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Exploring Zambia’s  History at The Livingstone Museum

Visiting The Livingstone Museum in Zambia is like stepping into a time machine, one that whisks you through the pages of history, culture, and the untold stories of a vibrant nation. As Zambia’s oldest and largest museum, it offers a treasure chest of artifacts and exhibits that bring the past to life. From the tools of ancient warriors to the personal belongings of legendary figures, every corner of the museum tells a story.

A Glimpse into Zambia’s Fight for Freedom

The story of Zambia’s independence is proudly showcased in the museum. A statue commemorating freedom from colonial rule stands tall, symbolizing the nation’s journey from oppression to liberation. Next to it, the sight of the British flag reminds visitors of Zambia’s history as a British colony, a  reminder of the courage of the Zambian people.The story of Zambia’s independence is proudly showcased in the museum. A statue commemorating freedom from colonial rule stands tall, symbolizing the nation’s journey from oppression to liberation. Next to it, the sight of the British flag reminds visitors of Zambia’s history as a British colony, a  reminder of the courage of the Zambian people.

You’ll find traditional weapons like spears, bows, and arrows, used by Zambia’s ancestors for both hunting and protection. These artifacts offer a vivid connection to the bravery of those who lived long before the modern era.

The Legacy of David Livingstone

At the heart of the museum’s collection is an impressive exhibit dedicated to David Livingstone, the legendary explorer and missionary. His personal items are on display, including his travelling trunk, which looks like a rugged, well-worn chest ready for an adventure. You’ll also see his coat, his letters, and even his journal, each offering a glimpse into the life of a man who explored territories and made history along the way.

The museum also features a statue of David Livingstone, a reminder of his enduring impact on the region and its history. His story is intertwined with Zambia’s past, making this exhibit an essential stop for anyone curious about the country’s journey.

The Vintage VW Beetle Vehicle

One of the most charming exhibits in the museum is a vintage vehicle. Its unusual design makes it stand out among the historical displays, offering a fun and unexpected element to your visit. This car was once used in Zambia, and its presence in the museum adds a delightful touch of the past.

Panoramic Views of Zambia’s Past

The Livingstone Museum doesn’t just tell stories, it immerses you in them. One of its highlights is a breathtaking panorama of a traditional Zambian village. This display recreates the sights and sounds of village life, complete with huts, tools, and scenes of daily activities. Walking through this exhibit feels like stepping into another time, offering a profound connection to Zambia’s cultural roots.

Nature lovers will also appreciate the museum’s natural history section.

Here, you’ll find displays including the skeleton of the isamupati, that is in folded like poster showing in what style olden people buried others. But perhaps the most intriguing exhibit is the Broken Hill Man skull, an important anthropological find. While the original skull is currently housed in the UK, the museum displays a detailed replica and shares plans for its return to Zambia, a move that will further enrich its collection.

For , culture enthusiasts, or anyone with a curiosity for the past, this museum offers an unforgettable experience. Its carefully curated exhibits and immersive displays ensure that every visitor leaves with a deeper appreciation of Zambia’s heritage.

Kenneth Kaunda’s Chilenge House: A Symbol of Leadership

No visit to the museum would be complete without learning about Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s first president and one of the most influential figures in the country’s history. The museum features a view of his Chilenge House in Lusaka, where Kaunda’s leadership and vision began to take shape including the motorbike he used. This exhibit honors his legacy and highlights his role in shaping modern Zambia.

Why The Livingstone Museum is a Must-Visit

The Livingstone Museum is more than just a building filled with artifacts—it’s a living, breathing celebration of Zambia’s rich history and culture. Whether you’re marveling at the tools of ancient warriors, admiring David Livingstone’s personal belongings, or stepping into a recreated Zambian village, every moment spent here is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and connect.

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Kalimba Reptile Park Day Trip

Moving back to your home town can take a toll on you especially if you got so used staying away from home. Being back in my home town meant adapting to the many changes that have taken place here. The beauty is that as one that loves travel, I can handle this. The biggest change has been the school I work from.

New scenery, friends, students and old family members is what I found here. I treasure my solo trips because they have helped me get out of my comfort zone and find myself. Lusaka town has changed a lot over the years and it was clearly time to visit places I visited way back but this time in a group.

Nothing does it like a day-trip to a remote place in summer. It’s super hot here and taking a dip would be awesome.

Kalimba Reptile Park is a place one should bucket list and visit when on this end. It is not so much of a hidden gem. Lots of people frequent this place to be away from the busy places. It may be your go-to-place for day trips. If you are not a local, you may have to return to town area for accommodation as this place does not have lodging.

As we arrived, we were greeted by some cows on the premises that were grazing. We paid our 5 dollars entry fee and my niece paid less for being a youngster. I have done crocodile meat and this place has a kitchen where that can be prepared but the style of this trip was  barbeque what we brought and we didn’t bring croc meat. I will try this on another day.

Kalimba Reptile Park is great for group excursion or family day out. For all the fishing lovers, this is the perfect place as well. You will also enjoy a display of  reptiles.

The park houses snakes like black mamba, boomslang, vine snake, Mozambique spitting cobra, brown house snake etc. It was amazing to see some of these species camouflaged in the grasses which made me question where I was standing just in case.

If at all you did not pack much to eat, it’s fine because this place has a kitchen and am sure they prepare crocodile in all ways possible seeing that they had a croc recipe book on display for sale.

You are gonna have a comfortable place to have your croc burgers, croc spareribs or whatever version of crocodile you choose.

We took a walk around the gardens and noticed other clients coming in at mid day. Some took their kids for a dip, others went on the swings. Others started their barbeques upon arrival, am thinking they were starved.

This place is not that big but there is lots to do around. I could see some mini golf which few people have been doing am sure because it appeared to need a facelift.

There comes that special time when your stomach protests because it wants a fill. I loved that this is a place you can have a picnic and enjoy some warm foods.              

Though I didn’t have my signature adventure food, crocodile, I enjoyed the meats we had brought to the park. You will never go wrong with boerewors sausages, I just love them. I had fair shares of barbeque chicken as well. All this with a salad and my favorite being potato salad which just made my afternoon.

We had enough of this food marathon until it was time for a dip. The beauty about this trip is that if the adults (mum and auntie) wanted to be left alone to chit chat, it was the perfect place for people of that generation.

I had my sister to talk to as well. We goofed around and all but we had to make the smallest human being in our group feel part of the squad or at least make her locate her squad at Kalimba Reptile Park.

If we didn’t, she was gonna loudly be singing, “la, la, la, la!”, just so that she does not feel left out but be the one to tell all the stories. Talk about a bossy kid! Anywho, we changed into our bathing suits. The heat was at capacity but we had so much fun with this small human being who found herself her own squad.

I am recommending Kalimba Reptile Park for that relaxing day away from the usual way of life at home or away from the noisy places.

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Unearthing Southern African travel through Myths and Mementos

The most common way to keep memories has been photos. Almost every one of us loves them. There are many ways to keep our memories but some things we decide to keep may last longer than others. I am inspired by collections that others have. This one time, I saw a backpack this traveler had with lots of small flags fastened to it which I believe represented the countries he had been to.

When we travel,  we sometimes hold on to that one thing that will remind us of those places we visit. What I noticed is that some memories may be long-lasting and some short. For those thinking, “Why not keep memories where they belong, in the mind.” l do agree with you. But a memento is good for others and not everyone. Others are connected to happiness, sadness, or indeed any other emotion.

Traveling around Southern parts of Africa has allowed me to hold on to some mementos,  some of which are long-term and are still there, some that are short-lived and disappeared in thin air, and some that are both long and short-term due to circumstances. Along the way, I also collected some myths that I have kept at the back of my mind and pondered on once in a while.

The Short-term mementos

Henna Skin decor

Not every souvenir needs to be placed in a treasure box. Some people have opted to have reminders of some things on their skin. Count me out on the permanent ink. I always get too chicken to pull that off.  But have you seen how beautiful henna skin decor looks on ladies?

Henna skin decor has been a reminder of countries like Tanzania and Kenya. It looks like this act is more prominent in Arab and Indian culture. Interestingly, some have said it symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage and that the darker it is, the stronger or deeper the love between two individuals. So basically it looks like it is an act done by women in love or soon-to-be married, and that are in good health. The funny part about being a tourist is that we do these things blindly at times without understanding the meaning behind them. Can you imagine how many thought of me as a bride? Lol! I celebrated none of the above things except just being joyous because of visiting the countries.

Cute Hotel Complimentaries

I will not be ashamed of the fact that I have, sometimes, kept some hotel complimentary soaps, shower gels, shampoos, chocolates, etc. I mean, why do they make them look so cute and petite? I guess they are meant for us to use and if I had carried all those things already, there is no way I would have left these cuties for the next guest. It may sound like a not-so-fancy thing to do but it is the cuteness of these products that some of us love and speaking of how long they last is dependent on how big our treasure chests are. I believe these complimentary gifts aren’t meant to last that long so long you showed one or two people out there that you used a shower gel from a hotel you loved. I think that hotel staff don’t care if you got those but they would be bothered if you got their towels and pillows.

The Long-term mementos

Foreign currency collection

When it comes to keeping currency as a souvenir, people prefer to have a collection of currencies of countries they have been to. In as much as I have done that, I have found myself collecting currencies of countries I have not been to. To be fair, this has given me a desire to travel to these places. I have often looked at them and imagined myself using them in their countries. I have found myself having this collection from other travelers. It would be nice to travel to Mozambique, Egypt, Mauritius, India, Canada, the UK, Ethiopia, etc. The beauty of treasuring this long-term souvenir is that it is lightweight and won’t burden you.

Tour compliments

There are lots of things one could keep for souvenirs when they do short tours. Some tours involve one using a tour bus to get familiar with a city. Some tour buses do give you free headsets to listen to the music on board as you enjoy city views. At times, you may be given funny things like this handmade ring made by a tour guide on a spice tour as he guided us through spice plantations and how spices are grown in Tanzania . The tour was informative and we needed to have some sort of reminder of this trip. I love how quickly this ring was made with lemongrass and it was placed on our fingers to remind us of this tour. I was inspired to keep this ring until it dried. The inspiration came from a Swiss tourist I met who picked a nest from a tree in Kenya and he told me that when he went back home he still had the nest. He held it with so much care that we give handling eggs.

This souvenir can be kept for a long time if you choose to.

Escapade bands

We all love achievements. The feeling is intense when it has to do with something daring. I love doing animal interaction tours because this was not with cute animals like zebras. The lions made these tours an escapade. I have never kept any souvenirs of such tours. On other adventures, I have kept a reminder in the form of a band though not a fan of bands. I got this after doing the zipline for the first time. This is not an activity I would engage in every so often because of the adrenaline rush involved.

The short and long-term mementos

Accidental tatoos

A memory can be either good or bad. We love to hold on to good memories. When we travel, not all memories we make are good ones.

I love motorbikes even though I can’t ride them myself. I have used them for public transport. My first experience was in Tanzania and I thought of it as a cool way to move around. I got scary comments from others saying they aren’t that safe but did these people understand how cool it feels when the wind is blowing your hair?

I had to go to the beach, this one time in Kenya for a day out. Shelly Beach it was. I got on a motorbike in a hurry because the rider appeared to be in a rush. With this rush, I did not know I had to check the exhaust pipe before I sat. It was hot and it burnt my leg. The rider should have given me a heads-up because I wore shorts. I got myself an accidental tattoo and this has been a reminder or unwanted souvenir of Shelly Beach.

I had to hide this a little

Sea shells

Don’t you just love sea shells? Having sea shells is always a reminder that I come from a landlocked country and the only time I can have them, is when I travel. Over the years, the biggest mistake has been collecting too many shells and this may not work to my advantage because it may be dead weight. Keeping a shell per country will be okay for now. When I was collecting lots of shells, I was hoping to spray-paint them and place them in a vase to make a house decor.

Crazy-myths’ keepsakes

Okay, so, everyone has that one crazy story some around them choose to believe, and that others think of as stupid. I have always invited you to bucket list The Victoria Falls and The Zambezi River. I have heard myths and wanted to have a keepsake of these myths but they appear too creepy for my liking.

The thing is, these waters are said to house The Nyami Nyami river god. This Nyami Nyami is a long serpent-like creature and when it is about, do not dare as a local to be near because it will suck you down never to be seen again. I am glad that the many times I have been on these waters, Nyami Nyami must have been on vacay.

Photo creds: Wikipedia

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And to my WordPress family……

Hey everyone,

It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since I started this little corner of the internet! Back then, I was just starting out, full of ideas and a touch of nervous excitement. Now, as I look at the amazing community of over 200 followers, I’m filled with so much gratitude.

Thank You!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to each and every one of you who has followed along on this journey. Your comments, shares, and likes mean the world to me. They fuel my passion to keep creating and sharing content that I hope you find informative, engaging, or just plain entertaining.

Celebrating Together

To celebrate this milestone, I did this write up just to thank you all for being there. I have learned so much from many blogs I follow and hope to keep learning from you all.

Here’s to Many More!

Here’s to many more years of learning, creating, and connecting with this wonderful community. I’m so excited to see what the future holds for this blog, and I can’t wait to share it all with you.

Thanks again for being a part of this journey!

With gratitude,

Faith

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Experiencing 4 Countries in less than 20 minutes

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Experiencing Southern Africa has been such a joy. Each country I decided to see, left me with lasting memories.

I have made more than one trip to some of these countries. Many things took me to Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. And Zambia being my home country, has been a wonderful home.

Just to go down memory lane, I will, should I leave my country for good, always remember the Mighty Victoria Falls. It is a touristic identity of the country and being in Zimbabwe many times, I must say that the same falls will remind me of Zimbabwe as it is also found there.

I will always remember Namibia for its beaches and deserts and Botswana for its wildlife.

If the truth be told, I would love to do a revisit. What was closest to this visit I am desiring, was when I took a trip enjoying my moment on the safaris of the Chobe River, only to find out I experienced all four of these countries in less than 20 minutes!

Before I got to Chobe River for the safari, I passed through Kazungula bridge and it is at this place that Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Zambia borders meet at a quadripoint. I love that this bridge was worked on and looks beautiful and I spent time admiring the Zambezi River from this side of the country.

This Botswana- Zambia border connects two points on the Zambezi river, one with Namibia in the Northwest to one with Zimbabwe in the Southeast. This boundary on the Zambezi River is also known as the “Four Corners of Africa”.  The four countries meet on the eastern side of the Caprivi Strip. What is more interesting is that research has it that there are more than 150 tripoints in the world like Egypt, Libya, and Sudan in Africa; Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela in the Americas; Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan in Asia; Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in Europe but there is only one International quadripoint in the world and I am happy to have had seen this point.  It is always a great feeling to come across rare places. You will find the four countries Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana meeting at the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers.

I bet there are other points one could enjoy this quadripoint from, but one of these is on the Chobe River. I sat on the boat waiting to come across some wildlife of Botswana. There were lots of animals to see but that is a story for another day. What made my day was learning and experiencing this rare truth that the boat I was on did not just make a stop on ordinary waters but on a spot that made me experience four countries in less than twenty minutes!

Though this point could take about five to six minutes, I decided to wait longer than this by asking the boatman for his permission. I figured this rare place could be appreciated more if there was a poster or something but because this was on water, there was little chance of this.

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A Four-Day Lower Zambezi National Park Safari

Just because I tell stories of solo adventures, does not mean I have avoided group adventures. Group travel is more cost effective than individual one. When you travel with others, you feel a sense of security especially when in remote locations. Group travel also provides opportunities to meet new people and make friends with like-minded people.

I felt this way about the trip to Lower Zambezi. Some of the things I loved about this trip were:

1) The preps

As one who loves food blogging mostly through restaurant reviews, I would have loved to share step-by-step how I prepared the mouth-watering roasted spiced potatoes with meatballs in onion rings dish and vanilla cake for dessert. It’s always exciting to be in the kitchen and more so if it has to do with a trip. I loved the other preparations like packing of things we were going to be using.

2) The wonders of an 11 hour road trip

It is a known fact that a road trip can be relaxing. I loved this trip because as earlier mentioned, it was one done with like-minded people. Sing-along songs were done naturally, goofing around was welcome and I think that is why some people prefer group trips to solo trips. We passed through many towns like Kitwe, Ndola, Kapiri Mposhi, and Lusaka to get to the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. You will find the Zambezi River here and surprisingly in many parts of the country because it happens to be one of the longest rivers in Africa.

3) Camping out

Camping solo sounds like a thrilling activity if the place is one having wild animals. I know of some places here like hostels in the middle of a city yet have camping sites. This does not appear the same as camping in or near a national park with all sorts of wildlife. Some dangerous, some not. This is not the sort of place to do a loner camping trip unless you are as brave as the Incredible Hulk. I am glad we were a team.

In certain parts of the world, camping is more common than in other places. In this part of the country, tourists coming from outside the country camp more than locals. I must say we are missing out on lots of fun here. Some lodges in the outskirts do offer camping space and we enjoyed this service at Kiambi Safari Lodge.

We had enough camping space next to the Zambezi River and if we wanted to, we could have been in the other type of accommodation offered like chalets and cabins but that was not the style of this trip. The good thing about being with people who are expert campers is that you just tag along or help where you can. I learned several things I am gonna try out on my next camp trip. I loved the spot and the fact that the convenience block was close to our tents. There were times I imagined myself face to face with some large animal on my way to the restrooms because of the signposts that were around.

4) Great views on boat rides

It was not enough to just camp next to the Zambezi River but also enjoy the lovely scenery on the boat. Kiambi Safari Lodge did offer boat rides. Boating on this long river is a must-do. I loved the beautiful scenery of mountains on the horizon, the greenery as well as the presence of some animals on water. Elephants were found in these waters either on their own or in numbers. Because we were on the water, most animals spotted were crocodiles, hippos that were trying to cool off, elephants, and bird life. I am not sure what sort of birds make holes like this but the woodpecker was my guess. On the other hand, I figured woodpeckers only make holes on tree bucks.

5) Driving through the national park

As we approached the Lower Zambezi National Park gate, we found a signpost having some park rules that should be followed. It was a long drive around and through the park and to be honest, all of us were dying to come face to face with a lion. We have heard enough stories of those who have found the lion on these park drives. Did we find the lion or the lions? Was this our lucky day?

We were happy to see water bucks and I liked the species that had a white ring on their backside. I was only lucky to take a photo of one because they are jumpy or scared. Not to sound ungrateful to mother nature but I have seen enough antelopes. We saw loads of them and I think I have seen enough to last a lifetime.

The national park is graced with lots of chimpanzees and monkeys. Having seen lots from the monkey family, I was dying to see animals I don’t see often. The elephants were in numbers here. It was a treat to spot warthogs and buffalos because I don’t get to see them often. The other animals I should say I was happy to see were zebras. These I do not get to see often and I thought their close friends, the giraffes would be close by but this was not our lucky day to spot them. And just like the giraffes, the lions were not within our reach. I can’t say I was that disappointed but coming here again just to see a lion may or may not be possible so better luck next time.

6) Lasting moments

Lasting moments should be to end this trip with a good evening on a sunset cruise enjoying our last moments here. This scene is unforgettable. And because the weather is chilly during this time of the year, having a fire place set was a perfect idea telling all our stories there and having some other campers around was nice. This last evening made me want to rewind select, so we relive the four days again. I also thought of this because it was when we heard a lion roar from a distance and I was happy that though we didn’t see the lion on the game drive, this was an audible gift from this beast.

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Discovering the charm of Chipata

Chipata is a city and administrative centre of the Eastern part of Zambia.The city, unlike in older years, has undergone some economic and infrastructure growth, leading up to city status. It is still a work-in-progress though. Do not hesitate to add it to places you can visit for not only the laid-back life but to see the parks which have game and wild animals. When I visited Chipata for the second time, I was happy to see lots of change. Last time I visited, I didn’t know how to share my journey with the world like I do now. I loved Chipata town for simple things like:

Those mangoes!

There are many places in Zambia I have on my bucket list. I have them because of the fruits I have heard are found there. Mwinilunga has pineapples and Mazabuka,  sugarcane. When I visited Chipata recently, I couldn’t help but appreciate the mangoes found in this part of the country. The season to enjoy mangoes is from late October to late January. The beauty is they are cheaper in Chipata than in other towns like Lusaka. It was mango parties everyday! I found a reason to use mangoes in things like my desserts. My favourite was custard fruit salad!

Animals at your doorstep

Whenever we want to see certain creatures, we quickly have to be the ones to make the first move to where we can find them. Of course, I don’t mean the wild animals. It was such a great moment to walk out of the house and appreciate the birds that frequently flew by or perched. I usually don’t get to see the S-necked and long-legged kind of birds where I live. It was a super cool experience to get frequent visits from this species of bird.

Because of the wet season, we also had frequent visits from crab-like creatures. I want to think those were real crabs. At least something close to mud crabs. I don’t have my facts right yet. If they are were crabs, we have delicacy on the loose!

I was in an area called Moth in Chipata and that’s were I spent most of my time. This was pretty much in the centre of Chipata. Whenever I saw creatures I was not able to see where I came from, I made sure to take a shot. The one creature I saw the most but failed to take even one shot was one in the family of ferrets. Again, I am not sure these were ferrets but they were furry and looked like guinea pig cousins. I just noticed, they don’t stay put. I tried placing some nuts in strategic places so when they pay a visit, I could take a shot but things didn’t go as planned. I found the nuts gone.

Lovely landscapes, lovely sunsets

Not that I am not a fan of mountain climbing, but in some places like Tanzania ( Mount Kilimanjaro), doing it will cost me an arm and a leg. Chipata has so many hills I could try climbing before doing a legendary mountain climb.

My first attempt goofing around on these hills was with my nieces. This didn’t do the trick but it was good enough for some memorable views. I didn’t have to climb up these hills all the time to enjoy incredible views. Sometimes, I just sat or walked around in the neighborhood enjoying the views I don’t see where I am living. Everyone living where the land is flat knows this feeling when you find elevated lands. I enjoyed my early morning or evening walks because of this.

Sunsets could have been perfect if not for the distracting hills but then again, I was in the eastern part of the country. The sun rises from the east, so says geography. This means sunrises here, should be more enjoyable than sunsets. The hills would be distracting nonetheless.

Bike city touring

Last I checked, especially in developed countries, if you wanna know a city, you have to use a tour bus. This is not the kind of stuff you are gonna find here. I loved seeing more places on motorbikes. This is one thing that has changed over the years. There were no motorbikes used for public transport some time back. This has now become the popular means of transport in this part of the country. In other parts of the country, they are used for deliveries. Here, it’s public transport. Since it’s cheaper than getting on a vehicle, it was easy to see most of Chipata. I even found hidden gems that you should try finding on your own when you tour this laid-back city.

15

All I ask from my dining moments….

We are all different and these differences are seen in many areas including food. What do you look for in dining moments? Some of us are masters at recognizing the mix of flavors and aromas in our food.

Others are particular about the ambiance and would want some comfortable seating, appropriate music, and charming decor. What do you ask for in your dining moments?

Different diners will have that one thing that tickles their fancy. That one thing could be the reason to frequent that spot! Ever been to that one diner where you feel they get you? They do things how you would love them. An eatery will offer you something you will like. Another one will do things differently and you will still like something about that place. Of course, I am not talking about those places we didn’t enjoy dining from.

All in all, all I ask from my dining moments is what I have found in these eateries as I traveled around:

Taste (Lusaka, Zambia): This restaurant has outdoor seating. It also has a fireplace and serves great cocktails! Did I mention they have good coffee too? I wanted to experience a magical morning at Taste. There was fresh coffee and a delightful breakfast menu awaiting. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this is an eatery offering a peaceful escape from our everyday grind.

The experience at this restaurant was as if the staff at Taste knew all I ask from my dining moments is a fresh omelet. Ohhh! For the love of well-done breakfast eggs! I will do this place soon.

Alliance Francaise (Lusaka, Zambia): This is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. Having a branch in Zambia and a desire to learn French just to impress the French, I headed there for entertainment. The eating spot I saw there offered the necessary bites which I enjoyed. All I ask from my dining moments is something to go with those burgers. Some entertainment does make an eating moment memorable.

There is a time to have food in silence but I am imagining this happening in really organized families (or maybe royals). I wanted some entertainment. It was a relaxed evening with presenters in the likes of poets, guitarists, comedians, and ventriloquists. All this, where I could enjoy the evening breeze! That is all I ask from my dining moments.

Dar Lalla (Lusaka, Zambia) Let’s face it, sometimes it’s about the name first. Have you ever thought like, “He must be a handsome dude or pretty girl with that name!” That’s pretty much the theory I had. I loved the name first and that’s what moved me. I didn’t even look it up. Someone just mentioned it. It’s okay to judge an eating spot by its name.

Not to sound spiteful, but coming from Zambia, we have some funny names for companies, especially the small ones. Some small booths providing phone services can have vengeful sounding names like, “God is the judge Phone Dealers.” All I ask from my dining moments is to go to that nice diner with a name as nice as Dar Lalla.

I have enjoyed all my coffees, juices, and bites from this diner. All I ask from my dining moments other than a cute name is a clean environment where I can see how my meals are being prepared.

Sometimes it’s just the fresh air I went to enjoy. Though this place is near a building that looks like a group of companies sharing a space, the eating place is open to everyone.

JCS Food Market (Lusaka, Zambia)

All I ask from my dining moments is to cross borders to other countries using the food ticket. There is no way I will buy a plane ticket to China but I want to have my China moments in the comfort of my zone! JCS Food Market is the place for food enthusiasts. It offered dining options all under one roof! Each restaurant had its unique charm and this made deciding where to dine a wonderful challenge. All I ask from my dining moments is this endless choice of enticing aromas, simmering sauces, and a mix of flavors, and not being limited.

With menu options like I found, everything was enticing but I ultimately settled on a tantalizing combination of chicken and pasta, expertly cooked in the Chinese way. All I ask from my dining moments is large portions! Fancy hotels are culprits when it comes to small portions and we get it sometimes you aren’t just paying for the food but the place too. So when I experienced JCS Food Market, I left the place feeling not only stuffed but with a doggy bag too!

Green Ethiopian Restaurant (Lusaka, Zambia)

All I ask from my dining moments is to know some food I didn’t know because it was so different from what I have in my day-to-day life. If what you ate from an ethnic restaurant didn’t make you inquire more from the restaurant staff about it, it was not ethnic enough. In some restaurants like Chinese restaurants, you may choose to have what you normally have from home but cooked in a Chinese way with some Chinese spice.

The one thing I remember having from this ethnic restaurant was injera. Injera is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, traditionally made of teff flour. In Ethiopia, Eritrea, and some parts of Sudan and Kenya, injera is a staple food. It is central to the dining process, like bread or rice elsewhere. All I ask from my dining moments is to learn something from that ethnic kitchen. It was different from the usual and I am glad when I visit Ethiopia some day, it will be a better experience to appear knowledgeable of what others have for food.

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The Joys of a 20km All-Day Cycling Safari (Part 3)

In my last post, I contemplated doing another cycling adventure inspired by this one. Of course with a different map. Part 1 and Part 2 of this safari, I loved it! As I concluded Part 2, I shared how I bumped into some big animals. Elephants, elephants, elephants!

Point 4: Elephants

Just because this is Africa, it doesn’t mean these kinds of animals are everywhere. There are certain places you are guaranteed to find them. The particular route I picked for this safari sometimes has elephants and sometimes doesn’t. So, was I lucky or what?

The beauty of this unplanned stop was that I was alerted by a cyclist coming from the opposite direction. I had no intentions of retreating because if he “survived it”, I would too, so long I followed what he said and what authorities have stated about safety rules like:

Stay Alert: Be aware of your surroundings and listen for any signs of elephants nearby, such as trumpeting or rustling of trees.

Keep a Safe Distance: Maintain a safe distance from elephants. Do not approach them or try to get too close for photos unless you are with a professional or in a safe place to do so.

Avoid Aggressive Behavior: Do not make sudden movements or loud noises that could startle the elephants. Remain calm and move slowly if you need to change your position.

Respect Their Space: If you encounter elephants on the road or path, give them plenty of space to pass. Do not try to block their path or force them to move.

Do Not Startle Them: If you need to alert elephants of your presence, do so calmly and from a distance. Avoid using a loud horn or bell, as this could startle them.

Be Prepared to Retreat: If an elephant shows signs of aggression, such as flapping its ears, trumpeting loudly, or making a mock charge, slowly back away and find a safe place to take cover, such as behind a tree or rock. I remember doing so on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border when we saw a group of elephants appearing agitated.

Follow Local Guidelines: In areas where elephants are present, follow any guidelines or instructions provided by local authorities or wildlife officials to ensure your safety and the well-being of the elephants.

Point 5: By the Zambezi River

I was happy to have had this peaceful encounter with the elephants. I was not the only one at the time standing in awe waiting to take pictures. There were few cars that stopped with owners trying to take shots. The scene was both awe-inspiring and humbling, a reminder of the beauty and power of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. A Stone throw away was a beautiful place by The Zambezi River, where you could sit and relax or have a picnic.

I continued to cycle on to a village called Mukuni because I heard visitors frequent the place for tourism purposes but along the way, something hit me that I was not that kind of tourist. I already had an idea of what an African village is about. The detour led me to a place where I needed some peace, rest, and good food. The almost 4km of riding made me think of one thing only, food.

Point 6: Avani Hotel

After a workout, we all know we can swallow an elephant! I was starved! The beauty of the place I dined from was that it was a hotel and in the middle of nowhere. It is close to one or two places around but generally, this place is isolated.

The Avani Hotel not only served delicious food but also offered a serene environment that was truly captivating. What made the experience even more extraordinary was the presence of zebras freely roaming around, adding a unique charm to the surroundings. The sight of these majestic animals peacefully coexisting with the hotel’s guests created a tranquil atmosphere. It was a moment of pure bliss and harmony with nature, making the cycling journey to the hotel worth it. The combination of great food, a peaceful ambiance, and the presence of zebras created an unforgettable experience that will be cherished for years to come.

Point 7: Victoria Falls

I left Avani Hotel feeling refreshed. I cycled on about a kilometer or so to the Victoria Falls but there was not gonna be enough time to tour the whole of it or go through all the trails like it’s supposed to be done. I got here still and as I got my ticket, I knew this should be my last stop because it was getting late. Instead of wasting time I just sat near the waters that fall and this should be the Zambezi River. I must say that was an amazing sunset I saw.

After this lovely sunset, all I could think of was the 10km back to point 1 and this trip did not take long because there were no stops made.

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The Joys of a 20km All-Day Cycling Safari (Part 2)

I enjoyed sharing the first part of my cycling safari which I must say I would love to do again. This time using a different route. The first 3km was interesting because of my start point which was a super cool place for a stay.

From the National Art Gallery stop that I made, it took me 1km of riding in a bushy area to get to yet another amazing stopover. The beauty of riding in the countryside is the scenery can be amazing. I must mention that this territory is near a national park so the chances of bumping into a notorious animal were high.

Though not a professional cyclist (wish i was), this trip made me realise that the few advantages of cycling are :

Enjoying those Scenic Views: Enjoying beautiful landscapes and natural surroundings can be refreshing and reduce stress. I enjoyed the countryside and though I feared what sort of animals I would encounter, I didn’t let that take away my moments.

Fresh Air: Breathing in some clean, fresh air does have a positive impact on your mood and overall health. I was away from the congestion and stuffy environment and this did some wonders to my mind.

Exercise: I am a firm believer in the wonders of exercise. Cycling is a great form of exercise that can improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and endurance. And I am saving up to get myself a bike though around here, females aren’t big on cycling.

Quiet and Peaceful: The countryside often provides a peaceful environment, free from the noise and bustle of city life. I cycled away from the city noises and into a semi-wild area. I switched my mood to a relaxed and peaceful one.

Exploration: Cycling allows you to explore new areas and discover hidden gems off the beaten path. As I ventured on this safari, it was exploration for me first because women here don’t bike much and secondly, I went looking for places that are hidden.

Connection with Nature: Cycling in the countryside can help you feel more connected to nature and appreciate its beauty.

Point 3: The Crocodile Park

After a kilometer of riding from the art gallery, I got to a crocodile park.

I am glad I didn’t bump into a crocodile on my way to the park. The entrance fee for locals was cheaper than that of non-locals. Nonetheless, it’s still affordable going for $15. This is a fairly sized park with lots of crocodiles and snakes, all of which have names.

As I got inside the park, escorted by one of the staff members, I couldn’t help but notice his bravery. I know this is Africa, the continent where people kiss lions, but please…… this gave me goosebumps! This man got inside the crocodile cages! I could have sworn he used some African charms to dodge these bullets! I asked him if that was the case ( rumour has it this is what game rangers do) and he laughed and didn’t share his little secret. How unfair that I enjoyed these scenes on the safer side of the fence.

I should say that though this cycling safari was one to bring me peace and relaxation, this one felt like an educational tour. I managed to hold a chameleon for the first time and saw lots of crocs enjoying their moment sunbathing. I asked lots of questions which were on what they feed these many crocodiles with. I was told they eat cow meat and chickens. That should be a huge cost. So sad for the animals at the bottom of the food chain.

I learned a lot about both crocodiles and snakes. I don’t think we have many parks like this. If you ever visit Zambia, do pop by this place. As I was heading out, I noticed some good artwork with some truths or maybe half-truths on them.

Some of the things I read got me stretching my mind. This one writing said, “The largest Nile crocodile is 6.1 meters and lived in Burundi and had eaten 300 humans!” Who was counting how many humans this crocodile ate?

As a lover of art, I just loved what was on the wall and didn’t bother much about digging for the truth behind the claims. I left the Croc park and continued to cycle some more km and made a stop I didn’t quite plan for. I met some wild animals. They were big and I will let you know whether I stopped by for a chat or cycled hard for my life.

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