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Official website: www.londoncapetownrally.com |
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Week 4
Day 22 - Tanzania/Zambia - Mbeya to Mpika
No internet at Mpika
Text message from Dave: Dull
day today except for border crossing. No internet here in
Mpika. In bed and listening to rain and thunder. Seven
days to go, only two more countries. |
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Day
23: Mpika to Lusaka (Zambia) Today
we did 666km, of which just 12 were competitive. We were
second fastest (to Joost's Porsche), despite catching a 4WD
who was very reluctant to let us pass. Today's
roads were 99% good tar. Only other traffic to speak of is
big trucks. We have seen a couple of trucks rolled over but
I haven't been quick enough to get a picture. Zambia seems
fairly lush and there is often grass about 1.5 meters high
growing right up to the edge of the road. Tomorrow
is another touring day. No competitives at all. They have
changed the morning control to a passage control, which
means we can leave early and have time for a good look at
Victoria Falls. |
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Our Lusaka hotel was a big improvement on the shacks at Mpika
Day 24 Lusaka to Zambesi Zambia
seems to be more advanced than Kenya and Tanzania. Traffic
in Lusaka is quite orderly and much more like an Australian
city. Traffic on the open road travels quickly, and
overtaking trucks now needs a bit more care as oncoming
traffic is more likely to be travelling quickly.
The demolition of lots of houses and signs etc marked by the red Xs is a project to be done by the Chinese in return for mineral rights. Apparently not popular with the locals. left: a Tanzanian roadworks team of both Africans and Asians
When
we arrived at Lusaka yesterday afternoon, there was an
English speaking fellow who took an interest in the car.
Mark asked if there was anywhere he could get a wheel
alignment. This man made a call and then he and Mark drove
off for a wheel alignment while I went and booked in. The
first room they took me to had a single double bed so I got
that changed. We
had the washing done by the hotel last night on condition
they would bring it back as soon as it was finished. I woke
up in the morning ready to ring and ask where it was, but
while I was sleeping they had returned it. Mark said he woke
up when he heard a tap on the door but before he did
anything, the door opened quietly and the washing returned. |
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Intercontinental at Lusaka was nice. Had red wine with
dinner! |
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Zambian currency is the Kwacha and you need lots of them. Filling the tank takes 700,000. |
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We
are staying at the Zambezi Hotel which is a large resort
just five minutes walk from Victoria Falls. I have to admit
I didn't believe that when I was first told, but it's true.
Victoria Falls really are awesome. You walk along the
opposite bank to the falls and it's less than 100 metres to
the falls. The falls themselves are (I'm told) 1.7 Km long. While
we were having a late lunch, others came back drenched. We
changed to light shorts and T shirts and yes, it's like
walking in a rainstorm. |
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Proof we were there! The
amount of spray from the falls is incredible. The camera
stopped working after a while. I hope it works again after
it dries out. The
hotel is in a national park and we have been warned not to
approach animals if we see them and to keep doors closed as
monkeys will get in and steal things. I haven't seen any
animals yet. Livingston it has been pretty good. The
Zambezi Sun Hotel is an expensive hotel. They charged
US$15per hour for internet. Meals were not included and they
wanted $47 per head for a smorgasbord dinner. We walked down
the road and joined the Victoria
Falls were well worth the visit.
Leaving
the room to go to dinner there was a group of zebras of all
sizes wandering around the hotel's manicured grounds (left).
Sadly my camera hasn't recovered and all pics from now will
be from Mark's little camera or our phones. |
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I
learned more about the road widening in Tanzania which I
don't think I've written about. 
Mark
was a bit down yesterday after the 12 Km section. It was a
666km day of which only 12 was competitive, and we were held
up by a 4WD (who said he didn't see us behind him) and
caught another at the end. We didn't pass him. We now have 4
sizable chips in the windscreen. It's hard to enjoy the
drive under these circumstances. Mark cheered up a bit when
he discovered we were still 2
other Aussies at a restaurant which was cheaper but the
service was appalling. Other tables seemed to be getting fed
while we were forgotten. Greg Newton tried to hurry then up
and did get served first with a near raw steak. At the end
they offered free coffee to make up. The Newtons and
Robertsons declined and stormed off, but Mark and I accepted
and stayed for a bit.