| Kenya |Tanzania | Malawi | Zimbabwe |
Zambia |
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(continued from Malawi) We spent a day doing some mathematics, trying to figure out the cheapest way possible to get to South Luangwa National Park ( Zambia) and spend a couple of days there. The cheapest option ended up to be an organized tour with Kiboko camp (http://www.kiboko-safaris.com/) from Lilongwe ( Malawi). For 65$ US a day per person (for 4 days), I can say it was excellent value: it is the best safari quality vs price we did this summer. The service was impeccable, the food was excellent, and we ate about 6-7 times a day. (2 breakfasts, lunch, snack, dinner, tea time, etc.). WOW! South Luangwa was an amazing National Park, especially the campsites around the park where they get regular visits of elephants, hippos, monkeys and other animals. Our first night at croc camp, elephants came on our camp and simply moved everything that was in and around the open air kitchen. The noise was unbelievable and none of us slept most of that night (we were amazed, but honestly scared to death that an elephant would step over our tent). The next morning, I found elephant dung less than a meter from my tent! Elephants definitively are everywhere and 8 locals died this year from elephant attacks…
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Croc camp is perfectly situated on the river, and animal spotting is easy. The tents and chalets are nice, clean, but our group quickly agreed to the fact that the owner (a white South African) is very racist and talking with him was very uncomfortable. After the National Park, we slept a night in Chipata and went straight to Lusaka by express bus (it was pure comfort!). Lusaka was an interesting city, especially because of that big nuclear plant sitting in the middle of the city, and the robbery I luckily escaped… I was walking with Cynthia on Cairo Road at lunch time –with hundreds of people walking around- when a guy (coming in my direction) brutally hit my shoulder. I felt a hand trying to get into my pocket, but was quick enough to put a hand on my wallet (which had less than $20US). Few seconds later, another guy came and held my arms very aggressively. By looking at his eyes, I thought at first he was mentally disturbed, but I quickly realized it was a setup: two guys were furtively trying to search my pockets… I don’t know how or why, but in an instant of panic, I pushed back everyone around me and ran away to catch up with Cynthia who was 50 meters in front of me. All this happened in less than 15 seconds… The pickpockets didn’t get my wallet, but I got scared after realizing that no one around tried to help me. Anyway, we ended up our trip in Livingstone , Zambia ’s touristy capital. We spent our last 5 days splurging: booze cruise on the Zambezi River , helicopter tour, micro light flight tour, visit of the Victoria Falls , walk on the Zimbabwe side, bungee jumping, etc. We also bought all of our souvenirs in Livingstone, which took a full day of shopping! (continue to Zimbabwe, conclusion of trip) |
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