Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[Difflock]

Daskop, sovêr ry ek lekker saam. Wat n lewenservaaring wat jy seker nooit sal vergeet nie. Afrika is uniek!!!

 

[DASKOP]

Daskop, sovêr ry ek lekker saam. Wat n lewenservaaring wat jy seker nooit sal vergeet nie. Afrika is uniek!!!

Dankie Diff.

Dit voel soms asof dit 'n droom was. Ek is self nog besig om dit te verwerk. Ek sal maar net weer moet gaan om seker te maak.

:ricky:

 

[DASKOP]

Soon after we entered Zambia, we encountered the scene of a car accident.

It was quite clear where the car had skidded across the tarmac, then the gravel verge, cut a path through the roadside brush, then hit some trees. The trees were damaged and the side of the car bowed in. It looked something like a late model Toyota Corolla or VW polo, but only the frame (like pre-assembly in the factory) was left. The paintwork was still perfect, but there was not a single panel, nut, bolt or strand of wiring left on the frame. It was stripped bare.

We saw many examples of this. Accident vehicles are just left at the scene. This photo was taken at another accident scene after the incident described above.

 

[DASKOP]

Everything can be transported by bicycle, or so it seems in Zambia (and Malawi, as we were to find out).

Roof sheets, door frames, carpets, goats, chickens, and many more other items were seen on the bicycles. After a while, the novelty wore off and I realised to them it was nothing new, the challenge was just to keep your balance. What they attempted at times blew my mind.

Bicycles are also used as taxis, predominantly for single passengers (with in-trip cellular services), but a few were seen with 2 or 3 passengers, the viability of such a venture determined by the passenger size. The ability of the passengers to remain balanced and unfazed while sitting on this small rack on the back of the swaying bicycle was also quite a sight to behold.

There are even bicycle taxi ranks. Obviously not as loud and raucous as vehicular taxi ranks go, but with some spectacularly decorated bicycles.  

It was amazing to see how these operators tackle the uphills with passengers on the back.

The second photo was at village no 29 on the list. We are getting close to Chipata.

 

[DASKOP]

OK, lets get the sequence right again.

11th July 2013 - day 16 of our trip.

Today it is from Mama Rulas in Chipata to Lilongwe and then on to Monkey Bay on Lake Malawi.

 

[Moolman]

Hartseer, is jy al terug? ot:

 

[DASKOP]

Hartseer, is jy al terug? ot:

Nee, ek post hier vanuit Vilanculos, Mozambiek.              :biggrin:




More Mnr Moolman.

Ja ek is terug, maar ek wil weer op pad wees.

Dog jy het van die aardbol verdwyn.

Wanneer is die volgende trip?

 

[Mzee]

Amazing trip

 

[DASKOP]

Thanks Mzee.

11/07/2013 Chipata to Monkey Bay

Zambia / Malawi border post.

The official side goes down without a hitch, but the money lenders are relentless. They do not seem to understand the word "NO".

For the first time, I see Murphy lose his cool completely. They back off after the little outburst, but they do not go away. They just switch to conversation mode and hang around hoping we will change our minds. We had to deal with them, but we wanted it on our terms. These okes will snake you at the slightest opportunity. Everyone has the right to try and earn a living, but this whole thing just smelt like "set-up to con the tourists".

What made it even more aggravating is that when we tried to establish the current exchange rate with the border officials, they were not initially forthcoming. This just strengthened our belief that they are all in cahoots.

We eventually got the info required and were able to exchange money at a much better rate for ourselves.

There were some interesting sights and many, many trucks. They are there sometimes for days.

Then came the next challenge. Buying insurance.

Little building. Sparse office. Old computer. Generator supplied power. Slow typing insurance clerk. The generator kept on cutting out, and then the whole process had to be started all over again. Eventually, we were issued our insurance slip in exchange for our money which is going to end up, who knows where.

At last, we are back on the road again. To Lilongwe.

 

[DASKOP]

Now, this was a moment to share.

You probably think that this is a bad photo..........out of focus, etc.

Not at all .......... there I was cruising along, and just as I was taking a photo of the area, this Pedal Maniac overtook me on the left hand side, with a passenger on the back.

I nearly fainted, I got such a fright.I must have been doing 50 km/h when this happened.

In RSA, it is maize power, there it is KASAVA POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DASKOP]

Just a few photos on the section to Lilongwe.

 

[DASKOP]

Lilongwe:

I visit a friend who I had not seen for many years. Murphy decides that he is going to push on to Lake Malawi, so we split up temporarily.

One of my mate's business partners suggests that I go via Golomotsi Pass to Cape Maclear. So, after a brief visit, I am on my way. Not much to see in Lilongwe.

I stop in Dedza to draw money at the Standard Bank there. I had opened a International Cash Card before I left PE and deposited some money into it. This enabled me to draw local currency at any ATM in any country outside of RSA.

The Withdrawal Receipt showed that I was a cash millionaire in Malawi. Wish that balance would remain the same once back in the good old RSA.

Anyway, onward to Lake Malawi.

 

[Keith Barbier]

Geniet jou RR nog al die pad, ry saam... :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

Dankie 4 Kays.

In Dedza, I see this carpentry workshop. Saw some smaller ones along the road in Zambia, as well.

And as always, very friendly Malawian people, as were the Zambians.

 

[DASKOP]

Dedza to Monkey Bay.

 

[DASKOP]

Golomotsi Pass.

The sign says it all. SLOW DOWN.........................or rather, stop and absorb this place.

I was not prepared for the absolute beauty of this place. It just suddenly appears in all its glory.

It was the type of spectacular vista, that, when I stopped and removed my helmet, I expected to hear an angelic choir providing the auditory accompaniment to this amazing visionary feast.

The photos do it absolutely no justice at all.

 

[DASKOP]

Although you get the sense of isolation, when you stop and remove your helmet, you can hear people talking. You never seem to be absolutely alone in these parts of Africa. It is more desolate in our own Karoo.

About half way down, I stop again and notice this building under construction above me. I turn back and follow a gravel road up to the incomplete building. It is to be a new lodge.

I meet a watchman there and ask permission to look at the plains from the front of the building. I get the nod and go onto where the future verandah will be.

 

[Mr Zog]

Looks like someone is gonna have a stunning place!  :drif:

 

[DASKOP]

The view from there is stunning.                              :eek7:

 

[DASKOP]

I just have to share this photo that Murphy took. There are plenty of these paraded along the road.

The poor mice in Africa must live a terrified life. Obviously, no Mexican blood, these were not related to Speedy Gonzales.                     

:biggrin: