The Essence of the Journey!

Benguelu Swamps to Mpika – NE Zambia

Mokoro to parked car to trailer, 2h30 trip, repeated.  Together with David, we had salvaged some angle iron from an old couch.  We had 2 pieces and the plan was to drill through the axle and to use them as rigid plates. We could then tow the trailer 200km to Mpika where we would be able to weld the chassis and go about our merry way.  The 12V drill could really have done with the other 208V.

By the end of the day we had disassembled the nose cone, drilled 6 holes and bolted the chassis.  It was midnight when I returned and switched off the light, 3^rdconsecutive night.  The family had stayed behind at camp and in the morning, we would give it a go – make the journey to Mpika.  Dave, the man, had offered to accompany us to Mpika as he knew who could help us with the welding, and I felt more comfortable having his capable assistance. 

By the time we had said our goodbyes to Mr Manson and family and riveted the nose cone, it was 14h00.  Making our way to the road, we all held our breath, would the makeshift plan work.  It looked even funnier having ‘regans’ (rubber lanyard type material) wrapped around the sore.  “This is how we do it in the bush” David chuckled as he could see the pain in my face visibly showing over every bump we passed over.  “We’ll make it…” he said.

After overnighting at a dodgy guesthouse in Mpika, we found ourselves in the local railway workshop.  David knew Lazarus and his

two assistants.  The diagnosis was that a combination of metal fatigue and pothole had caused the damage.  The welding was expertly done and at 500 000 Kwacha, a bargain.  The banter and great attitude was a real bonus.  We had lost time, but our trip was back on track.

 

 

Kapishya Hot Springs

 By: Nicolai de Freitas (7)

 We arrived at Kapishya Hot Springs at 18:00. I was fast asleep so Dad woke me up so we could set up camp but we were too tired to do bunk-bed so we did mattresses instead. The next morning we woke up not knowing it was very cold outside. We had our tea and our breakfast.

 

Kapishya hot springs – a place with lots of energy

Then later in the morning at about 10:00 we went for a bird walk. We saw Ross’s Turaco and the Brown Firefinch. We went across the Hot Springs on the path where it was almost like a bridge. It was made of rocks and there were holes in it but we crossed it anyway. The water was so warm and looked so inviting but we could not swim yet. Then when everyone was across we carried on with our bird walk.

 

We met Sam and her dogs: Ludo, Paddles, Gemini, Cassie, Bubbles, Titi, Trunkie, Sausage and Princess. We ran back desperately to get into our swimming costumes and ran back to the Hot Springs. When we got in we collapsed and enjoyed. We stayed there for about one hour.

 The next morning, ooo….. yes, the next morning me and my sister went to the Hot Springs . It was lovely and warm and the rising mist was especially beautiful. It felt like we could have stayed there forever!

Kapishya Hot Springs

 

text & pictures by Danica de Freitas

 

The Miombo woodland in the area is both beautiful and in prime condition.

The river that flows on the edge of the campsite is full of water and apparently full of crocs. Sunbirds flit about pollinating the numerous aloes, orchids and other flowering plants. 

 

sulphur free hot springs

The spring is fed by three cold water springs which permeate down 6-7km to be super heated and then forced back to the surface losing ten degrees C with every kilometre, so ending up at forty C.

 

The warm springs are 1m deep (perfect to swim in) and only a wall prevents it from flowing too fast, but a gap in the middle ensures it can still take it’s natural course flowing downstream to connect with the main river. To our amazement there were fish living there too! Four of them swam curiously around us, the bream family I think. They were silver with streaks of yellow. We saw them on several of our swims.

 Ralph, a friendly German, who had been travelling in Africa for just over four years had converted his bright yellow and purple twenty- five year old fire truck into a number one camper van that has even been featured in some magazines.

He also taught Nicolai and I an old medieval language that the Germans used in world war two and had dinner with us that night.

 Other interesting people we met were Alex and Murray who had cycled all the way from South Africa on their way to Nairobi raising funds to put hand pumps for fresh water in the villages (See amanziawethu.org) (Water for the people) Go boys!

 Sam (the manageress) gladly showed us around. I was amazed to see the extensive vegetable and herb gardens surrounding the lodge as well as the orchards and labelled trees.

 Horses! Sundance had eye cancer and looking at him almost made me cry. Star and his mother were in perfect condition showing off smart, shining coats and long, combed manes.

 Next we went to see the pigs, the thick-tailed sheep and then milk the cows. We tried first with the small black one. She really didn’t want to be milked or perhaps the nine dogs frightened her. On the third attempt she actually jumped over the fence. Then at last to our great relief, on the sixth attempt the herds-men finally got her into one of the stalls, and after all of that she only gave one and a half litres of milk.

 

On our way back from the cows we met one of the staff cycling towards us at full speed.

“Another puppy” he blurted out. Sam immediately started sprinting towards reception. The puppy had been born on the couch (luckily the cushions had been taken out for cleaning) and the mother, Ti-Ti was licking it both tenderly and vigorously. After watching for a while I could see it was overall healthy, it was breathing normally, it was warm and it was calling to it’s mother.

 Nicolai rushed back to camp to tell Mom and Dad the news, but found them chilling in the spring instead. It took quite a while but he finally persuaded them to come look.

 In the meantime Sam told me how three days ago Ti-Ti had had a litter of six still-born puppies and now the survivor had emerged.

 

newly born foal

A newborn foal that the proud mare presented to us in one of the fields on the way out made my day. It was probably born earlier this morning with his coat still wet.

 

Kapishiya Hot Springs is a special place of birth, growth and abundance!