Day 181-186

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ZAM 30th May - 4th June 2007, Zambia

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Day 181 30/5. The Clubhouse, Lake Kiriba, south of Choma, Zambia
17°27.03'S 27°22.90'E. Miles today 196, Total 17246
Full up on fuel, food and water and we are ready to hit the road again. (The Spar out of town is more expensive than the Shoprite in town but it is bigger and with a better selection.) I had this idea that we should go fishing on Lake Kariba just like my Gran used to. (She was born in Zambia but grew up in Zimbabwe) We drove towards the lake on a hunch that there was a camp site on the shore called "The Clubhouse" We were beginning to doubt our source of info as the road there was very long, disintegrating at a rapid rate and seemed never ending. Zambia smells like baked potatoes. Honestly. It's something to do with the trees. Speaking of trees, there are also Sausage trees everywhere. Nothing akin to the likes of a juicy pork banger, however. We eventually reached the gate where Bongwani greeted us and assured us we would enjoy our stay. He was so right. The campsite near a crocodile farm ($4 pp) was lovely (lots of grass and shade) and Johan and the Italian woman who run the place (and the three dogs who all seem to have a remarkable resemblance to hippos) made sure we were well looked after. After a few ice cold Mosi (beers) at the bar, we have organised a days fishing for tomorrow! Hurrah!
Day 182 31/5. The Clubhouse, Lake Kiriba, south of Choma, Zambia
17°27.03'S 27°22.90'E. Miles today 0, Total 17246
fishing action... allys catch Robs catch
dinner old tree sunset
Woke up to the cries of fish eagles. On the water by 7.30am with Chris, who drove the boat for us and attempted to teach two numpties how to fish. It was a slow start with no luck catching the elusive feisty Tiger Fish but we did find a good spot for Bream and caught nine of the little fellas. Great fun and certainly recommended with crocs and hippos all around and herds of wildebeest on the shore. But we have realised that you don't get much for your money here in Zambia. It was $35 each and that didn't even include a bottle of water! Spent the afternoon swimming in the fab pool and cleaning the fish for tonight. Made a great braai and grilled the bream with lashings of garlic. Yum!
Day 183 1/6. Moorings campsite, 11km north of Monze, Zambia
16°11.38'S 27°31.42'E. Miles today 111, Total 17357
sewing womenBought some crocodile fillets off the owners (there are loads of crocs about here) and headed back on the long dirt track. We were headed for a place called The Moorings north of Monze (we had picked up a brochure for it somewhere and the Belgians had also said it was fab. $5 pp) Turned out to be a cool little campsite in the middle of the bush and a small village. There was a community workshop nearby where the woman are all trained to sew and embroider fabric to make various goods. We spent a good deal of time and cash here and bought some cool things. Headed back to the camp and cooked up a mean soy and chilli crocodile stirfry. Superb.
Day 184 2/6. Chachacha Back packers, Luska, Zambia
15°24.72'S 28°17.51'E. Miles today 111, Total 17468
After refuelling in Mazabuka, and a long drive, we reached Lusaka today and headed for the Manda Hill shopping centre where there is a huge Shoprite. Stocked up on a few essentials and headed for the nearby Chachacha Backpackers where we could camp in the carpark ($5pp) with a bunch of other Cross Africa Bunnies. It's a bit frantic, tired and scruffy but a great place to meet other travellers with a pool, bar, restaurant and internet.
Day 185 3/6. Chachacha Back packers, Luska, Zambia
15°24.72'S 28°17.51'E. Miles today 0, Total 17468
Decided to spend this lazy Sunday here in Lusaka so wondered around the town looking for a spot of lunch. No luck though, strange, as nothing open. Chilled out for the afternoon in the bar and surfing the net. Wedding panic has set in!
Day 186 4/6. Zulu Kraal camping, Petauke, Zambia
14°17.77'S 31°19.18'E. Miles today 240, Total 17708
I have always wanted to go on a night drive to spot a leopard, so we left Lusaka and were on our way to South Luangwa National Park. A long day on the road and nowhere near the national park yet so we stopped at Zulu Kraal, a community campsite run by Bess. ($3 pp) Very basic with no showers and dodgy loos but a cool little bar and ice cold Mosi. Joined the locals in the bar where they were glued to some African soap on the telly. Very entertaining!
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