. Cool cat, Raymond, near Grahamstown, South Africa.

B A N A N A S  4  B U S H  B A B I E S. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland.

{…we called bush babies from their tree top slumber and fed them gooey bananas in Swaziland. In between sleepy munches, these enchanting primates gripped our similar but much bigger hands with their own tiny digits.}

S A N  B U S H M E N.

{These Bushmen were curious to see our home-on-wheels. Lachlan gave them a grand tour.}

E L E P H A N T  D A N C E. Lucie with San Bushmen, near Tsumkwe, eastern Namibia.

{I joined the San women in their Elephant Dance. This ancient dance depicts the female chain of communication that takes place when someone comes across a dangerous animal and the warning of its location spreads from one woman to another. The tune is still imprinted in our minds.}

San Bushmen, near Tsumkwe, eastern Namibia.

{Traveling as The Vagabond Adventures, we establish relationships with craftspeople in rural villages, market their products to the world, and show our readers how they can change lives in Africa and be a part of the adventure.}

G I F T  F R O M  T H E  S A N. eastern Namibia.

{The chief and his wife were such kind, gentle people. They gave me this headband made from the skin of a blue duiker and ostrich shells. Lachlan was given a bow.}

L A S T  N I G H T  I N  T S U M K W E. Watching the great goddess moon rising over the desert.

{The travel and adventure involved in the sourcing of goods.. is the life we love to live – exciting and spontaneous, never knowing what the day will bring. We are happiest when we are striving for our goals, on the move with the sun on our skin, meeting new people and making a positive difference..}

V I L L A G E  C H I L D R E N. Nyanga, Zimbabwe.

{Across Julius’s fence we met a boy wearing a green Scotland top. …Julius, who is also HIV positive, explained that he receives $26 every 2 months from the same charity. His wife died of AIDS leaving him to care for their two young daughters. Out of the $26, he receives $4 per child. They all live with his sisters and their respective families in two small rooms and survive by growing all of their own fruit and vegetables. The government has given Julius acres of land and so he could grow much more and start a business but he has no money for fertiliser or seeds and so the land lies redundant.}

H U S T L E R. Harare, Zimbabwe.

C R A F T I N G  4  V A G A B O N D  V A N.

{While the women worked deftly, the piles of candy beads grew and the radio spluttered soft African beats.}

R E C Y C L E D  J E W E L S of Harare, Zimbabwe.

{Baby Future snoozed contentedly on her beading mother’s back.}

L A K E  K A R I B A.  Zimbabwe.

T O N G A  W O M A N. Near Binga, Zimbabwe.

{…some of the stuff we’ve learned…Don’t mess with warthogs…‘Now’ does not mean now (nor does ‘just now’)…Lives could be saved by not having elections…It helps to write your worries in the sand and let them wash away with the tide…Africa makes everyone humble.}

B A N D 4 H O P E  M A N U F A C T U R E. near Harare, Zimbabwe.

B A N D 4 H O P E.

{…inspired by the carved geometric cuffs the Himba people wear in Namibia. Traditionally these cuffs have been carved from bone but often today they are made out of plastic piping.}

H O P E  I S  C O N T A G I O U S [pass it on]

H O P E  I S  C O N T A G I O U S [pass it on]

V A G A B O N D  V A N. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

V A G A B O N D  V A N. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

P L A N T I N G  H O P E S. The Secret Garden Party 2011.

I hope that in my lifetime… M Y  L O V E  E M B R A C E S  E V E R Y O N E  I  M E E T.

I hope that in my lifetime… H U M A N S  C R E A T E  M O R E  T H A N  T H E Y  C O N S U M E.

Similar Posts:

• Welcome to our Vagabond World
• The Bushmen Tribe of Tsumkwe (Photo Diary)
• A Movement 4 Positive Social Change [Band4Hope]
• Harare, Zimbabwe (Photo Diary)
• Johannesburg (Photo Diary)

We met Tico by the Epupa Falls in Namibia. He told us that his necklace is made of shells from the ocean. He began wearing it when his father died. It is traditional that a year after a father's death, the siblings will have a ceremony to remember their dad and then they will remove their necklaces.

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• Lanikai (Heavenly Ocean)