Thought I got up at 5:15 am got ready and realized it was 4:15 am ! Was first at the Zim border at 6am, went quickly then Zambia border took an hour because of the bike paraphernalia.
Stopped off at the Zambezi River Lodge for a hearty breakfast, has a stunning setting on the Zambezi River and is over the top with rooms costing $700 US . Went and got Sim card which was nuts, they take a picture of your passport, a picture of your entry stamp and then a picture of you.
Then was finally on the road to Mongu which is north east kinda follows the Zambezi. From Kazangula for 120km to Shesheke the road is just potholes the size of barrels and it is slow going on a bike ,in a car it would be your worst nightmare.Got to Mongu around 6:30pm and managed to find a room, can't even remember why I came to Mongu.
MONGU to KAFUE NP. 384 KM.
Asphalt all the way, potholes all the way but just small ones, just your average road with cattle and people on it so you have to be aware all the time. Went to the park and the guy allowed me in on a bike ! So I went, cause you are not allowed in the park on a bike, off I went and was so fortunate to see a leapord crossing the road, which is very rare in the park. Went to Kasabushi camp on the Kafue River. The owners were quit surprised to see me arrive on a bike and I was even more surprised when they told me they don't serve food. They scrounged up some sausage and a potatoes for me to braai thankfully . There are two families of Hippos in the river honking all night and had one elephant come into camp and push down some trees but other than that it was a peaceful night.
KAFUE to LUSAKA. LUKASA CAMP 478km.
Was going to stay two nights but decided to leave and drove all the way down to Itezhi Tezhi. Having been there several times when I was taking care of Nanzhilla Camp in the south ten years ago, was curious to see how it looked now. The spine road is a narrow dirt road all the way down in good condition about 93 miles to the exit at Itezhi Tezhi. Went by Hippo camp to hide from an oncoming rain storm but couldn't find anyone around so proceeded to the next camp and low and behold it the guy comes out to see me and it's Brad who was the manager at Nanzhilla. So He didn't know me with the helmet on ànd I jacked with him for awhile and then removed the helmet and he recognized my wrinkled prune face. Was great to see them again and caught up with all the news and off I went into something I never expected could be so bad.
The heavens opened and waterfalls fell from the sky just when I was on the dirt road, have never been in such heavy rains before and the road was completely covered and on either side was flowing like a river. It was just a matter ofwhen I was going to have my ass handed to me, for an hour it was a struggle and two times twice I came so close to augering into the mud bath but never did. Was one helluva memorable ride, it's just unbelievable I never went down. Then the tar appeared and then it was all over, except for the rain. Not having waterproof gear on and I don't think it even would have mattered in that rain, my boots were full of water as was I.
All the rest of the way to Lusaka it rained on and off and arrived in Lukasa Camp in the dark but just so happy to be there.
Lukasa Camp. Lusaka.
Great that you survived the rain. Keep safe 🙏
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