Zambia3

21^st – 27^th May

Decided to move around the lake onto the east side, this would enable us to be able to visit Kalamba Falls, which are the 2^nd highest in Africa, higher than Victoria Falls. Has a 211mt drop. Looking on the map we saw a resort called Isanga Bay Lodge, (which had also been mentioned by one of the groups which we followed on the internet) what we need to mention here their trip was in 2007. Well on leaving the main road to the resort which was aprox 18km, the road became very rocky, I was quite happy to try and turn the trailer around, stubborn (or optimism) not sure which, “no lets go on” says experienced driver, well yes we got through 3 and a half hours later. As we arrived at the lodge Rene and Sean, the couple running the lodge came running out and asked us where we came from, when we told them where we had come from, they were stunned to see the car and trailer in two pieces but believe me, so was I. (they told us the road had been closed for the past two years, obviously soon after our fellow travellers had done it) I was a nervous wreck, I asked, “do you have a drink? Rene took me to the bar and I downed a beer so fast, you would not believe. I am still not sure who the most important person was to get us there, probably in this order, St Christopher, Mary, My rosary, Wolf, Mitsubishi, Afrispoor!!! (Shame poor Wolf, he only comes third but that’s because he is fallible and to blame going down the road) But it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. You would think we were on the beaches in the east or Mauritius. (We will post pictures on the blog. But believe me the drive was hell. Well we were there, Utopia!! and the last thing I wanted to do was drive out ever. We offered to work for them for nothing until the new road was built. (About 1 year) Serious I would have stayed. Well six days later, after making quite good friends with Rene and Sean, two good dinners together and lots of chats & laughs, we thought we better try the route out. A Lodge well recommended either by boat from Mpulungu or wait until the road is fixed. We left on Wednesday at 6am, well we did get out, (9.30am) but not without damaging the car and trailer. In the next small town (about the size of Plaston) we managed to get the trailer welded and then phoned and got the number of Afrispoor, ordered a new spring for the trailer, we were lucky enough to have a friend. Liebs, coming to back to Malawi, after being in Jhb this week for his daughters wedding. The rest of the damage to car and trailer Wolf will have to do. I don’t think the car, trailer or I will ever be the same again, and Wolf has promised no more roads like this. (now in black and white on blog)

We visited the falls on the way out, quite a spectacular drop but not wide enough to be anything like Victoria Falls. Another picture on the blog is a T.Bone steak which Wolf ordered in a butcher in Kasama, looking at the size you would think he ordered a whole side!!! He managed to eat it all!!

GENERAL INFO ON OUR TRIP AND ZAMBIA

We have done some 7284 km so far, put the tent up and down 16 times, (can setup in 20min and can pack up in half an hour) Slept in our small floor tent twice and spent another 7 nights in resorts.

But mostly we don't rush anything; we have learnt to chill at everything. Zambia is very very expensive, their park fees horrific but the people are wonderful, all friendly, even the police stops, which are at least every two hours and nearer the cities sometimes an half hour apart.

Zambia is supposed to have 10.5 million people, believe me, we saw that many children just in the villages we drove through. Their average life age is only 35, so maybe this explains us feeling the whole population is made up of children under 14, and every child over the age of 12 or so with a child on its back. I could not even count the schools they have, at least one every five kilometres.