Saturday, January 23, 2010

Lower Zambezi

Mmm. I'm way out of date on this so bear with me as I catch up; imagine yourself back in the balmy days of last summer.

I'm waiting at Lusaka International Airport for the plane to land and my butterflies to settle, fortunately, unlike Dad's flight the planes on time although Helen's a week late. She was offered a second interview for a training contract last week. Which posed a dilemma, attending meant cancelling her ticket and having to buy another but the prize is big. It's worth the risk. A glimpse through the doors sends a shot of adrenaline through me and moments later she's here. It's comfortable and easy, things are gonna be fine.

We're off the Lower Zambezi this weekend, I blagued a great deal on 5 star lodge from a friend of a friend, know what I mean, at the Royal Zambezi. We set off early as despite being only 250k away it will take us over 5hrs to get there, could quite afford flying into their private landing strip.The first part of the drive is tarmac heading south towards the Zim border. It's one of the most picturesque drives in Zambia and the road is pretty good apart from a few booby trap potholes. The sight of overturned lorries keeps you honest though. This is normally as a result of brake failure or mythical modern day highwaymen who lay traps on the rd to overturn lorries and then rob them.

Once we get to Chirundu it's dirt track all the way apart from a short ferry crossing. 3hrs later with only one or two mishaps we make it and it's worth it. Our "Tent" is super awesome and hardly deserves the title of tent. We have a balcony with our own private plunge pool, bath & shower and stunning views of the river








After settling in and lunch we took a cruise on the zambezi, we have the boat to ourselves, wow. It's not long before we come across a group elephants and their young taking a mud bath by the side of the river, which we enjoy for a while.

After an hour or so the sun begins to and the G&Ts appear, mixed at industrial strength. It's difficult to take in the enormity of it all, I guess an enourmous G&T helps, it was special moment.




Up early in the morning for a game drive in the National Park. The park is stunning set between the river and the mountains sadly virtually no game today.

After lunch we take another cruise and get up close and personal with an hippo.





The river is even wider and more impressive here, the combination of serenity, simplicity and scale takes your breath away.








That night we dine on a small island in the middle of the Zambezi complete with fancy tables and candelabra, from there off for a night drive. The morning disappointment is soon forgotten as we come across a leopard lounging around after pretty big meal by the looks of things. She doesn't seem in the least concerned by us and looks disdainfully on. It never gets boring seeing leopards.










The following morning we canoe on the Zambezi or more accurately we are taken by speed boat up river to where they have driven our canoes, given a guide/rower and gently amble down the Zambezi to the lodge, followed by another guy in a canoe with drinks. Just time for another marvelous lunch and off. We're held up at the ferry for an hour but back in Lusaka by 9pm and ready for Mutinondo!

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