First impressions of Zambia
My first bike, Honda CBR300R
11 April 2021
Hadithi hadithi?!
24 April 2021The main crossing point, at Nakonde, is frenetic and busy. Dozens of people trying to sell goods or services. Zambian immigration was polite but careful - one look at my physiognomy was enough to send me for extra checks! I was allowed in, though!
Northern Zambia is a cycling country. Nearly everyone cycles. The roads are long, straight, and nearly empty. The drivers are unfailingly polite. The women wear colourful dresses, and always seen walking by the road, carrying a baby.
The level of poverty and deprivation is evident --- houses made of straw, lack of power lines criss-crossing the landscape (a la Kenya), almost zero cars on the road (save for the hundreds of Tanzanian heavy trucks that ply Zambian highways), etc.
The people themselves are super friendly and very polite. Their English diction is impressive and way better than any I have experienced anywhere in Africa.
Major highways are tolled in Zambia. There are toll plazas, which are manned 24/7. I was able to go through unhindered (I had paid road tax and carbon tax at the Nakonde crossing point).
Fun-fact I
Fuel in Zambia, a landlocked country, is much cheaper than Kenya! Zambia depends on Tanzania for its major imports --- and we are talking of thousands of kilometers from Dar-es-Salaam to inland Zambia. At Kasama, the administrative capital of northern Zambia, which is 1,200 km away from Dar, petrol retails at Zambian Kwacha 17, or KES 87 equivalent, per litre!
Fun-fact II
On my way through Tanzania, I got caught by a very bribe-hungry cop. He accused me of speeding beyond the 50 kph limit. What followed was a very spirited discussion between us two adults in free-flowing Swahili, in which the protagonist surrendered. I was let go.
Fun-fact III
In Tanzania, you have to provide granular details of your being, including your tribe, as you register for accommodation. These details are transmitted in EXACT FORM to the various halmashauris (town councils).
Fun-fact IV
Tanzanian highways are so far the best in the region, by very far. TANROADS, the national agency, has outdone itself, and its peers in the region.
Trying to charm lions at Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia.
A stone-throw away (literally) is Zimbabwe. Not far away is Botswana and Namibia - they are sharing the mighty Zambezi river. Extraordinary scenes here yesterday on my river sunset cruise - I came face-to-face with an elephant in musth. I couldn't believe when the elephant, a male, simply swam across the massive river.
