Back home, everything seems familiar but everything is strange.

For a start, magazines are still full of stories about Britney Spears and Brangelina. Yet after 15 months on the road, it all seems pretty strange. Smooth tarmac is a delight - yet traffic is so congested that typically transport by car is no more efficient here than in the minibuses packed like sardines that we had got used to bumping around on African roads.

The easy access to all manner of fine foods is a treat, yet we find ourselves reminiscing about local street shacks selling rough and ready food surrounded by friendly locals.

And we look pretty strange ourselves, having adopted the African habit of spending several minutes greeting strangers before even simple transactions like buying bread. American shopkeepers look on with bemusement as we enquire after their health and the wellbeing of their families...

Still, like life itself, the presence of an end to a trip like this helps give it form and meaning. Already we are gearing up for the next, Scottish, phase of our lives with excitement, after a short tour of the U.S. to catch up with family and friends after a long break.

All in all, it's been an amazing trip, with a lifetime of unforgettable moments packed into a year. Still, it's good to be back!

Check our Latest Adventures section below for pictures and stories from Malawi & Western Tanzania or Rwanda or Uganda.