Nyimba East and Mnyazi - 25-06-14

Today was turbulent, in more ways than one. We started in Nyimba, visiting Nyimba East Primary School. Nyimba East is something of an NPAC success story. They've been supporting the school for many years now, and it is thriving. The kids are happy and well set up to learn, the school playing fields are such good quality that other schools in the area come to practice there, and the choir is entering competitions. They insisted upon giving us a perormance and it was plain to see why they do so well. 

A portion of the pupils at Nyimba East. It was impossible to fit them all in frame!

After Nyimba we set out for the banks of the Luangwa river to the camp which would provide a home for us. The road left much to be desired, and although it was only a two hour journey it was mightily uncomfortable. Cat and I were in the back bouncing about and bracing for impact, which was fun at first until the air conditioning (windows) malfunctioned (had to be closed to stop the tsetse flies getting in) which meant that we arrived at Nyamvu camp hot, dusty, sore and tired.

This is the view which greeted us.

Suddenly I'm not so tired anymore.

After the sun had set and the bonfire had been lit, our estimable and generous host, Mr Gulam Patel informed us that there had been a lion kill the day before, not 500m from the camp. We piled into the open topped jeep and set out for a night safari hoping for a pride of lions. I suspect we would have been happy with one motheaten moggy, but it was not to be. All we saw was a very shocked elephant right in the middle of the road. I guess that had to do.

"What is this light? Do I charge? Do I run? Is it aliens?"

I learned a lot about elephants on this trip. For instance, if you see an elephant at night you should turn your lights off. Elephants don't like unnatural light at night and it makes them cross. Also, elephants and lions are rarely seen in the same area. If elephants see lions hunting they will chase them away to protect their intended prey. Hooray for Heffalumps!

Leaving Lusaka - 24-06-14

Not much to report today. We spent all day bouncing along in the back of a jeep, on the way to Nyimba, where we'll spend the night. Zambian roads are largely non-existant, but the main roads between towns are surprisingly good, so Cat and I (designated boot-dwellers) managed to snooze away the trip. I kept waking up and looking out to see increasingly wild country. Lusaka is a city, and I do not do well in cities, but this landscape was far more appealing to me.

The view from our chariot.

This is real Africa. Mountains and plains and forests and forest fires and rivers and villages and people. It was interesting to see the different faces of this country.

Endings and beginnings

Here we are home again, after a long and busy fortnight. I'll try and keep you updated by day with what we did accompanied by lots and lots of photos. The trip is over, but NPAC's work still continues. If you'd like to get involved with helping in the warehouse, loading containers, or maybe even going along on the next trip, do have a look at the NPAC website: www.npac.org.uk.