Zambia

Day 213… Monday 23rd October No water available in the shower block this morning.  Very hot day today.  Sat under the awning but still hot in the shade.  38 Degrees Celsius.  Drove back to Kabwe with several Chinese trucks returning to the quarry.  Met with Sydney (Lonely’s younger brother) at the Fig Tree café for...Read More

Day 212… Sunday 22nd October Drove to Kabwe 2 and half hours further west.  Found a Shoprite – the largest supermarket seen in several weeks.  Plenty of choice and products available.  Card payment possible.  More commercial activity and lorries evident – block paviours, construction and agricultural equipment (namely tractors).   Intense rain and thunderstorm in the...Read More

Day 210… Friday 20th October Drove out of Kasanka National Park with several Tsetse flies who had manged to get into Greta and continued to bite us all morning.  Found a working ATM in the next town and stocked up on fresh veg in ‘Choppies’ which accepted card payment.  A small boy followed Allen all...Read More

Day 209… Thursday 19th October Plagued by Tsetse flies – huge biting flies that can cause sleeping sickness in humans and cattle.  Took a 3 hour drive around the west part of the national park and saw many Puku.  No other vehicles and just the odd ranger walking with a gun.  Marsh buck visible from...Read More

Day 208… Wednesday 18th October 5 hour drive to Kasanka National Park today.  Entrance gate fees were a rip-off as too were the camping fees a further 12km into the park.  The prices are not displayed and it was cash payment only.  It completely wiped out our cash supplies but having committed ourselves, it was...Read More

Day 207… Tuesday 17th October Intense rain and thunderstorms last night.  Didn’t get much sleep despite the use of earplugs.  Drove back through the vast estate of Shiwa Ngandu Manor House built by an Englishman Stewart Gore-Brown in 1913.  He contributed much to the local community and built schools and hospitals.  He became a Zambian...Read More

Day 206… Monday 16th October We knew the great north road was going to be bad having read reviews from fellow travellers.  Many potholes and slow-moving lorries. Progress was slow. A 5-hour drive to Kapishya Hot Springs with a couple of military check points on the way. One officer asked to see the Interpol check document issued...Read More

Days 203/204/205… Friday 13th Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October Pancakes and curried potatoes for breakfast. The security guard has washed our car. We gave him some small change. Set off for Tunduma border 3 hours away. Very quiet road and mostly tarred. On one of the dirt roads, a speeding lorry ahead was kicking up a huge amount...Read More

Day 166… Monday 4th September Managed to find an insurance office in Chipata (google maps was no help) and purchased ‘yellow card’ insurance to cover Greta for Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya (790 kwacha/£30.64 for 3 months, cash only).  A bustling border town which has grown hugely since the last visit 10 years ago.  There were...Read More

Day 165… Sunday 3rd September Decided to split the intended journey into Malawi over 2 days so it would be easier to manage as the road to Chipata was bad and would take 3 hours.  We needed fuel and supplies before the border crossing into Malawi.  Apparently there is a fuel problem in Malawi but...Read More