Update.

What a ride that was! Nine days from St Louis to Bamako sleeping rough in the wilds of Africa; washing in rivers, being kept awake at night by arguing monkeys, bush fires, swarms of locust, chanting villages, lots of smiles and waving locals. So far, I love Africa! Were going to rest and gather visas and spares in Bamako for a for a while. Settling down tonight with a well earned bottle of wine in the Sleepy Camel. The first impressions of Mali over the past three days is that this is shaping up to be my favourite country so far. What a beautiful place. You couldn't tell from the warmth of the locals that there's a war going on in the North of the country. I really like it here.