Experiencing 4 Countries in less than 20 minutes

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.

June 20, 2024 33

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.

April 21, 2024 15

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.

March 8, 2024 9