Last Travels in Zambia

Muli shani. Muli boti. (Hello in Chibemba and Chitonga respectively.) During my last 10 days in Zambia I had the opportunity to travel to the Northern Province, see Lake Tanganyika in the Great Rift Valley, visit a friend volunteering in a village, and travel to the Southern Province to visit a family in a village that I know through an NGO. The experiences were invaluable and were great lessons to me in the graciousness and kindness that strangers will bestow on others. Many of these pictures below were taken by the children in the villages I visited.

Twalumba Ian. Natotela Elisha and Lisa. Twalumba kapati Kenneth. For giving me the opportunity to see Zambia through your eyes.

Ian learning how to use the camera.

This is Ian and the chicken his family gave me as a gift. It was a great honor for me to receive it.

Village fishermen on Lake Tanganyika.

Kalombo Falls near Lake Tanganyika in the north of Zambia, in the Great Rift Valley. The 2nd largest falls in Africa. It was a 2 hour walk uphill, steep, to arrive. The river that feeds the falls is the one that separates Zambia and Tanzania.

Two friends who I joined on a visit in the Southern Province.

Kenneth, thank for the laughs and great lessons I learned from you.

One of the rural villages I visited. Here they speak Chitonga.

The women were preparing a chicken and nshima for a meal. Nshima is a delicious Zambian food that is eaten with all meals.

Pictures of Lusaka

My friend Elina and I took her 2 yr old son to the annual Agricultural Show - which is a big 3 day event every year with music, vendors, food and crafts from all over the world. Some of the biggest stands were from Cairo, rugs from Afghanistan, and clothing and crafts from Nigeria.

This woman is wearing a Nigerian style of dress.

Elina and her son Samson.

The following are some pictures from Lusaka.

Every month the Dutch Reformed Church holds a big crafts and food market on its grounds. Everyone in the diplomatic and international NGO community comes out to check out the wares. It's a fun social event and a great place to buy artisan work.

Little warthogs waiting to be sold.

The Lusaka National Museum

This is Andrew. He is a friend and has been teaching me how to play tennis.

The Capital City streets.

Visit to Kafue National Park

The weekend of July 13, I rented a 4 wheel drive with James and we drove to Kafue National Park - about 4.5 hours west of Lusaka. It's the largest National Park in Zambia. We stayed at a camp out in the bush: McBride's Camp.

It was a great weekend, from me learning to drive on the left (and giving James a few good scares!) to our walking safaris where on one walk we saw a lion and 2 lionesses (about 500 meters away). The camp is beautifully maintained, with great meals, no electricity - so it's amazingly quiet and peaceful.

Kafue Nat'l Park: http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/nationalparks/kafue.htm
McBride's Camp: http://www.mcbridescamp.com/







9 a.m. - overlooking the Kafue River
A Breakfast Visitor




Watching The Hippos






Once out, the hippos barely moved. Just sunbathed all day, standing in one spot. They eventually all lay down on the ground, but spent a good deal of time standing first.

Hippos actually can be dangerous animals and you don't want to be too close to them. They can run fast (the word comes from the Greek word for 'horse') and they weigh 3,000 to 7,000 lbs. They are claimed to be the deadliest animal in Africa for humans!
































Accomodation at McBride's Camp

Our accommodation was a thatched chalet with an open air, bathroom. The thatching is waterproof and animal proof. At night you can usually hear the hippos walking around that come up out of the Kafue River which is just a few 100m from the chalet. The second night we were there a leopard walked all through camp. It makes a distinct breathing sound. It won't bother humans and we were quite safe.

There is no electricity, so at night it's oil lamps and candles. And it's amazingly quiet and beautiful. It was the first time for me seeing the southern hemisphere sky and I have to admit I've never seen so many stars shine so brightly. A deep thanks to James for his patience in teaching me the Southern Cross.

The outdoor shower - under the stars at night.

Hanging out after tea. This is the lodge where we would have meals (on other side) or just hang out and read. It is open to the river, with walls on 2 sides.












James, John, the McBrides (owners) and another family visiting from the U.K.