Here I am on a microlight flight above Victoria Falls (you can see the mist coming up from the falls behind me). I like this photo because you can see the zig-zag of the Zambezi River, and how deeply the gorge runs through the land.
Archive for the ‘Zambia’ Category
an aerial view over Vic Falls
Monday, February 25th, 2008Monkey Business
Sunday, February 24th, 2008| This is Anthony … | and this is his sworn enemy, the Vervet Monkey |
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The Royal Livingston Lodge employs Anthony to keep the vervet monkeys away from the Lodge. As Christine can attest, these monkeys have no fear, and will go after anything. They will go into your room, steal food from your table or run off with your car keys. They look absolutely adorable, but these guys can be true pests. Ala Bill Murray in Caddyshack, Anthony, armed with his trusty slingshot and a few pebbles, faces a never ending battle between man and beast. We haven’t seen Anthony actually hit one yet. In fact half of the time they see him coming and he just snaps the slingshot and they run away. Not a big fan of the vervet monkey, maybe tomorrow Christine will slip him a few bucks for a shot at one.
Mosi-Oa-Tunya
Sunday, February 24th, 2008
“The Smoke that Thunders” is the Kololo name for Victoria Falls. We spent 3 days enjoying the falls viewing it from the town of Livingstone on the Zambian-side. We walked to the Knife Edge, which requires us to cross a footbridge and get soaked by the mist. The rains in the north flowing down the Zambezi River kept the waterfalls full and bursting, and a beautiful sight to behold.
Zim and Zam
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008After a difficult border crossing with the Zimbabwean customs agents telling us we did not have the proper paperwork for our Sani, we finally made it into Zambia. My guess is that they were trying to find something to charge us for, but eventually gave up and just let us go. We set off into Zambia with a sigh of relief to be out of Zimbabwe. It hasn’t all been bad in Zimbabwe, the people seem very friendly. In fact, on our way into the country, we met a Zimbawean also crossing the border who helped us at customs and gave us his phone number in Harare, offering to show us around. For the most part, it’s hard to criticize the Zimbabweans for what they have to resort to in order to make money. It must be difficult to live under a government where corruption is not only condoned, it’s rewarded. I don’t imagine most people want to use deception to make money, but it’s the only way.
Well, we thought we were free and clear in Zambia, knowing we could get gas anytime we want, little did we know…Thirty km or so after the border crossing, the truck wasn’t running very well–not accelerating over the hills, and sputtering. Another 5km pass, and on the way up a hill, the engine cuts off, and we roll back down onto a bridge that is a construction site. By this time we realize that we are out of gas, which doesn’t seem possible considering the 80L we just put in at the border should take us about 600km. I can’t confirm this, but it’s likely we paid $140 and didn’t get any gas in Zimbabwe. The construction workers come to see why we are stopping on their worksite. And Mike learns that the nearest town is about 8km. He hitches a ride with a jerry can in hand. Only about 6 cars pass before someone is willing to give him a lift. According to Mike, he got in and they cranked up the radio, and didn’t say a word. He returned an hour later with gas, and we were on our way, again.