29-30 May: The mine and home again

So we had an early start for the 4 hour plus drive to Kayelekera and the visit to the mine. Soon after leaving Mzuzu the road dropped off the plateau, curved sinuously on the descent down the escarpment to the shores of Lake Malawi. The lake was glinting blue in the sunlight and we passed by many backpacker reesorts and small fishing villages. The road down the escarpment is the only place I  have ever seen wild life in Malawi, apart from birds or those infamouse mice kebabs. Always in the same place is a small colony of baboons at the raodside and this trip was no different.
The mine staff met us at the gate for the safety briefing and the whole group of about 25 was issued with  protective gear like safety vests and hard hats and safety glasses etc. Then the tour, which was very good. Well explained and plenty of staff on hand to answere
 the questions. Then a lunch and a final farewell chat and it was back on the transport and back to Mzuzu.
Sunday morning was avery early start to make sure we would all be at the airport in time  to catch our various flights. On the way was a great rainbow which seemed to be travelling with us for a while and we even got pictures of its end!....but no gold in sight..
Under grey skies we arrived well in time but all was delayed as the UN Sceretary General was  departing at the same time and so all the red carpet stuff and the guard of honour  and protocol etc had to be  got out of the way before we were flown off. A few hours stopover in Johannesburg and then the overnight sector with Lufthansa  to Frankfurt and then the early morning flight with Adria Airways in a little regional jet back to Vienna. Another job done.