UK

I'm sitting in my family's home in Sheffield, England. It's actually rained surprisingly little since I got here. But I haven't got outside much anyway, as I've been sick. It started with a fever about 10 days ago and now it's just a cough, but I'm a little worried it's a reaction to the anti-malaria meds I'm taking.

I'm taking a generic form of Larium, called mefloquine. It's a once a week pill that can leave you bed-ridden for up to a year if you have a bad reaction. Most people get very vivid dreams the night they take the pill but I've taken 4 now and haven't had any, and given the choice between a potentially lethal blood parasite and some dodgy and not too well understood medication I've picked the meds.

On Sunday I fly to Johannesburg, South Africa. The crime capital of the world. My first priority will be to get the hell out of there. Apparently I can't walk to the bus stop because I'll almost certainly be mugged, so I have to find transport that I get on while still inside the airport. I can't rent a car because it will probably get jacked as I leave the city. I know this sounds rather extreme but from what I've heard it's not an exaggeration. My plan is to find a tour bus with lots of people and take it to the first town out of Jo'burg, then rent a car from there. Then it will be either Kruger National Park or Swaziland.

I have a huge suitcase that weighs 73kg filled with books for the orphanage where I'll be teaching. It's going to be tricky to get around until I've got that car!

Jo'burg aside, I can't wait to get to Africa. I've been waiting for this for a long time. I'll post again soon when I'm somewhere safe!