The malaria prevention Land Rover convoy fitted with tough COOPER TYRES, slowly rolls into town. To the west of the road, surrounded by mangrove swamps and giant grey baobabs, lies Africa’s largest natural bay. Its water glittering like a shining jewel in the early morning light. Somewhat worn out by their long journey up the coast from Durban, South Africa, the African Rainbow Expedition has reached Phemba, the colorful capital of Mozambique’s far north Cabo Delgado province, where we pick up the story in Kingsley Holgate’s words….

I wouldn’t have missed this journey for anything. The beauty of the palm fronted coast, the colorful and friendly village people, the adventure of pulling and pushing our expedition Landies across deep , wide rivers, the campfires and the fulfillment of saving lives through our One Net – One Life campaign.

We Bounce along goat tracks, the elephant grass taller than the Land Rover, O=our objective is always clear. It’s to distribute mosquito nets to mothers with babies in isolated, rural villages> one can see the appreciation in there faces. Expedition member Senor Baptista from the Mozambican ministry of Heath, hand out pamphlets and conducts entertaining anti-malaria talk-ups. Local chiefs and community members always attend. There’s singing, dancing and the beating of hand-crafted rawhide drums, bicycle races for the young men, nets for the mums and African Rainbow –One Net One Life T-shirts for the village elders.

Pierre a South African Volunteer, carries two tons of insecticide-impregnated nets in his thirty four year old forward control Land rover, which Ross nicked named Mzee Kobe, meaning the old tortoise in Swahili. On the side of the truck is painted a large Anopheles Mosquito against a big red cross with the words One Net One Life. We’re doing what we came to do.

The malaria report back forms are filled out giving details of each village. GPS coordinated, population size, high, moderate or low risk malaria details, name of community leader, nearest clinic or hospital. The official African Rainbow Expedition Ink stamp comes down with a bang, the elders carefully endorse the scroll of Peace and Goodwill we’re caring across Africa. Mothers shout out in jubilation they wave there life saving mosquito nets in the air. Music blares from the Landover’s horn speaker, chickens scurry across the track as we head north.

Breakfast is leftover stew and stale Portuguese bread toasted on the coals. Coffee lased with condensed milk is drunk from dented enamel mugs. We buy bananas and paw paws at the roadside markets and fill our water containers at the village pump. It’s not always easy.

Ironically, one of the team is down with malaria and I’ve got a septic tropical ulcer that’s gone right through to the bone. Last night a thundering downpour caught us unawares as we camped on the banks of the Rio Lurio. But our spirits are certainly no dampened as from Phemba bay we prepare to launch the ‘Spirit of Adventure’, the traditional sailing dhow that will support our One Net One Life campaign up the east coast of Africa to the border of Somalia.

Sponsors and Media are flying in for the launch. There’s an exciting buzz! Today we use the Captain Morgan branded Land Rover to pull the mast up. It’s full moon and the crew work throughout the night stitching the lateen rigged sail. The hardwood planks are caulked with cotton waste soaked in palm nut oil. The hull is waterproofed with shark fat oil as is the Swahili custom, hand-crafted eyes known as “Macho’s” decorated with the crescent and star, will be attached to either side of the bow to ward off danger. The South-East monsoon winds known here as the Kusi are picking up daily and soon we’ll be on our way. Thanks for all your support for the One Net – One Life project.