http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Zambia en-us Tue, 13 May 2008 23:31:45 BST Tue, 13 May 2008 23:31:45 BST At lastToday we went to the district health ministry where we had been rebuffed on Friday when seeking a meeting with the person who approves new requests for RUTF. We had been scheduled for a 1230 meeting today but when we got there to nobody's surprise the person in charge was too busy would be so all week and couldn't meet. At all. The entire week.Becca and I were not deterred. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-275423.html This morning we went to UTH to visit the little girl her name is Anna by the way we sent there on my first day at Bwafwano. She has gained a little weight and thankfully she is taking fluids and formula by mouth and hasn't suffered any obvious complications from her malnourishment. I think this case is a perfect example of why it would be great to get the malnutrition program running at Bwaf http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-275012.html I made a mass emailing to as many addresses as I could find and I'll repost it here for anyone who wasn't on the list I promise it wasn't an intentional oversightHi everyone I put a bunch of people on this email list even though for the most part I didn't bother to ask who wanted to get these long mass emails. So if you're not interested in getting them just let me know. Anyway I tou http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-275008.html Just an initial entry to get this blog started. I'll probably get it rolling tomorrow if I have access. I figure this will be much easier than massemailing all the time. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-274758.html I can't believe I've been here one month today or tomorrow. The days have just flown despite the odd trauma of being robbed twice the great inconvenience of losing my phone. Still it's Friday afternoon the sun is shining and it's only another 10 days until I take off to Victoria Falls. I can't wait not that there isn't a lot of work to get through before then. Two containers of stock hav http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Eastern-Province/blog-274471.html Work well it's certainly not particularly onerous at this precise moment. This week's very quiet as most people are off on field trips doing 'activities'. I'm sat here in a spacious office which have just moved into playing music on my laptop and awaiting the return of an electricity supply.My job is to help the organisation sort out their documentation mainly paper. There have been consi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Chipata/blog-274170.html The Zambian bank holiday was yesterday yes I know odd to have a Thursday off then have to go back to work so after a very leisurely lie in even with the power off so no coffee I went out to lunch in Katete with some of the med students one of the doctors. Sadly Fly one of the cutest dogs in the hospital decided to follow us as we walked up the main road to town only to run under th http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Eastern-Province/blog-272103.html Yes please note the above...you do not know how lucky you are to have uninterrupted power 24 hours a day let alone hot water when you want it Still it could be classed as fun to have a cold shower in the dark at 6am if you're insane But at least it is sunny every day I'm getting a tan new things are happening every day. Yesterday I wore scrubs for the first time ever. That was fun I rea http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Eastern-Province/blog-271441.html Off to Zambia Vic FallshellipA 3day stop in Zambia to see Victoria Falls one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World. And that it was beautiful absolutely beautifulI stayed at the Zambezi Sun that was right next to the park. The greatest reason for staying here is the wildlife that wanders the grounds and the fact that you can walk right into the park as often as you'd like. Right outside http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-271396.html There are two Catholic Sisters' houses in Chipata mine and another bigger one where 12 live. However I understand that what with all the other Christian denominations there may be as many as 5 or 6 convents so Chipata is alive with prayers and good thoughts. As Chipata is a bit of a hub there are frequently Sisters crashing over en route from somewhere to somewhere else and it is not unco http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Chipata/blog-271174.html I seem to be getting more more acquainted with the creepy crawly variety of African species beside the adventure with the cockroach in the last entry I have now managed to accidently kill the lizard that lived on my windowsill by trapping it under the door trying to get rid of various spiders and found a praying mantis on the wall. Weirdest of all yesterday I found a frog on my kitchen fl http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Eastern-Province/blog-269631.html The Zambezi and the glorious Victoria Falls are just breathtaking. The Falls themselves are the largest curtain of water in the world and words don't describe just how beautiful they are. The whole area is magical. Everything is so green and lush. Butterflies are in an abundance and it feels altogether otherwordly. Think RivendellGetting here was easy enough. We took the bus from Lusaka to Livi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-269243.html So we are now in Livingstone socalled after David the Scottish guy. There's a statue of him and everything.We went to Victoria Falls yesterday which was amazing it's one of the 7 natural wonders of the world apparently I'm so going to win pub quizzes and trivial pursuit when I get back. You get soaked when walking across a bridge so Ross and I donned our emergency ponchos which made us http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-269235.html Well it's the start of my second full week here and I really enjoy it. The work is hard but busy which is good I have my own little house and garden which I love as it's my own space to do what I please with. I think that the other volunteers have been easy to get to know are all really friendly. We are relying on each other for entertainment as there are no other sources really no tv n http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Eastern-Province/blog-268622.html It is so surreal sitting here in an internet cafe in Lusaka Zambia editing my first proper blog entry of the trip We have been planning and speaking about this for what seems the longest time and it's just CRAZY now to be actually here.So where to begin Well the flights were great fun... for me that is Not only was Kerry setting off security alarms for body checks she was unwittingly so http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-268319.html So we finally arrived in Lusaka after delayed flights and me almost being detained by security at Glasgow airport managed to have a pair of scissors in my hand luggage. We passed through absurdly laid back security in Lusaka airport people actually running towards planes to meet family members into beautiful sunshine with a gospel choir singing. All very stereotypical but nice nonetheless.Ye http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-268298.html Our other major activity in Zambia included a three day two night canoe trip down the Lower Zambezi River. Hot weather great river Canadian canoes crocodiles hippos and elephants how can you go wrong with thatThe highlight of the trip was the second night after dinner just after the sun went down we had a herd of elephants walk through our campsite on an island in the middle of the ri http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/blog-268218.html Our first major stop in Zambia was the South Luangwa National Park. Our campsite was right on the bank of the Luangwa River and the Hippos came up into the campsite regularly at night to graze. It's only when one is about 20 meters away from the dinner table completely out of the water that you really begin to appreciate how huge these creatures are. We couldn't stop smiling every time we heard http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/South-Luangwa/blog-268217.html Lusaka and I'm at the eureka campsite 12kmoutside of town and the wrong side of town.The road from Livingstone had for a while the smoothest roadI've been on but then at Monze is was back to the bumpy stuff.Somewhere there's a tourist office but I think its been demolished.There's no sign.For a change I've been in the company of locals on bikes. They are most friendly and very fast. A guy his w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-267910.html A very busy weekend know you're waiting for my 'Life in a convent' but thought ought to get this one down before I forget the details. Saturday I went to a 'kitchen party' which is like a hen party but after the wedding. Am afraid I haven't got any photos of this noone was taking any and I wasn't sure it would be appreciated. However think would have been OK if I'd have been a bit braver.A ki http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Chipata/blog-266639.html NB tried to attach short video clips hope worksMy first day here Wednesday was spent on a bit of an orientation. Was picked up and taken straight to meet the Bishop of Lusaka as he was having breakfast very friendly chap and was very nice to be introduced to him. Next stop was the town centre so I could pick up a new sim card so I now have a Zambian mobile number. Was then taken to the http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Chipata/blog-264750.html Sunday we started a fairly laidback orientation process. We were given a wonderful massive equipment box with everything from pots and pans to a 20 piece dinner set including a kettle and an iron so we wouldn't need to buy much. In the afternoon we took a taxi to an African craft fair at the local supermarket lovely craft knicknacks no prices would like to go just before leave. Superma http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-263851.html As soon as I arrived at Lusaka airport I knew I was in for a different kind of African experience. For a start there were only two planes at the airport and there were hardly any cars on the road. After Lagos and Accra though I was craving a bit of space so this was great news Another difference was that it rained every day compared to West Africa where it didnrsquot rain at all.In Lusaka http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Lusaka/blog-261854.html Departed a wet and miserable Milton Keynes coachway on Friday morning very relieved that a my tickets and passport had turned up in the nick of time and b that my BA flight hadn't yet been moved to Terminal 5. Met up with my coSTVs shortterm volunteers in Zambia Julie and Clare at Heathrow. Clare came in on a connecting flight from Manchester via Terminal 5. Claire will be in Chipata http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/blog-261516.html So there I was standing on the side of the road with the contents of my backpack disgorged on the new asphalt. There was a very animated man running in circles with a Zulu spear held high above his head. His war cry filled the air ldquoContraband Contraband Contrabandrdquo The officials had decided to search the whole bus and I was not the only one standing there with all of their posse http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-260713.html Fri 7th march set off at 7am a few sore heads around Stopped in Malawi's capital Lilongwe for supermarket and a Nando's lunch After a bit of a wait at the border we crossed into Zambia. Instantly the surroundings became visibly wealthier nice cars and shops etc. A big change from Malawi the poorest country in Africa. Stopped to get some 'Kwacha' from the ATM. Long drive today over 600k http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-258524.html This is where will be going http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Chipata/blog-255464.html HelloSorry it has been ages since my last blog. I have not had internet or phone reception for over a week. I am now in Livingstone Zambia and have lots to catch up on....Where to start....ZanzibarWhat an amazing island it was one of the most beautiful places ive seen. It really does not look real in the sense that its ridiculously beautiful We had four days there where we pretty much http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-254338.html Arriving in AfricaZambia border crossingWe arranged our African adventure with the adventure travel company 2Africa.A transfer had been arranged from Livingstone Zambia to Chobe Safari Lodge in Botswana. Unfortunately no one was there to meet us at the small airport in Livingstone.After talking this over with a couple of taxi drivers the consensus was that we needed to hire a taxi to take us t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-240044.html Stopping briefly 45 minutes at Victoria Falls just writing that sounds ridiculous I have no idea why people designing these trips think that 45 minutes is enough time to appreciate one of the world's natural wonders was a bad start to a worse five days spent in Zambia.While I am certain that Zambia is a lovely country with a lot going for it my lasting memories will be of one thing rain http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Zambia/Livingstone/blog-239639.html