Zany Zambia and Memorable Malawi

Zany Zambia

Border crossings have been interesting but the one from Botswana into Zambia is better than the rest so far.  Checking out of Botswana was uneventful, getting into Zambia was a bit more interesting.  We had to walk to a ferry that took us across the river.  Below is a photo of the safety equipment.  We didn’t feel that safe.  The ferry was overloaded with people and trucks (water was close to the deck).  Once in Zambia we had to wait for the immigration guy to show to work.  There was only one guy to do the passport work and they just stroll into work whenever they want and work whenever they want.  It took us a bit of time but we made it.

This is supposed to be a life ring and life jacket

Once in Zambia we traveled to Livingstone for four days.  Lisa and I decided to get off the ground and upgraded to a room which overlooked the Zambizi River just upstream from Victoria Falls.  We were not expecting any resorts on our trip but we have had a couple so far and this was a nice one.  Below is a view from our room out onto the river and a picture of the monkeys playing in the trees outside or room.

This is the room view, excuse the laundry

Monkeys in a tree outside our room

In Livingstone there were plenty of adventures to be had from bungee jumping, to ultralight flights, to an all you can drink and eat cruise on the river.  Lisa and I did the ultralights over Victoria Falls (it was amazing – we do have photos from the air but can’t upload them since they are on a CD and we don’t have a CD drive on the computer).  Lisa even had a chance to fly the ultralight.  We also went on the all you can consume cruise. (I’m not as young as I think I am and was a little foggy the next morning – when security had to tell our group to get out of the bar side pool and calm down we knew we had a good time)  Some of our group did the most insane thing I could imagine.  They went to a spot called Angels Pool.  It is a back eddy three meters from the edge of the falls and sat in it for a bit.  One of the guys slipped coming out and had to be grabbed by the guide and one of the other group members.  He was a little scared as he was less than a meter from going over the falls.  Afterwards we found out that 2 to 3 people die each year doing that activity.  Only in Africa.

Ultralights

The Cruise

Panoramic Victoria Falls

Raw Power

Baboons on the Victoria Falls Trail

Lisa and I also went to view Victoria Falls from the ground.  We got soaked and had a great time.  We did have to watch out for the baboons that were on all the trails around the falls.  There were few barriers and the ones they did have were not that strong.  I guess they believe in Darwin’s theory and that if you are crazy enough to do things then so be it.  They must not have a lot of lawyers in Africa.

 

Memorable Malawi

Crossing into Malawi was the same as going into Zambia minus the ferry crossing.  We had to wait for the border people to show up and then to do their jobs.  TIA (This Is Africa).  Our first stop had us at a campground where as soon as we opened the gates to get in a few zebra followed the truck.  They were all around the site and it was amazing to watch them as we prepared dinner and ate.  

Zebra at the campsite.  You can see us getting things ready.

We then drove quite a distance to the base of Lake Malawi.  This lake has the largest variety of fish anywhere in the world (This is where most of the fresh water tropical fish come from that we see in our fish tanks back home)  Lisa and I went snorkeling at one of the islands and below are a few pictures.

We stayed at a place called Kande Beach (a bit of a party place).  Lisa and I upgraded again to a very musty smelling room (at least we could sleep as we were away from the noise – the rest of the group looked weary as some of the other groups had a bit too much fun and the variety of noises kept them awake).  We did have some nighttime visitors (little lizards are everywhere) and we had to make sure our stuff was zipped up (we didn’t want to take them along for the journey).

We named this one Fred and the other Ethel

Our next stop was at the northern end of the lake.  What a contrast.  The scenery was amazing.  The lake was extremely warm.  We were guessing it was in the low 90F.  It was not very refreshing (sorry for those of you in the freezing temperatures back home).  It was interesting as we were all moving around to find the cold patches of water.

Panoramic view from the beach

Lisa reading a ibook.  There was no wifi in Malawi

The trip changed in Malawi as well.  We went from a lot of animals to more culture.  The long drives (we are averaging around 500km a day) brought us past some interesting sights.  Below are some of those sights.  The one photo does need more explanation.  We stopped at the side of the road to have lunch.  There was a small grouping of huts on the other side of the road.  Soon the locals came out to see what was going on.  Our group was playing with a ball at the side of the road as we waited for lunch.  Soon the local children were involved with the play and were throwing the ball back and forth on the highway (this is the typical highway in Africa – similar to the back roads in Canada).  The kids were thrilled when we left the ball with them.

They walk or ride everywhere

Locals doing laundry

Ox and cart for those who can afford it

Car pooling

Getting the daily water

Cute little boy eating corn

All the highways look like this.  It is crazy.

The local mall

Street markets

Wheelbarrows for hire, including worker.

Used tyres (tires) anyone

Bicycle taxi stand.  Yes you sit on the back rack.

Not too overloaded

Playing with the village kids at the roadside lunch.

It is a problem here and education is the key.

Stopping to look in the local shops.

Lisa and I also did a village tour where we saw where they lived, the crops that they grew and visited a local school and hospital.  Below are some of the pictures of these places.  The school has a population of 1500 kids with only 10 teachers.  The kids sit on the floor (150 of them) with only one teacher in the class.  The school day starts at 645 am with kids sweeping out the class and getting the class ready.  Class starts at 700 am and ends between 1200 and 200 depending on grade level.  They all wear uniforms (most only have one uniform which looks very tired).  While at the school and walking through the village the kids would commonly come up and hold your hand and if we took pictures they would swarm the camera to see themselves.  The boys would act up in the photos and then laugh at themselves and each other while looking at the pictures.

The hospital was also interesting.  There was a lady that had just had her baby that morning.  Lisa and I donated our mosquito netting to her and her newborn son.  Malaria is very real and very deadly for them.  They constantly do blood tests so they can catch it in the early stages before it is too late (one of the photos shows the testing area)

Mom and her newborn son.

This is the maternity ward

Checking for malaria

Canada is very present in Malawi as some of the school supplies and the village water pumps were donated us.  

Water pump donated by Canada.

Below are just some random pictures.

They use knives for can openers

Pretty bird building its nest

Tapping a rubber tree

Drying kassava.  Boy does it stink.

Inside one of the locals homes

Another picture inside one of the homes

The exchange rate takes getting used to.  These are all 1000 Malawi Kwacha.

We are now on the north end of the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania.  I will post the Tanzania blog once we have left the country in a little over a week.  Our next wifi connection most likely will not be until Nairobi, Kenya.  Right now we are staying at beautiful resort (Lisa and I were not expecting this part of the trip – we thought we would be tenting it all the way but this is a very pleasant surprise)  More on this in the next blog.  We are heading to Arusha and the Masai natives then to the Serengeti then the Ngorongoro crater.  No wifi in any of those places.  Lisa and I are also getting better at speaking Swahili.  For those of you that have posted comments asente sana (thank you very much).      

Tanzanian Family Robinson