Brandon Bosch Memorial Ride - Africa 2021

[DASKOP]

The only disturbance was the dog and monkey interaction.

 

[DASKOP]

I met Morgan Kaphaya Phiri. He was the team leader of a camera crew who had been brought in to document the capture of 200 Buffalo and 60 Zebra in the South Luangwa National Park to be released in the newly established Sumbu National Park. It was a highly secretive mission due to the prevalence of poaching.

We spent hours talking. He had many challenges in this process, like a camera crew vehicle overturning at night on the way, a difficult camera man and trying to control all of this over a vast area, but he never stopped smiling. It was like I had known him my whole life.

He showed me a piece of driftwood, which he had picked up, that would be the tangible representation of his time here. He wanted to sand and polish it, but I suggested, keep it the way you found it, that is the way it was created and left for you to find.

 

[RobD]

There has been a long standing border dispute between Zambia and the Congo in the area north of Sumbu.

A survey team were there to re-survey and submit the details to both governments. They saw me with my Africa Road Atlas hard copy and asked if they could take a look at it. They must have spent an hour going through it. They had never seen one before and actually ordered a copy for themselves on line while sitting there. I just found it very odd.

Then they decided to go for a snorkel and I joined them. I had some shells from the lake bed.

So good to see a smile on your face! :thumleft: :thumleft: :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

I was invited to join the survey and camera teams on a sun-downer cruise on Lake Tanganyika.

 

[DASKOP]

Fish farming on the lake. The floating pipe is to protect the fish farm when the lake gets rough.

 

[DASKOP]

Heading back to the lodge and all the local fishermen in their Mokoros were doing the same.

I was joined by Morgan on the bow, and we spent some quality time together, just talking.

 

[DASKOP]

20 June 2021

Sunrise at Ndole Bay Lodge.

 

[DASKOP]

Morgan and I had spent a lot of time together, just talking. He shared so much with me, but that is between us and all I could do in return was share my experience as a father, my trials and tribulations in life and the absolute need to find your own inner strength, apply wisdom in your decisions and take time to make them, so that you do not end up regretting making those crucial decisions.

The previous night, Morgan came to me and asked me if he could do something for me. I had asked him what and he said that he would like to clean my boots. That rocked me a bit and I asked him why. His reply was that I had imparted so much into his life, that he saw me as a father figure and he wanted to honour me. I was so humbled by this, that after he left with my boots, I broke down.

He brought them back in the morning, we chatted, he thanked me and left.

What more can you say about something so special?

 

[frankmac]

20 June 2021

Sunrise at Ndole Bay Lodge.

Learnt something new. I wasn't aware Zambia shared Lake Tanganyika with Tanzania, DRC & Burundi.

I was so humbled by this, that after he left with my boots, I broke down.

He obviously saw the mensch in you.

On a lighter note, over the years I have seen black Africans look after their footwear way more than we whites do and I did get the odd gentle chiding at the state of my boots. The Oil & Gas industry quickly sorted the cheap and nasty from the robust. 

 

[DASKOP]

After Morgan had left, I needed to go somewhere and spend some time alone.

Behind the lodge is a path up the hill which I walked until I found a spot where I could sit and try to clear my head.

From where I sat, you could get some sort of idea of how big Lake Tanganyika is. 

 

[DASKOP]

I wanted to take a part of Lake Tanganyika home with me, not something I could buy from a local craftsman or shop, something different.

I found a Mosi beer bottle and top, filled it with water from the lake and sand and shells from the lake shore. When looked at the photos later, I saw a face in the bottle, but maybe my mind was just playing tricks on me.

27 shells for 27 years with my boy.

 

[DASKOP]

Bonfire on the beach and some fireworks.

 

[Ian in Great Brak River]

Superb RR this, thanks!

 

[DASKOP]

21 June 2021

Craig, the owner of Ndole Bay Lodge, was involved in the wild game re-stocking of the Sumbu National Park. They were secretly re-locating 200 Buffalo and 60 Zebra from South Luangwa Park to Sumbu. That is what Morgan and his crew had been filming. I had previously, a day or two ago, mentioned to Elize that I would like to witness this operation, if possible.

She came back to me. Permission had been received from the top that I was allowed to attend a release, but that I was not allowed to make mention of it or post any photos or videos until I was out of Zambia.

It was quite a process, the procedures at the park entrance, spray down for all kinds of possible diseases, before driving to the release enclosure.

Their game rangers are highly trained and seriously equipped.

It was such a privilege. The video footage still has to be edited, then I will post that as well some time.

 

[DASKOP]

We saw some other game on our drive back to Sumbu. Poaching is a major problem here, but new fences have been erected and the number of Rangers had been increased drastically. Special Forces units from abroad are regularly brought in to train the Rangers.

 

[DASKOP]

As is the case all over Africa, the term, overloading, whether it be a vehicle or a boat, is not a matter of concern.

 

[DASKOP]

Fishing i s a large source of income for the locals. Apart from the boats and drying fish, we saw where illegal nets were being repaired, but you have to be very careful of where you take photos.

The island was used by slave traders many years ago. This is where they were held captive before going to market, on shore.

 

[DASKOP]

If I have problems with Matilda, I know where to come.

Something told me that this man is a person, greatly desired by the opposite ***, but was not interested.

The shops and fresh produce market.

I had no idea that I had set up shop in Sumbu.

Being attended to by a breast feeding shop owner is not uncommon.

 

[DASKOP]

22 June 2021

I met Andrew, Bernie and Steven. They were going snorkeling and I was invited to join them.

 

[punisher]

Morgan and I had spent a lot of time together, just talking. He shared so much with me, but that is between us and all I could do in return was share my experience as a father, my trials and tribulations in life and the absolute need to find your own inner strength, apply wisdom in your decisions and take time to make them, so that you do not end up regretting making those crucial decisions.

The previous night, Morgan came to me and asked me if he could do something for me. I had asked him what and he said that he would like to clean my boots. That rocked me a bit and I asked him why. His reply was that I had imparted so much into his life, that he saw me as a father figure and he wanted to honour me. I was so humbled by this, that after he left with my boots, I broke down.

He brought them back in the morning, we chatted, he thanked me and left.

What more can you say about something so special?

i cried at this ,  so humbling