We crossed the border into Zambia and the difference was immediate. The landscape was flatter and dryer and the people a lot less accessible. Frankly, they weren't very friendly. They almost scowled at you when you walked through town, but a smiley "hi" and this steely resolve was usually broken.
First stop as usual was the money exchange and we were all immediately millionaires. The kwatcha currency is so huge you forget how cheap it is when dinner costs $70,000!
After crossing through some basic jacaranda painted towns we ended up in burgeoning Lusaka. The shopping centre was so modern you'd think you were at home - if not for the army fatigued men in the supermarket aisles with guns!
We pulled in to Mama Rulas campsite and enjoyed the luxury of warm showers, a swimming pool, and proper raised, flushing toilets (quite a treat after using many bush and squat toilets along the way). It was a guy in our group's birthday and our tour guides cooked the most gourmet meal for us to celebrate. Chocolate cake, thick juicy steaks, homemade bread and jemsquash with butter and sugar - all on a camp stove! We were in high spirits and sat around designing our tour t-shirts and i sewed my badges onto my rucksack. Once again there was the constant prescence of placid camp dogs who I think are the luckiest dogs in Africa. After seeing some of the god forsaken beasts in the street these dogs live like kings - loved by the western campsite owners, and spoiled by the international visitors - they're all fat and happy. Just like me!
The afternoon rains filled the air with a sweet but herbal aroma and it was relaxing after a long day on the road. Early night as we were moving in to an action packed leg of the trip the next day!
Hope my crazy monkey isn't too action packed for mum and daddo... I miss those big black eyes looking for a play partner.
Xxx
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