Not everything called a donkey is a donkey. In English, the gray animal is called donkey. But this word also stands for hot water. Why that? Quite simply, in these parts of Africa, «donkey» is a device used to prepare hot water for showering or washing.

The donkeys are fueled with wood, which is plentiful in the Eastern Highlands – which unfortunately the Chinese have also noticed and are mercilessly cutting it down! (We haven’t bought anything that says «Made in China» on it for a long time!) But back to the donkey: Here the water is heated in a boiler and then fed to the showers via pipes.

When you reach a campsite or a «Lodge» – not everything with that name has three or more stars – you are asked when you would like hot water. Evening or morning? Or twice a day? An employe lights the fire and half an hour later the water is so hot that you have to add cold water to avoid burns!

However, that’s not all (yet)! As a guest you will also be asked if you plan to have a barbecue. If you say yes, then in the evening a fire is lit in the fireplace – every campsite has one. (This always takes a lot less time than if I did this and it gives us the opportunity to make the employees happy with a US$!)

That’s all? No, some days ago at Pungwe Camp we were also asked by Tatanda whether we had laundry to do or whether he should do the dishes for us! Africa Feliz!