Lake Safari Lodge Siavonga

Lusaka 15/10/09<br> 480ks<br> If the petrol station man, the camp manager, Omar the Egyptian, and everyone else in Livingstone told you that there was no fuel until Lusaka would you believe them? Me and Dave did but Robin thought he would try his luck. So we had to buy this stuff for his bike of the black market guys that looked and smelled like pain thinners. It cost 90 000 kwakkers (something ...

Heading to Lusaka now and the road is being replaced (thanks very much to the Chinese Government) thus numerous detours which made a long trip even longer.. we came across a place called Moorings Camp and it is great in the middle of nowhere green grass and a happy array of puppy dogs. Interestingly there turned out to be a number of these farms where you can kind of camp on the front lawn of the farm house, very nice but a bit on the smelly side. We think they were farming pigs.

... for the next 2 hours before half the bus got off and we were able to stretch out for the last 2 hours of bumpy roads to Livingstone. We thought we were in the clear and the worst of the bus ride was over. <br><br>The bus was pitch black, and Brittany, Sarah, and Lindsey tried to fall asleep for the last part of the ride. All of a sudden, Brittany felt a large object quickly scurry up her arm, across her neck, and behind her seat. She leaped onto ...

... the bush and I on my own saw kudu and giraffe so well camouflaged in the dense bush. That night I shared a bottle of gin with tonic waters (which cost more than the gin !!!) with Emma and got very tipsy as our tin mugs were deceptive and our pouring was way too generous.

... these people or not, it&#8217;s important to note that, tellingly, they admit that they cannot provide cures for illnesses that are beyond the grasp of even Western medicines. Mulonde herself made it clear to us that the one thing she could not treat effectively was HIV and AIDS. Perhaps if a cure is ever found she will claim to have one too, but at least this demonstrates some degree of honesty which avoids giving false hope to the estimated 70% of Linda compound&#8217;s 35,000 ...

... I ummed and arred, but said no.<br><br>I can&#8217;t remember exactly why I did this, although the prospect of a ninety minute round trip to look at a glorified slab of concrete hardly had me rushing for the bus. In fact, as I looked out upon the early morning sunshine glistening across the vast pool before me, gentle waves crisply lapping up against the shore, I took it upon myself to stay right where I was.<br><br>However, the curiosity stung a little. When those who did go returned ...

... double rooms which had roll up tarps for windows so no doubt about a sea (or lake) view. There was a jacuzzi &amp; chefs who made beautiful food, we were spoilt. We went out on smaller tender boats both days on game views. We saw plenty of hippos the only problem is as soon as you get close to them they dissapear under the water. So you only see their heads when ...

... and reached the other side of the Lake. And techinically, I was in Zimbabwe - without 'officially' entering the country! Since I will not spend that $65 ebtry visa to visit the country ruled by terror, this was as far as I would go in Zimbabwe, for now. But at least theorectically, I just visited my country No. 97. (Cheating, I know)

... for the next couple weeks. Food we felt we did not have to eat with caution or question as to taste, safety, nutritional value or what it really was.<br><br>To sum up this arrival, well, what could I do? Getting upset won't change things, so I just did what I needed to do. We did have fun that day amidst the uncertainties and unfamiliar surroundings and culture. I think the fun came in the form of us finding humor in things and we were in it together.

... and I can feel a tan coming on (or sunburn). Currently in Victoria Falls. This is an amazing place and the falls are spectacular. Went down to view them today and unfortunatly there is a heard of buffalo which are getting aggressive so they have closed the gates for the day... So had to go to the Zambia border and look from the 111 metre high bridge. Am going white water rafting tommorrow and you will be happy to know that they have currently graded the ...