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Published: December 2nd 2006
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Baby Chimpanze
The little baby chimpanze playing with Rebbekka at Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctury Our trip to Zambia began with the right feet. From Dar es Salaam in Tanzania we took the TAZARA train in direction of Zambia. The trip to the border by train took us one day and one night, on top of having a very comfortable train trip, what makes this trip so special is that the train crosses the
Selous National Park in Tanzania. This giant and almost untouched by the tourism industry National Park is home for elephants, giraffes, lions and many other famous animals. To make everything better, as the train crosses the heart of the park we had the chance of spotting this animals right outside of our cabin window. We did a free game view by train (hehehe, didn’t even had to pay the Tanzania expensive park fees). We left the train in the border with Zambia and crossed in the next day by foot.
Our first day in Zambia was quiet, it was the day of the presidential election in the country, so most of the stores where closed and the transport vans did not run. In the same day we manage to take a ride with a truck driver to Mbala, from where we
Crazy Mobile
Our super Mazda Bongo bought in Zambia. Do you want a ride? visit Kalango falls. A 221 meters single drop water fall (second highest in Africa) just close to lake Tanganyika and in the border with Tanzania (Yes, of course we entered illegal in Tanzanian side to have a better look of the falls, but psiu don’t tell the authorities).
After Mbala we headed in direction of the country capital, Lusaka. With the train again we stopped in Kapiri Mpochi. From the station we grouped together with other travelers we found around (a group of well humored Scandinavian girls, not only girls… but anyway) and hired a van to Lusaka. Well, the deal wasn’t very well set, so after 1 hour of Fernando patiently (really patient, because the guy has hard core) talking to the conductor we got dumped in the side of the road in a small town in the way to Lusaka. No problems, we got a new van, with a proper deal set, uffff… no more need of hear complains this time. Getting in the entrance of the city of Lusaka we stopped again. Nobody knew what was happening, we could see only smoke from the middle of the road ahead and people running from everywhere to everywhere.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls seen from the Zambian side After an hour we discovery the reason, remember that our first day was election day? The final results had gone public and the supporters of the loosing party didn’t like the results and block the city entry with fire. After a few hours trying to pass by a secondary road and having to go back, the police came and cleared the riot. In a big convoy we entered the city alive and safe almost midnight.
The hostel we choose (Chachacha Backpakers) was great, we spend almost three weeks over there. Time enough to wait for Fernando new credit card (yes, he managed to block his card typing the code three times wrong), for Rebbekka that was joining us again after Egypt and to buy a car. Yes, we did it again, went through everything again, but this time with a degree by the Tanzanian School of Car Dealing. Found a better car, with a better price, in a better condition (good students!!!). We bought a van,
MAZDA BONGO, licensed for 16 passengers (don’t know how, because we could count only nine places… hehehe). Has air con and AM radio, who listen to FM anyway? The whole idea of the
Bungee Jump Bridge
Claudio posing for the picture in front of the bridge where everyone does Bungee Jump. van is to pick up backpackers in the way to share expenses and make the trip more fun, more people is always more fun.
During the three weeks in Lusaka we went north to visit the Chinfunchi Wildlife Sanctuary. A place that receives the not wanted animals, mostly chimpanzees and birds, but they have a hippopotamus too. A hippopotamus that had grown inside the house, used to lie on the couch and watch television. And you thought that hippos don’t watch television… hehehe. One of the highlight was a little baby chimp that was playing around. He stands over Bek’s head playing with the tree braches near by. And had tickles when you touched him, especially under his arms. Like any human baby.
After Lusaka we went to Livingstone to visit the famous Victoria Falls. Definitely a place to be visited at least once in a lifetime. Besides the fact we were at the end of the dry season, where the water flow is less than 4% then the high peak flow, still a stunning place. The low water flow allowed us to walk on the falls side, meaning stay on top of the rocks between falls that
First travelers to try the Crazy Mobile
It took us two days from Lusaka to Livingstone (400Km) and we almost arrived in Zimbabwe, but we made it. usually is part of the falls itself. The view was stunning.
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Happier times.
Well boys, I finally found time to check out the blog. You sound happier this post. Is that because I'm back???? hahahahahahaha xxx