Into Africa - DASKOP's 12000km drive

[DASKOP]

The drive back to Blantyre was livened up by a cow race.

 

[DASKOP]

The rest of the ride was uneventful

 

[DASKOP]

And some tar with twisties...........then traffic jam with a cop.

Back at Rhys' house, bike packed and ready for the next stage. I spent a wonderful few days with my friends, but it is time to hit the road.

 

[DASKOP]

Like before, I overlooked some photos, so as not to miss anything, here are some more photos of my Majete trip.

On the road there...........................

 

[DASKOP]

The game drive.....................

 

[DASKOP]

The Baobab trees are vulnerable to damage by the elephants, so they pack sharp rocks around the bases of the trees to protect them.

 

[DASKOP]

Driving back to Blantyre.

Saw this interesting church on my way in. I enjoy the architecture of the older church buildings that I encounter.

 

[tgg]

very nice rr. so where did you use the rachet straps.

The **** thing about travelling africa is that it has become USD and tourist friendly. Any country north of Namibia and the limpopo expect to pay in usd for the rand eqivalent

 

[DASKOP]

The ratchet straps story is still to come.

I got a currency card from my bank and deposited money into it before I left and in this way I could use the card to draw local currency from most of the ATMs in Zambia, Malawi and Moz. The card can only be used outside RSA. Made life a lot easier.

 

[DASKOP]

24 July - day 29 of my trip.

Time to leave Blantyre and head for Mozambique.

Gracie, Rhys and Gail's dog child, was sad to see me go.

The drive to the border was without incident, unfortunately could not do this section on the gravel. I was starting to really miss some good gravel road.

Theses were the last photos taken in Malawi.

 

[DASKOP]

The border experience Malawi to Mozambique went without a hitch. Once again it was only the money changers and the car guards that created some unpleasantness.

The road towards Tete went from good to very bad. There was also a lot of diesel theft evident, from the ever present hanging orange drums, indicating prospective buyers, to parked trucks with the diesel openly being siphoned from the tanks.

The last section of the road into Tete is absolute chaos. Hence the lack of photos. There is plenty of construction happening and the road itself is under construction with a lot of detours. The amount of traffic is scary with no apparent regard for the law or right of way. has the biggest balls or the least brains, just goes hell for leather. I had to stay alert in order not to become a casualty.

At the toll gate at the bridge into Tete, there was a long queue, so I did some passing on the right, hoping I would not irk some polce officer. At the front of the queue, one driver of a Landie, said that I can pass through on the left, which I proceeded to do, along a narrow concreted path until I was abruptly stopped by one of the toll officials. I thought I was in trouble, because of his attitude and my discovery that this was a pedestrian and cycle path. He called the guy who was obviously in charge, but he was so busy collecting cash from the vehicles, without receipts, that he just gave me a stern look, waved his arm and said, "Go". So I went.

 

[DASKOP]

Some places the tar roads were nearly non-existent.

 

[DASKOP]

Over the bridge into Tete.

 

[kiwiMatt]

Matt, I thought you would fix the bike and do a South African coastal tour towards PE. Would be great to see you again. Do you have some photos to share?
[/quote]

Ive already done that route. Would love to do it again but unfortunately I need a job before I can start my next ride.
Heres a few pics of my trip

 

[MURPHY]

Wow Matt - awesome photos !!!

 

[DASKOP]

Thanks Matt. Amazing photos.

I hope that we are going to hear some of the stories about your experiences. Like the crocs eating a zebra, elephant encounter and your brick-making friends.

Looks like you had a great trip.  :thumleft:

 

[DASKOP]

For some reason, my GPS does not recognise Cahorro Bassa so I stop for directions..........3 times and each time I am pointed in a different direction, until I encounter a police woman at a soccer event.

The traffic is heavy, I still have to get out of town and it is late in the afternoon. I have about 150 km to go on unfamiliar roads in Mozambique. Not a very reassuring thought at that stage after experiencing Tete.

Then I see this mini bus wreck next to a badly mutilated tipper truck. Even less reassuring as I am encountering a lot of trucks, the sun is setting and I am taking it very slow, passing through some villages and obvious evidence of a lot of stray animals.

 

[DASKOP]

After a tense ride, the last section in complete darkness, I come across a split in the road at a building out of which there is emanating some very loud music and the only light that I have seen for many kilometers. On both legs of the split, there are booms but only the one to the right is manned. I have in the interim established the position of local accommodation on my GPS and it is indicating that I take the road to the left which will take me to Ugezi Tiger Lodge. But, I am being ignored and I do not want to risk opening the boom myself and landing in jail.

So I disembark and walk to the boom operator at the other boom and request assistance. He shouts at someone in the dark and a youngster arrives and opens the boom for me and I proceed further into the absolute darkness.

The road is tarred, but narrow and strewn with potholes and suddenly, I am in the middle of a herd of cattle. They just appeared like ghosts in the murky darkness. I got such a fright that I nearly fell off my bike. Then it was rabbits, followed by goats and then more rabbits.

Eventually, there was Ugezi Tiger Lodge, but not before I had to negotiate a tricky twisting, potholed gravel section right at the end.

Met a security contractor in the reception and he kindly offered to share his camping spot with me. Tent up. Man down.

 

[DASKOP]

25 July 2013

I met some 4x4 enthusiasts that were doing the dam tour and I was invited along. I follow them to the dam where we are sent to another complex, board the bus and drive to the dam along with a group of foreign and local officials on a course on Water Management.

 

[DASKOP]

Then it is into the belly of the mountain for some more sight seeing.