Zambia 2nd week

Monday 26th March

We relaxed all day at Kalala camp on the edge of Itezhi Tezhi Dam catching up on washing, typing up web pages and reading. The guys of course had the regular maintenance of the vehicles to deal with! Brian eventually decided to take time out and to go fishing but the first fish he caught barbed him quite deeply in his hand – just above his thumb so then it was first aid time – luckily Maureen is a nursing sister. The day ended with a beautiful braai around the camp fire and we all retired to bed well rested and relaxed ready for the next challenging day of travel.

Tuesday 27th March

We left at 8 am and headed 80kms N on a very bad road full of pot holes. Our windscreen wipers stopped working – we are still being plagued by electrical faults! However, Dave hot wired them and our main problem was that the rain was intermittent – as each time the rain stopped or started we had to stop, open the bonnet and manually connect or disconnect the wipers! Very tiresome. We then reached the tar road leading E towards Lusaka and the going improved until Willies steering stabilizer on the right hand side packed in! Willie and Brian proceeded slowly while us, Lorraine & Nev and Anne-Rose & George went ahead. We reached Lusaka and George’s submersible petrol pump packed in! I am learning a lot about motor cars and their workings I can tell you. Anyway we finally all made it into Eureka Camp ground.

Wednesday 28th March

Another day spent doing motor vehicle maintenance! I don’t think anyone anticipated all this but still we are keeping going. In the afternoon Ingrid, Dave and I went into the Comesa office to find out about buying the Comesa Yellow card which is a once off 3rd party insurance for most of the African countries. We found out where to go the following morning and then went back to Eureka Camp. We had a delicious tuna pasta for dinner and then hit the sack for our early start in the morning.

We have found all the Zambians we have met, to be very friendly and as helpful as can be. They all speak English and so communication is no problem. The country side is beautiful and the land looks very fertile. Cell signal is very intermittent as there is generally only one tower in each town so you only get signal for a few kilometers around the town and nothing in the countryside. All along the roads there are locals selling tomatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes and spinach. Lusaka, itself, is a thriving but typically African city with derelict buildings, intermittent electricity supply and hordes of street sellers. However, we never felt threatened at all. On the outskirts of the city we found modern big shopping centres to match any of ours in South Africa with all the shops we are accustomed to eg. Game, Checkers, Steers and Mr Price.

Thursday 29th March

We left Eureka camp at 8am and all headed off to do what we had to in Lusaka. Most of us went and bought our yellow card at the Nico insurance office and once again the lady was slow but ever so helpful, even volunteering to send an email off to Ingrid’s mother for her. We all met about 120kms out of Lusaka at a town called Kabwe at lunch time. Petrol is very expensive here at about R12 a litre, but of course we can’t proceed without the magical fluid! We all set off together at 2pm and headed N till 4pm stopping at a camp site just off the road, called Forest Inn. To camp was only 50 000 kwacha a couple! Don’t fret – that is only R90.

Friday 30th March

We left and carried on beautiful tarred roads towards Serenje. At about 12 we split up as the Kargs and Oldhams went to visit some farmer friends of the Kargs while us other 3 couples went to see Kundalila Falls which means “cooing dove”. It was wonderful to get some exercise as we had to hike down to the bottom of the falls. They were a beautiful site from the bottom and we had a swim in the icy waters at the bottom! We relaxed at the falls for the rest of the afternoon and then headed up towards Kasanka Park. We are now in a bush camp just outside the gates and are planning to go in early tomorrow morning. Tonight Dave and I decided to time ourselves- from when we stop at camp, it takes us exactly 7 minutes to be completely set up – with our roof top tent up, chairs out, shower cubicle up and beers and savannas in hand. Not bad hey? And tonight, we had pot roasted chicken with sweet potatoe, butternut and onion with lovely gravy!! Life is great in Africa.
On the way here the Kargs had a dark chanting goshawk fly into their windscreen-they thought they had killed it but they stopped and picked it up as they realized it was just stunned. Lorraine just kept it quietly in her lap and it seems to have recovered – she has put it in a tree tonight and we will see how it is tomorrow.
Today I have felt really homesick as Rayanne gets home today and I remember how excited I was to first see Carmen-Jo when she came home from UCT! Anyway I knew it wouldn’t be easy leaving my kids behind so I suppose I have just got to get over this. I miss you tons my children and I blow you a kiss to the stars every night.

Saturday 31st March

We woke up at 5.30am and left at 6 for Kasanka National Park and after entering reached the main office in the middle of the park at about 8am. After speaking to Kim, the lady in charge, we have established that this is not the right time for game viewing although it is perfect for spotting the rare Shoebill at Shoebill Island. The other 3 couples decided to spend 1 night in Kasanka anyway, while the Karg’s and us decided to head on to Mutinondo on the way to Shoebill Island.

Sunday 1st April

We have spent a wonderful day here at Mutinondo. There are huge granite whaleback rocks and a very clear river running through the centre over 3 waterfalls. We left at 7.30am and did a 8km hike along the river – stopping to swim under the waterfalls – and then back around these whalebacks to our camp. We used the back pack that Daryl gave Dave for Christmas and the juice was really welcome! At 11am we had a scrumptious breakfast of bacon, eggs and fried tomatoe on toast. The rest of the day we have relaxed, after doing laundry, and played bridge. Tonight we are planning a braai. The weather here is a lot cooler and your crocheted blanket is coming in very handy, Mom.
Love and hugs to all of you