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Travel Blog #45 - Kariba Dam, Zimbabwe

Submitted by Peter on Mon, 2010-06-07 15:06.

Location

South Africa




After a night stop in Lusaka we headed for Kariba Dam wall situated between Zambia & Zimbabwe.
 
It was a very scenic drive all the way from Lusaka to the border posts situated on both sides on the dam wall.
 
What a sight as one approaches the dam wall after clearing customs on the Zambian side.
The mighty Zambezi is completely full and the water was pumping. It was quite emotional as the last time we crossed the Zambezi was more than 2 months and 9 countries ago in Mozambique.
 
 
 
Only 3 sluice gates open. Apparently all 6 can't be opened for more than one hour per week. Not 100% sure but something to do about vibration in the dam wall and flooding below the wall.
 
 
 
View from the top of the dam wall looking down the sluices and the Zambezi on its way to the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique.
 
 
 
View from the Zimbabwean side.
 
 
 
Kariba Dam. The town Kariba is a ghost Town. Hundreds of house boats lying rotting on the water in the harbour.
We tried to catch the ferry down to Vicoria Falls but it only runs once a week now. It would have been awesome, you park your car in the hull and one sleeps on the deck whilst cruising down the length of Kariba Dam.
 

 

Travel Blog #44 - North Luangwa

Submitted by Peter on Fri, 2010-06-04 19:51.

Location

South Africa
After a refreshing 2 days at Kapishya Hot Springs, we headed for Buffalo Camp in North Luangwa. Mark also owns that camp and they were in the process of building it for the 2010 season.
 
We agreed to take some supplies and building gear with us and settled on a good rate with Mark as the camp was not complete yet.
 
In fact, he didn’t charge us. What an offer, as North Luangwa is one of the Game Parks we were dying to visit. Mark, we are forever thankful to you.
 
 
The entrance to North Luangwa Park.
 
 
 
Darryl following in his brand new Land Cruiser Pick Up.
 
 
 
Guard at one of the Rhino Fences.
 
 
 
North Luangwa Valley
 
 
 
The road down into the valley. It is about a 1000mtrs drop into the valley.
 
 
 

A few river crossings en route to Buffalo Camp.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Darryl’s Land Cruiser Pick Up crossing a river.
 
  
 
 
The Buffalo Camp entrance in North Luangwa.
 
 
 
Buffalo Camp is a seasonal bush camp based in the North Luangwa. North Luangwa National Park is one of the last unspoilt true wilderness areas left in Africa.
It is renowned for its enormous herds of buffalo and its numerous other species of wildlife and bird life.
The camp is normally open from the 1st June to the 1st week of November. The recommended stay at Buffalo camp is from three (3) to five (5) nights. This will enable you to fully appreciate the uniqueness of the North Luangwa.
 
 
 
The camp consists of 5 chalets all en-suite plus 1 guide’s chalet. Three of the chalets are built up on stilts, over looking the Mwaleshi River. A maximum of 10 clients can be accommodated at a time.
 
The area is predominately for walking safaris but they will do limited game and night drives. Buffalo camp is unique in that it is one of the only camps in the North Luangwa that accommodates families with children.
 
 
 
Kitchen area.
 
 
 
Mwaleshi River in front Buffalo Camp.



  

Chalets in the process of being built.

  

Each chalet has its own water supply, hot and cold water tank.
 
 
 
Inside the chalet.
 
 
 
 
View from your bed.
Mwaleshi River, hippos, crocs and game greet one every morning.
 
 
 
Sundowners at the Luangwa River.
 
 
Baby Hippo in the Luangwa River.
 
 
 
Yawning Hippo.
 
 
 
Africa at it’s best. A fire, braai, cold beers, hippos snorting below, hyenas in the distance, lions roaring and just chatting and staring into the coals.
 
 
 
The staff at Buffalo Camp. Sunday, second from the left, is the main guy. In fact, he worked for Mark & Delia Owens, the two yanks that settled in North Luangwa and wrote two books about their experiences in the valley.
Sunday features in the books and proudly showed us the photographs of him in one of the books.




Travel Blog #43 - Kapishya Hot Springs

Submitted by Peter on Fri, 2010-06-04 13:07.

Location

South Africa
Our next stop in Northern Zambia was Kapishya Hot Springs. Kapishya is a quiet secluded 6 chalet lodge with 12 beds (families can be accommodated 4 in a room).
 
It is situated on the Estate of Shiwa Ngandu (The Africa House) and is set along the banks of the Mansha river.
 
This is an absolute gorgeous oasis in the middle of nowhere. I think Mark & Mel took one look at us and we didn’t need a lot of persuasion to agree that a cottage on the river sounds a lot better than camping ‘again”. We must have looked a sight after 10 weeks in Africa.
 
The Campsite has running water with 5 toilets and 2 hot showers. Firewood is provided free of charge.
 
The main house with a dining room, quiet secluded lounge area and bar. It was built using local labour and materials.
 
 
 
The gardens, Mark’s hobby, are just unbelievable.  Each species has been identified with a nice big name tag. We told him he should pay the same attention to his sign board on the main T2 road. It is very small and we nearly missed it.
 
This became a little joke between us because Darryl, who complained about the ‘small sign’, missed the MAIN turnoff from Lusaka to Mpika and ended up in Ndola. ‘How big does he want it to be?’
 
 
 
The Mansha River in front of Kapishya.
 
 
 
Mark & Mel with dogs & cat.
 
 
 
Dining room with bar area in the back ground.
 
 
 
Our cottage.
 
 
 
View from the deck of our cottage.
 
 
 
Mansha River with us doing a river cruise.
 
 
 
Stopping for a few beers before the ‘rapids’ section downstream.
 
 
 
The hot spring. We did suggest that a waiter or a bell could be a big improvement because it is quite chilly when one gets out of the hot water to go and get fresh cold beers.
 
 
 
Lunch consisting of some snacks and a few cold beers. This was exactly what we needed to wash off the dust and grime after 10 weeks in Africa.
 
 
 
Toni & Darryl busy with lunch.
 
 
 
Toni going for a dip in the hot spring.
 
 
 
 

Travel Blog #42 - Kings Highway Lodge & Camping

Submitted by Peter on Fri, 2010-06-04 11:44.

Location

South Africa
Our first stop in Northern Zambia was a lodge & campsite called Kings Highway Lodge & camping right next to the T2 between Tundoma Border Post and Isoka. This is an initiative whereby South Africans get involved with the local people to establish income for them. They have helped to refurbish the lodges & camp sites and there seems to be also agriculture training etc.
 
One of the best camp sites we have experienced. Lovely grass, hot showers and beautiful trees.
 
 
 
Nice thatched ‘Lapa’ area with washing-up facilities, purified water and braai areas.
 

Travel Blog #41 - Tunduma Border between Tanzania & Zambia

Submitted by Peter on Thu, 2010-06-03 16:21.

Location

South Africa
Another mad border crossing. This one was definately one of the worst we experienced.
 
 
Can you believe it. One road for the hundreds of truck to pass through from both countries. The Zambian officials decided to take their hour lunch so traffic was piling up in both directions.
Zambia also require a road tax, carbon tax and a 'local' district tax. Then whilst you are standing around you have the hudreds of 'border louts' trying to sell you their services to help you with all the paper work, exchange your money or just plain begging.
 
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