Our Zambezi Holiday

[Nkwazi]

What a pleasure it was to go "home" for the last 3 weeks. We set off for our first stop just north of Nata called Elephant Sands. Great little camp surrounded by those huge Botswana ellies. Next day was Chobe and Vic Falls. It was certainly upsetting to see the state of affairs in Zim, empty hotel parking lots, half of town closed down and everything in a general state of disrepair. A once thriving Kingdom Hotel Casino had not one punter at the tables or on the machines. Even the toilets had not a toilet roll in sight. Not a single diner at Spur or Panarotti's. My old jaunt - Wild thing and the other pubs - closed. This on the 20th December where only a few years ago you couldnt move in Vic Falls. We ate at Elephant Hills where 2 burgers, 2 toasted sandwiches, a few cokes and two beers cost R 350!! You used to hear the sound of a golfer teeing off every 5 mins from that pool deck. During my hour and a half sitting there not one golfer teed off.
And so we crossed to Zambia where things are looking a whole lot better - hotels were full, town was busy and people seemed reasonably happy. We stayed for 2 weeks with our good friends in their spectacular house on the banks of the Zambezi. We drank lots of Veuve Cliquot, good red wine and generally enjoyed being back on the Zambezi with good mates. Had a few braais on islands in the river and enjoyed two evenings on a very romantic steam train, The Livingstone Express including 5 course meals, something everyone should do at least once in their lives. Took the kids on the jet boat in the gorge, never heard them laughing so much. I even went for a flip with my mate Phil Roberts in his Aerotrike Safari along 30 km's of the river and circled the Falls a few times. Had New Years at the Zambezi Sun until 4.30 in the morning.
Then off to Kariba, one forgets how beautiful (and flipping hot) that place is. Stayed in Hornbill Lodge on Mica Point, great place. Tommy and Jackie Millar run a fantastic operation despite the Zim situation - great food, drink and company. My Lusaka mates had their boats there so went fishing up Sanyati Gorge for tiger and bream with reasonable success in the 47 degree heat. Jumped on the Sea Lion ferry that runs from Kariba to Mlibizi - great day and night on the ferry, food was excellent and sure beats driving all the way around. And then the long drive home via Bulawayo.

Overall impression is that the Zambezi is a great place to have a good, wholesome family holiday. Kids didnt watch TV or play PS for 3 weeks and didnt even miss it. Zim is struggling although everything is available at a price. It is amazing how one man can destroy such a thriving economy. Its weird when you buy some drinks for US$ 3.90 and give a US$ 5 bill. Your change comes as US$1 and R 1!! They dont have US coins so your change is split between $ and R.

I would certainly recommend a Zambezi adventure and remember that once you've sipped the sweet water of the Zambezi your soul will long to go back!!

When I'm big I want to attach floats to my trike and fly the Zambezi, source to sea!! Who's in??

[AndyG]

Hey Nkwazi,

Sounds like you had a great time. I am definately going to make time to get there this year. Have been threatening to do it for a long time.

Cheers,


Andy

[Tumbleweed]

Nice post. Would love to fly to up there.

My well traveled German neighbors spent 3 nights along with 4 German couples on the Zambian side over New Years.

Said the views are awesome and enjoyed it, but was conscious of everything being charged to the max, it borders on being ripped off. They understand the social imbalances e.t.c. but couldn’t find anywhere where the gain from the tourist rip-off trade was being plowed back into social upliftment. The roads are stuffed, hospitals disgusting - typical Africa.

There point is that the prices are the same at the Seychelles, Barrier Reef, Austria Ski Slopes, Indonesian Diving Charters e.t.c. but for less bang for the buck and more hassle and time to get there.

At $125 or R1 000.00 for a 15 min trike flip, he said nothing could match my trike and did’nt want to dilute that experience.

Maybe should start a thread on holiday destinations, recommending and warnings to stay clear of.

[Nkwazi]

See my photo's here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 7d2f619247

[AndyG]

very very noice

[Big-D]

Sounds cewl man

[buzz]

Sad to hear it is so run-down . Several years of military service in Vic Falls and a number of houseboat holidays on Kariba leave indelible memories. I certainly hope someone manages to return the country to some form of normal when Bob and his thugs are eventually removed.
Nice photos Nkawzi - the flight must have been great!

[tsotsi]

Did your mate charge you $240 cause that's what they charge for half an hour on the Zambian side for a flip over the falls? Done a similar trip in August and elephants trashed the whole camp except our little tent close to Vic Falls - lekka

[Nkwazi]

Free of charge microlight flip, helps to have mates with trikes!!!

[LarryMcG]

Had a similar trip - but further!!! Grahamstown - Kimberley - Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Magadigadi - Kubu Island - Nata - Elephant sands - Hunters Road - pandamatenga - Hwange - Binga (houseboat 4 nights - Vic falls - Kasane - Chobe Ihaha - Linyanti Savuti - Moremi third bridge - Maun - Home!!!

Fantastic trip, very sad to see rest camps in Hwange in such a poor state, all game seemed very scarce and wild, same on Western end of Kariba , Chobe great, Moremi great!!!!!

3 vehicles, 3 weeks, camping in the wilds etc!

Next time will fly a similar route!

L

[tsotsi]

Moremi was just awesome althouhg I drowned my bakkie there

[Nkwazi]

Pics of said drowned bakkie??

[tsotsi]

Negative, cameras drowned too

[andreb]

Sounds like you guys had a wonderful time Brett. Glad you safely home again. How is the arm doing?

[Nkwazi]

Ja, good thanks Andre. The quack says I should wait another 4 weeks before I fly again - so counting the sleeps!!