Day 14: Going Home

It is finally the end of my journey. I have come a long way, all the way from the hot temperatures in the desert region of Libya, across the tropical region of Niger, to tropical Mali. Thank you to all who have been reading my blog entries, and goodbye. :)

Day 13: Rescued...Almost?

 I wake up...in a bed. I look around, and find that the nomadic tribe of the Fulani had found me blacked out, and treated me. (I also realize I had missed one more day, due to my black out, which I apologize for.) Although I can't understand their native language, I guess they are beckoning for me to rest, as they too, can tell I am very ill. After resting for a while, I try my best to explain that I NEED to survive on my own. They show me the way to Mali, after mentioning it, and I thank them and leave. After passing by large escarpements, or steep cliffs, I finally reach Mali. I await by the destined checkpoint for the helicopter's arrival.

Day 11: Completely Lost

Yesterday, the terrorist group had stolen all my equipment, including my compass. Without it, I have no sense of direction, or in other words, completely lost. I wander around aimlessly, quite sure i'm not going to make this journey. Suddenly, I heard the sound of rushing water. Could it be? Yes! I found the Niger River! Being the third longest river in Africa, it went by many names, depending on the local tribe you spoke to, such as  "Egerew n-Igerewen" meaning "rivers of rivers" in Tuareg, and "Orimiri" meaning "great water" in Igbo. I quickly refill my water bottles, and press on. Later on that day, I feel much better, as I have finally had water. However, my stomach still isn't satisfied, and once in a while I stop and vomit, even though nothing comes out. I realize I am very sick, and I need medical attention right away. The loss of direction doesn't help either, and I soon black out.

Day 10: Al Qaeda Attack

Previously on the night of Day 8, I was awoken by an infamous terrorist group named Al Qaeda. They have been spread through Africa, and received lots of attention in recent media. They seemed to be tired and no better off than me, but ransacked me of all my water. Afterwards, they left me with nothing but empty bottles, but decided to leave me with just a pen as a joke, forcing me to record notes without a notebook. I am currently writing all this down onto the sides of the empty water bottles and my hands. I start to feel hopeless, hungry, tired, and thirsty. Barely having enough strength, I fall asleep under a Mangrove tree for some shade protection.

Day 8: West Africa

Prolonged periods of rationed, unsatisfying camel meat are completely gone, as I now have absolutely no food, and only 1 bottle of water left. I had to use some water earlier to rinse out my wound, which still stings, just not as bad. I head into  the northeastern region of Niger, entering the tropics, and after a few hours, notice different climate, tropical. It isn't as hot as it was in Libya, but now feels very humid, and many plants are starting to appear before me. I also get my first glimpse of animal life in Niger, including giraffes and hyenas(which are especially common in northern Niger). As for my meal, I settle on some gourd plants I picked along my way, which is a tasty fruit similar to melon.

Day 7: Bit In The Hand

Sorry I haven't been able to write for a few days. Earlier on the night of Day 4, a deathstalker scorpion bit my hand while I was sleeping. I woke up and wasn't able to go back to sleep. The Deathstalker scorpion, which you can probably tell from its name, is very dangerous. It causes severe pain, and maybe even death. However, on Day 6, I was lucky enough to stumble upon Citrullus Cologcynthis, or Alkhad. The Tuareg people used this fruits' special milky sap to cure stings from scorpions. I gathered as much as I could and I now feel good enough to write again.

Day 4: Meeting a Camel

I have been walking for days, and the heat has really gotten to me.  The Sahara Desert covers over 3.5 million square miles, but it wasn't always like this. Over 2 million years ago, this desert was not as big as it is now, but spread through desertification. Through this whole trip, I haven't been wearing much. I stowed away my outer clothing and am down to the thinnest clothing, as it keeps me cool while still protecting me from the hot rays of the sun. At around sunset, I found a wandering camel, and killed it for its meat and milk. I scraped around for some logs and wood in the desert, (although there wasn't much) and started a fire with my lighter. I cooked the meat and ate it for dinner that night.