Author Topic: Life in Zambia - Knopkop to Continue (Read 14297 times)

Malibu · « **Reply #20 on:** February 09, 2012, 08:32:21 am »

*sub*

Minora · « **Reply #21 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:01:47 am »

So we had to leave Nsobe and travel back to Chililabombwe, I must say:' If there is something a HATE about Zambia, it is driving!!!!!!!'
Especially on the main roads. It is a fact, the people can't drive at all , they overtake on uphills, around blind corners, you name it, they do it!

This ensures that there are accidents every day, trucks tipping over end losing their cargo. In the DRC, they drive on the right side of the road, thus all the trucks are left had drive. Now imagine a left had drive truck, trying to overtake another trucks on an uphill or around a bend.......OK, enough with the moaning.

On our way back to Chili, we run into a MAJOR traffic jam with MILLIONS of trucks at a standstill (this is now between Kitwe and Chingola), must be an accident again, it is just after 13:00.

We retrace back to kitwe, about 20km to go and enjoy a cold one and a Pizza

We call this 'shop', Joshua Outdoore.....

So after a nice meal in town, browsing the web on the laptop, we head back the 20km we had to retrace earlier (it is now 17:00)....no luck, we only manage 10km as the traffic has not moved an inch......and another 2 000 000 trucks pitched up at the scene.....

Some general pictures

Pitty that we did not take pictures of the 4 000 000 trucks, maar ons was te gatvol!!!!!

We head back to Kitwe, on the laptop again to search for accomodation. I will not travel in Africa after dark ( Read what happened to momi20 when he attempted it: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=87543.40 , and remember there are a backlog of 4 000 000 trucks heading towards the DRC

We stay the night at Mukwa Lodge in Kitwe, http://www.mukwalodge.com/, a very beautiful lodge, highly recommended if you should ever spend a night in Kitwe

The roads in Zambia speaks for itself...

And the Japanese have also found there way to Zambia, walking around town looking for property

To be continued.....

DeepBass9 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:08:33 am »

Nsobe brings back memories of when I was staying in Kitwe. We were there just about every weekend. Are Mark and Fiona still running the place?

Minora · « **Reply #23 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:22:13 am »

Quote from: DeepBass9 on February 09, 2012, 09:08:33 am

Nsobe brings back memories of when I was staying in Kitwe. We were there just about every weekend. Are Mark and Fiona still running the place?

What were you doing in Zambia?

Yes Nsobe was so nice, in the future it will bring back nice memories as-well. I never met Fiona, but did met Mark. Actually it is a funny story. We were enjoying supper when a typical Zambian Rainstorm started to come down and killed the power in the camp.

As you would recall, the restaurant is just next to the reception. The road leading towards the reception created a run-off for the water and basically formed a river straight into the Restaurant. There we were, enjoying supper @ Candlelight with the water streaming through underneath us. So Mark came over to apologise and that is how me met Mark. Told him we did not mind the situation at all, it actually created a rather romantic dinner we would remember!

DeepBass9 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:26:04 am »

I lived in in Kitwe 2001-2002 working at Mopane mine as a geologist. It was a great experience. I go back from time to time to Chibuluma mine amongst others. Say hi to Mark from Steve and Sam, maybe we'll pass by there some time!

There must be a national hangover this morning from the AFCON match last night!

If you get a chance you should go out to Lake Kashiba, its one of the few places that you can swim since there are no crocs. Its basically a big sinkhole filled with clear blue water. They do scuba diving there as well. Makes for a nice weekend trip. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Kashiba

Minora · « **Reply #25 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:33:47 am »

Quote from: DeepBass9 on February 09, 2012, 09:26:04 am

I lived in in Kitwe 2001-2002 working at Mopane mine as a geologist. It was a great experience. I go back from time to time to Chibuluma mine amongst others. Say hi to Mark from Steve and Sam, maybe we'll pass by there some time!

There must be a national hangover this morning from the AFCON match last night!

It is truly a great experience and enjoying my stay here. I will most definitely send him your regards when we go to Nsobe again

You can imagine, the whole site from yesterday morning was all about THE GAME, I'm so proud of the boy's

Minora · « **Reply #26 on:** February 09, 2012, 10:29:12 am »

After we spent the night in Kitwe, we tried again to head back to Chililabombwe via Chingola. Third time lucky

In the end it was not an Accident, but a truck which lost a load, a winder or something and they had to wait for 2x20 ton Cranes to come and lift the cargo back onto the trailer.

And to make things worse, this happened right before the river crossing, thus either way, no vehicle could cross the bridge

This is where it took place. Note the truck on the right hand side, it did not play a part in die incident, this happened about two weeks earlier

IF ONLY CAN REINSTATE THESE TRACKS AGIAN.....

Koncola Copper Mine (KCM) situated just outside Chingola

An average haulage truck.......

To be continued...

bmad · « **Reply #27 on:** February 09, 2012, 12:52:00 pm »

Awesome stuff

I have spent plenty time in Lusaka for work. Not a bad place, reminds me of Pietersburg. Almost like another SA town.

They have some nice golf course there as well, keep you busy on the weekends

eikeboom · « **Reply #28 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:23:23 pm »

Quote from: Minora on February 09, 2012, 08:23:01 am

Its good that you start with a family while your'e young...

Minora · « **Reply #29 on:** February 10, 2012, 07:34:54 am »

Your evil eikeboom

I can honestly say that they are not mine

Mzee · « **Reply #30 on:** February 10, 2012, 07:59:54 am »

I passed there on this trip. http://mzee-jaki.blogspot.com/2009/10/everyone-has-dream.html Great place.

JMOL · « **Reply #31 on:** February 11, 2012, 08:02:40 am »

Subscribed . . .

Very nice - Thanks for sharing

Tonteldoos · « **Reply #32 on:** February 12, 2012, 08:33:25 am »

Awesome, In Dec 2010 I had the opportunity to go to Manapools and we traveled vie Bots and Zambia to Kariba from there up to Mana.
MAn would I love to explore Zambia, only spend 2 day's in Zambia unfortunately

but one-day I'll go back.

Minora · « **Reply #33 on:** February 24, 2012, 01:28:58 pm »

So after we made it back to Chililabombwe (The place of the croaking toads), I showed SWAMBO the town. She could only stay for 2 nights then I had to return all the way to Ndola to go drop her off, this time round I managed to make it home without any stop-overs in Kitwe.

The old state theater while still a British Colony

The bowling club still seems rather well kept, rumour has it that the season only starts in March/April, will gou check it out.

Tennis seems not to interest the residents of Chililabombwe

The squash club is still being used regularly. I played competitively back in school and on varsity, but over the last 5 years I took up running and have not played since. But I brought my old kit with and now play on a weekly basis against the locals, couple of them are GOOD!!!

SWAMBO is a Dr. doing her Internship year at Groote Schuur Hospitaal, so she did some community service on a different way by bringing our domestic and her child some gifts.

This was the part of SWAMBO's visit, she is back to CPT and myself back to work

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

desert dueler · « **Reply #34 on:** March 08, 2012, 10:53:14 am »

my mates parents own Olympic Milling up there, the Samaras's. you ever bump into them?

Ian in Great Brak River · « **Reply #35 on:** March 09, 2012, 09:48:17 pm »

Bucket list this is for me.

Thanks for sharing.

Harry the Buffalo · « **Reply #36 on:** March 09, 2012, 10:20:05 pm »

Thanks for sharing Bud

Minora · « **Reply #37 on:** March 10, 2012, 07:27:35 am »

Quote from: desert dueler on March 08, 2012, 10:53:14 am

my mates parents own Olympic Milling up there, the Samaras's. you ever bump into them?

Are the in Chililabombwe?, I have not bumped into them yet.

Minora · « **Reply #38 on:** March 10, 2012, 07:34:06 am »

Pleasure all.

Only 3 nights left in Zambia then I go on R&R (Rest & Recovery) for two weeks. I have last been in SA on the 2de of January so I'm rather exited to go back and to spend time with my family and especially SWAMBO.

desert dueler · « **Reply #39 on:** March 15, 2012, 12:55:25 pm »

Quote from: Minora on March 10, 2012, 07:27:35 am

Quote from: desert dueler on March 08, 2012, 10:53:14 am
my mates parents own Olympic Milling up there, the Samaras's. you ever bump into them?

Are the in Chililabombwe?, I have not bumped into them yet.

nope, they in Kitwe i think, or near by. the business is in kitwe