My 50th birthday in Tanzania
As a surprise 50th birthday present my friends Kathie, Pat and Didi organised a trip to Tanzania, visiting Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - a place I'd always wanted to visit since hearing David Attenborough say the word when I was a small lad. The day of my birthday, at Lake Manyara, we were supposed to go on a 'nature walk'. But a cock-up on the communications front meant we actually went on the 'forest hike'. This started fairly innocuously but soon descended into madness as we scrambled down a 70m cliff to the valley floor then walked several miles, repeatedly crossing the river via stones, fallen trees and anything else available. My birthday almost ended up being my last day.
As well as lots of wildlife the area was also good for presidents. We met Jakaya Kikwete, president of Tanzania, twice in the Serengeti and, in the Ngorongoro Crater, we passed Bill Clinton's convoy (with Hilary kipping in the back of one of the vehicles). I waved and he waved back.
