Safari Day 4 - Can I buy you a drink?

Highlight of the day: the African disco bar

Today was mainly spent in the truck as we headed north to Messina, just on the border with Zimbabwe. After setting up our tents, we made a quick trip into town for some provisions (most importantly, beer). We walked back to the campsite with Nickie and Alex as we were all starving for a bit of physical activity. We arrived at the campsite in time for a swim and some poolside beverages before Nige & some of the others joined in a game of cricket before it got too dark.

After dinner, we all put on our fanciest clothes (i.e. cleanest t-shirt and pair of pants) and walked down to a local bar. It was truly one of the most interesting places I've ever been. The pub was circular in shape, with the centre of the roof rising up like a tent, but made of thatch supported by wooden beams (I guess maybe to look like a rondaval). The bar was set in the middle, with the tables, pool table and dance floor surrounding it. The dance floor was made of black and white zebra stripes, complete with coloured lights and disco balls above it. And they were playing the most awful music. It was seriously polka music. We asked them to please, for the love of God, change that music, but apparently there was a birthday party going on and the customers already had the 'right' to play their music. The birthday party was the sorriest group of people we'd ever seen. Finally, after we couldn't take it any more, someone asked again and they finally changed the dreadful music. All the while, I sat at the bar chatting with Leeza. The bartender kept coming over to us and telling us that 'the gentlemen across the bar would like to buy you a drink' and 'the gentlemen across the bar would like to dance with you.' I don't think they got the hint when we said thanks but no thanks because soon Leeza and I had a very drunk old man swaying next to our barstools, trying to get our attention. He was sent over to us by the 'gentlemen' to convince us to have a drink with them, but, charming as the old guy was, we were disinclined to accept the offer once again, and quickly joined the others at the pool table.

It was a great night out, and plenty to laugh at. Some of us stayed out late, a few others stayed even later before stumbling our way back to our tents.