Life in Zambia - Knopkop to Continue

[Hinksding]

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[Minora]

Just a couple of crappy cell-phone pictures taken one Sunday. We drove to this old Open Cast mining pit that filled up with water over the years, had a couple of beers and a 'Boerie' or two.

The road leading to the pit:









An overhanging ledge provided us with some entertainment, no photos were taken while we jumped of, do however have videos but to upload a video proved to be a task 'bo my vuurmaak plek'





No fancy braai needed



We were even lucky enough to spot a wild animal or two.

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A hippo enjoying a refreshing bath and keeping a close eye on us! 



This weekend (Easter weekend) we are going to Siavonga on Lake Kariba, will upload pictures upon arrival back on Monday

[pzem69]

Great pics Minora.

I spent some time in and around Kitwe and Ndola in the late 90's.Great place great people. Have you been to Mindola dam yet? Old club house used to have pics and news paper clippings of Olympic achievements of individuals representing Northern Rhodesia in those days. Great memorabilia the only problem was no electricity in club house so needed to check pics by match and lighter light.

Ndola airport was one of my all time favorite airports, only a broken barbed wire fence separating you from your table in the restaurant and access to the runway. It looks like they repaired the road to the Chiliabombwe border post, I can remember being able to hide a double cab bakkie in some of them. Some beautiful big properties in Garneton just outside Kitwe.

Great memories from that part of the world mind you most East African countries are like that once you get away from there capitals.

Enjoy while you can

[Minora]

Great pics Minora.

I spent some time in and around Kitwe and Ndola in the late 90's.Great place great people. Have you been to Mindola dam yet? Old club house used to have pics and news paper clippings of Olympic achievements of individuals representing Northern Rhodesia in those days. Great memorabilia the only problem was no electricity in club house so needed to check pics by match and lighter light.

Ndola airport was one of my all time favorite airports, only a broken barbed wire fence separating you from your table in the restaurant and access to the runway. It looks like they repaired the road to the Chiliabombwe border post, I can remember being able to hide a double cab bakkie in some of them. Some beautiful big properties in Garneton just outside Kitwe.

Great memories from that part of the world mind you most East African countries are like that once you get away from there capitals.

Enjoy while you can

Thanks pzem69 

I will upload the Kariba pictures once the internet is restored on site, takes too much bandwidth on my 3G Dongle and the connections gets interrupted rather easily.

No we have not been to Mindola dam yet, to be frank, have not heard of the place - will definitely look it up! Sounds like a place with lots of history.

I think nothing have changed at Ndola airport since the late 90's. Still only a broken barbed wire fence separating you from the runway and restaurant.

Correct, the road leading to the Chililabombwe/DRC boder post has been repaired and is in a rather good state, wish I can say the same about the road between Chingola and Kitwe, the rains and heavy traffic have left the roads in a desperate state, and all the police post along the way is not helping either as the roads take punishment each time they must come to a halt.

I was amazed by some of the properties in Kitwe, some beautiful old English style building still in a very good state. I played in a Rotary Golf day on Sunday at the Nchange Golf course in Chingola, man what a beautiful golf course created in the thick Zambian type bush, Give them a couple of dollars to repair a couple of stuff and the course will be there right at the top of the list!!!

Glad I could bring back some memories

Will post pictures asap 

[Minora]

So over the Easter weekend, we decided on number 99 to go to lake kariba, after 12.5 hours on the road, we pulled into Siavonga.
Gerda an CP invited us to join the as they now people in Kariba, Annerie and Gert.

They run a family business there and farm with Crocodiles and catch Kapentas on big scale and distribute throughout Zambia.

The team:



The view from their house



Sunset over Kariba, life is good in Africa



View from Lake Kariba Inn.



The next morning, we refueled the big cargo boat and we spend the whole day on the water, having a couple of cold ones, a typical South African Braai (but a first for me on a boat).









Johann tried his hand at catching some fish, but no luck



The border/dam wall separating Zambia and Bob's land



We even took instruments to make music, Brendan serenaded us as the Sun was setting, while the Shotgun was only for safety precautions. As we have to get in the water later that night to get off the boat and there are lots of crocs on the water's edge





And the fun is about to start











A lack of tubes and ski's, forced us to improvise





Supper is about to be served as the sun sets over the western banks of Kariba







And a final swim to end off the day and hopefully not becoming a croc's supper





The perfect way to and the day as the moon rises over the eastern banks of Bob's country



Dropping the anchor and heading back to the shore with the speedboat

[Minora]

Daybreak the next morning



Time to go and visit the croc farm





I was brave enough to wrestle with the crocs. After several minutes and lots of effort, I managed to bag this big fellow







After I survived my croc wrestle match, we took the speedboat out again and went for some drinks at one of the lodges. Notice the warning of the Crocdiles





Spotting a fish-eagle soaring over one of the Islands



Our time was up, we needed to head back. This time round it took us 8.5 hours, shows you how much the traffic and big trucks can influence the time spend on the road.

Some last pictures of the local fishing sights







The end of Kariba. . . Till our next adventure

[Minora]

Will update this again when something interesting happends, maybe me taking part in a Bowls tournament   [/b]

Ok it is not a tournament but last Saturday after work, a couple of us decided to go and sniff out the Bowls club. We were welcomed with open arms and played a round or three

[Minora]

So another weekend in Zambia. . .not too much going on so we decide to head to the 'Lakes' again for a braai and a swim













Excuse the upside down pictures, but too much effort to flip them up straight

After the swim, we light the fire. . .





. . .pump up the wheels and go for a quick ride to explore the area





. . .and of we go



. . .and return an hour or so later



We feast like kings, and as the afrikaans saying go's: 'Magies vol, ogies toe', thus we take a Sunday afternoon siesta



(Some elevated pictures of the lake) - Jack actually swam to the other side and back, crazy Australian 





They day ends in a fashionable way



Till our next adventure, to be continued. . .

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

I like this fred.
Wish you could show us some pics of the farming in Zambia.

[Minora]

Great pics Minora.

I spent some time in and around Kitwe and Ndola in the late 90's.Great place great people. Have you been to Mindola dam yet? Old club house used to have pics and news paper clippings of Olympic achievements of individuals representing Northern Rhodesia in those days. Great memorabilia the only problem was no electricity in club house so needed to check pics by match and lighter light.

Pzem69

So we went to Mindola Dam yesterday, unbelievable!

Gary (the mine GM) has a ski boat and invited us to join him. I tried my hand on Ski-ing, Only got out of the water once but as in the afrikaans words:' Dis nie wat nie maar dat'. Next time I will get up on the ski's more than once.

The facilities are still very well up-kept and clean and the dam is beautiful. I did not have a camera with me but will make sure I have one next time around. Took some pictures with the Cell but it does not do justice, will still upload them.

 

[Minora]

I like this fred.
Wish you could show us some pics of the farming in Zambia.

ChrisL

Thanks for the comment 

Unfortunitely the 'Copper Belt' is not too well known for farming but I know there is farm or two in the area. I will make a plan to get some pictures and information on Farming in Zambia

[Minora]

Crappy Pictures of 'Mindola Dam'. Next time round I will remember the camera



Jack Mac's Boat in which he wants to take on the 'Mighty Kafue river'









Life is tough in Africa

[Minora]

Next weekend. . .the long road to Livingstone



Google says we can do it in twelve....I am HOPING to do it in fourteen....they don't take road surface and trucks into account  

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Minora here is two tips when you try skiing again.
Do not pull yourself out the water....the boat will do it.(at all times keep arms straight)
Once out of the water stay seated on the water until the boat has picked up speed lean back slightly and stand up slowly.

[Minora]

Minora here is two tips when you try skiing again.
Do not pull yourself out the water....the boat will do it.(at all times keep arms straight)
Once out of the water stay seated on the water until the boat has picked up speed lean back slightly and stand up slowly.

Thanks ChrisL

Dit was presies die probleem. Die een keer wat ek opgekom het toe skop 2de natuur in ek probeer toe die boot nader trek.....toe die tou weer styf span, toe swem ek weer. Vandag is my lyf lekker seer. Volgende keer sal ek dit regkry 

[Minora]

Sorry ChrisL, still nothing on farming, but an update from Livingstone:

So we proved google wrong, and managed the trip down in 11h flat and back to Chili in 11h,30min and we did not speed

Fawlty Towers, our oasis for the next two days.







I appreciate luxury once in a while but if the budget is tight, there are nothing wrong with a backpackers'. Nobody that stays there are full of shit, they are all travelers that seek accommodation that is clean and won't break the bank. We paid $60 for the room per night, thus R120 p/p/p/n. We even had 24/7 free coffee and and free pancakes every day at 15h...and no not even the Royal Livingstone gives you free pancakes.

So upon arrival, a local lunch was in order





The chili crocodile burgers and Masala Chicken - for ZMK 30,000/burger (R40) went down too good and it was complimented by a Mosi or two.

Now, the reason we came to Livingstone: MOSI-OYA-TUNYA (The smoke that thunders!!!)

And being local helps, tourists pay $20, we payed $1. . . . . .













This hippo was very close to the edge...we think he might have been in trouble



View from the boiling pot



Say what you want, the view is spectacular





We even spotted some local wildlife









The spray is unbelievable!

[Minora]

We started the night at 'The Waterfront', then 'Jolly Boy's', the 'Fezbar' and then back to Fawlty Towers...a successful night 

A quick brunch at the 'Sizzler' and time to decide what is our PVA. We all wanted to do White water rafting but with the water level so high, the rafting is closed til it drops. Bungee was an option be I have done it before on a previous visit, the rope snapping a while back when the Australian girl jumped and Jack being an Aussie, we gave it a miss, and he did Bloukrans so we opted for a 'Safari Raft'



The 'Upper Zambezi'

















Right, we conquered the Zambezi and we all were in the mood for pancakes, so off to the Royal Livingstone...







  No free pancakes....

So we opted for some beers and cocktails, $3.30 for a Mosi (ZMK 17'000 and the average we usually pay is about ZMK 10'000), but with this view, I would have payed R50.



Myself and Jack



CP and Gerda



MOSI-OYA-TUNYA



A very good meal at Olga's down the road - http://www.olgasproject.com/  - and a ABF drink at Jolly Boy's.

We woke up at 05:30, were on the road at 06:00

Refueled the vehicle



and were back in Chililabombwe at 17:30.

Two days of work left, and then I go out for some R&R in SA.

Till our next adventure  (Maybe Lake Tanganyika, Lower Zambezi or South Luanga National Park)

To be continued . . .

[GSLaaitie]

Ai, maar die lewe is darem maar swaaaar in Afrika!!! Lyk awesome

[GSLaaitie]

Gaan jy darem vir ons kom hallo se die naweek, of spandeer jy dan weer al jou tyd in die Kaap?..

[Minora]

Ai, maar die lewe is darem maar swaaaar in Afrika!!! Lyk awesome

Ek weet, maar iemand moet dit doen