Couldn't help myself! So many pictures taken I've just got a few more that I'd really like to share. On my last game drive I was the only person in a vehicle (two new groups and staff recommended I take my own to avoid all the intro stuff again) which meant I had a ball with JJ, the guide who I'd had all week, and his spotter Adam. We stumbled across a Leopard in the first 30minutes then watched her before she tried to grab an impala but missed! This all happened just on the other side of scrub so didnt see it but heard it and it was really exciting stuff. Also saw a couple of mating pairs of lions... this park is amazing and I will be back. Stuck in Lusaka now for a few days before going home.. not much to report here as it is very average and I'm just trying to kill time. However I did just discover that the Sunday Markets at Arcades are probably the best I've seen in Zambia. Pity I'd already got most of my curios! Enjoy the Pics.
Far OUT!! I must admit, I did do lots of research before coming here because I wanted the best. I felt Kruger was a massive let down and when you travel this far - it’d be nice to see more that 2 Lions at a distance... For a start, another thumbs up to Bradt for their review on Flat Dogs for accommodation. This place is incredible and the staff are more accommodating than I’ve experienced anywhere - A great place for all kinds of travellers. The only thing Bradt got wrong was saying that they over load their safari vehicles on game drives. I’ve been on all but one drive so far and they are never full. Even other visitors here agree and have said that if there are lots of people, they take more cars. So you’re getting a good seat which you’ll want... because the game viewing here is like nothing I ever imagined. So Flat Dogs is definitely the pick for travellers on a budget but expect to feel spoilt by the staff, wildlife and the menu. Even more so if you have spoilt yourself like me by spending a few days in the Tree House – WOW! I’m typing here right now with giraffes sitting all around me, elephants walking by and the Hippo coming into graze at night... did someone say I have to go home soon?!! Another myth I’ve cracked is that the morning drives are a bit boring because you won’t see the big cats –Lions and the cat this park is famous for, Leopard. The staff told me to make up my own mind and I am so glad I followed their advice. On my first morning game drive my guide heard something... I had no clue what he was on about but soon enough we were sitting amongst a pride of 15 Lions having buffalo for brekki! Wow... it was them arguing he could hear, and I could feel, once we sat there watching them for a good hour. One even was trying to get scraps from under the car... crikey! So that was awesome. This morning I saw a few Leopard as well so both morning and evening drives are well worth it. The guides know the park extremely well and are walking encyclopaedias on African Wildlife – so it all just adds to the great safari experience offered by Flat Dogs. This following night was my first night drive and at first we saw a Leopard just sitting. A few more cars arrived, impala gave the stress call and a kill happened right before us, unbelievable! Apparently you are only lucky enough to witness an actual kill about 8-12 times a year so I know I’m lucky, but still, I have seen leopard on every drive following this one as well. It is quite far to travel to this park but Proflight offer daily flights and you can also get a bus from Lusaka, if you have the time (or to save money). I do believe it is worth it (I will be back!) and every person I speak to say the same. If I had time I’d also mention all the Elephant, Hippos and abundant amount of other wildlife in this park but I’d have to write a book! This has truly been an incredible way to spend my last week in Zambia and although it is so different to where I’ve been living for the last month, it is great to see Zambia on show at its best. Well I think that’s it for my blogging about Africa – I will do my best to upload the best of many many photographs I have taken! I may still blog about my journeys through central Australia for my overseas friends that I have met but for now, that is all! If only Australia did better in the World Cup this trip would have been even more memorable! Joking.. Well sort of... I have so many memories and this is by far, the best trip I have even done in my life and I am not sure when I will come to truly realise it. If you have a calling or need come to Africa or anywhere to do what I’ve done, something, anything... do it. You only live once.
Thank you all for your kind messages of support for the project, my time here and interest in Africa generally. I am still in Zambia so thought a few words about my travels may help those keen readers who may be considering coming here for either volunteer work or travel. I have done a tour before in Africa but really, I only actually FELT the true Africa this time. I have been travelling on public bus alone, using the same taxi’s as any local and walking the streets of villages, Livingstone and Lusaka. Of course you need to have your wits about you - ie. dont carry valuables and blend in... I do feral pretty well so wasn’t hard for me! Of course there are some parts of Lusaka that are best left alone, so don’t go there, but for the most part I have had no dramas what-so-ever. Not sure what happened at the Lusaka bus depot when a bloke was bleeding from the mouth going off but not my business – had just negotiated a good cab fair with some guy so was happy that he was looking after me. The way to get around is by taxi. If you find a driver who speaks good English and negotiates a good rate, stick with him. They want your business so generally wont let you down if you are giving them work. My driver was fantastic and never missed a minute to pick me up as I asked. I stayed at Marumba Lodge which was incredible, but, perhaps not ideal for the lone traveller like me as it was very quiet on the social scene with mainly family guests. I’ve heard many happy people brag about a backpackers, Jollyboys, so would go there next time. My research prior to coming here pretty well relied on Bradt, trip advisor and experiences from friends that are living here. I give Bradt a big thumbs up – for the first thing it got me out of bed nice and early to see the sun rise over Victoria Falls! Ok, there was no one else there for about 20 minutes, including the staff, but this is Africa time so I just got a bit of a laugh out of it. They did however arrive in time for me to get into the park with plenty of time to see the sunrise over the falls – definitely worth while and I hope my pictures can explain why... amazing. Lots and lots of mist but the cameras are OK under the rain jackets they provide. The Falls are massive and you can’t see them from the ground as such, just the other side of the cliff that the falls is broken away from. Zambia has a tiny part of them and you need to cross the border to Zimbabwe to see the rest – not sure if worth it or not. I walked all the park on the Zambia side which was incredible enough and took a good hour and a half – another hour would have been nice to really stop and smell the mist but had a helicopter to catch... Apart from the rude English lady who almost refused to get on the helicopter because she didn’t get a window seat the heli ride was amazing (Her husband got front seat and she was complaining! First in best dressed.) A very quick trip, but they loop around the falls a few times from either side. My pictures should explain it all anyway. So in a big nutshell – thats Vic Falls! I could go on about Livingstone and how I almost died in my white water rafting experience but I wont now, if you want to know ask!
One thing I was really hoping to achieve while here in Mwandi was to break down the barriers between the OVC kids, staff and the Police. Having worked with the Police while here, it became very clear to me why kids would fear these Police – I can only say it is unlike any policing I have ever seen at home! The Police are quite busy so it did take longer than I had hoped for them to come to OVC, but today they did and their visit was a HUGE success! Sergeant Musumo attended a group counselling lesson with me and I wasn’t surprised that the kids were a little frightened at first! What intrigued me more however was that Musumo appeared a little frightened too! But once he got going he delivered an amazing lesson on being of good character and I was surprised he had never done this before. I tried to not act surprised as he justified to the kids why they may see them beat some people, but this is their culture so I suppose it is an important issue to discuss. We discussed honesty, commitment to education, career choices and the new friendship and trust they have with their police. I was so impressed and feel great to have been part of this. At the end of the session I presented Musumo with a gift from SA Police, the hats, which he could part with as gifts to his new friends. The kids absolutely loved it and despite having different career choices from Policing, all agreed to be Police for the day! The staff of OVC were also very excited by the success and I really hope this is a relationship that can continue. Enjoy the pics – especially my fellow colleagues who helped put things together for me to bring. Cheers :-)
After spending 4 weeks in Mwandi my roomy & I thought a trip across the border would be a nice break... was it ever! Sesheke is the next `main’ township about 60km west of Mwandi. We caught a shared taxi to get there which costs about $3AU – shared taxi meaning it’s a small sedan with six adults, one baby, a tub of fish in the boot and various other supplies... no dramas that the car bottoms out on pot-holes, it’s all part of the journey! Every taxi I have caught here is running on empty too... maybe these cars are built to run off petrol fumes?! From Sesheke you can walk to the border so we walked over the bridge then through Zambia and Namibia customs... Wow, what a difference. I accepted the sight of poverty in Zambia as just being Africa until now – It seems hardly fair that on one side they have nice cars, civilised shops and services then immediately on the other its cows towing carts, barefoot children and accommodations offering cold and warm water (What the?!). So we could see right away that we were in for a treat – and the lodge on the banks of the Zambezi where we stayed was precisely this! We treated ourselves to a river cruise which got us even closer to the hippos we had been watching for the afternoon, did our shopping the next day in Katima then headed home. We really wanted to get on a truck or the back of a Ute for the ride back but there weren’t any going to Mwandi! Never mind, we shared another taxi with a couple of Mwandi elderly men who spoke good English... apparently I speak English very well for someone from Australia – must be all those English classes I took before coming!! A couple of photos for you – A hippo on the river cruise and the bridge walk to the boarder crossing. Back in Mwandi until just Sunday now and far out has this time flown! The police have been quite busy and one of them has been posted else-where... so just two men for all of Mwandi now. We have arranged for OVC visit this Friday to make up for last week so hopefully they will not be busy this time! It will be a great way to finish up at the project so all going well, I will have more photos from the project and the Police visit on Saturday.
Here are some pictures from the Feeding program... I am so proud of all my friends and family back home who helped raise all that money that we gave to this program – hopefully you can see how grateful and happy these kids are that they have a place to go where there health and nutritional needs are met. Currently there are 250 Orphans & Vulnerable children enrolled in the feeding program. Ages range from 6 months to 15 years and 25% of these kids, are HIV positive. All these kids each receive a large well balanced meal 6 days a week and their height and weight are monitored. Those who are most needy will receive additional vitamin or protein supplements. Feeding time is pretty crazy – they come from the village or from school in their break. After feeding it is devotions then reading time. I have been so lucky with the time I have spent here and the friendships I’ve formed... only one week left here and I know I will taking much more than these photos home with me.
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned the time I am spending with the Watchman employed by OVC to guard OVC and the house here during the night... Well if not I must! On Thursday afternoon on the banks of the Zambezi (which is my front yard!) the 5 watchman eagerly attend my `training’ sessions. As `security officers’ for the project they have never undertaken any training what-so-ever. I started my first session by asking what they do if they catch someone on the premises with a reply of, “We don’t know”. Yet they each carry a .22 calibre rifle and a carry bag with baseball bats and batons – Right?! It’s ok though, I have clarified with them that the rifle is for crocodile’s if they trespass on the premises – Fair enough! Again, these blokes are incredibly polite and my time with them has been really fun... and SO entertaining! IMOST (operational safety) training with SAPol does tend to bore me each year, but am grateful for it now because being able to share my training with the OVC Watchman has been priceless... I hope the pictures help to explain why! Next week is going to be my last week with them and as a laugh I’ve taught them some marching too (Oh square-gating hilarious!) to conclude their training with a `graduation’. I will present them with a Police Badge (as we do) which I know will make their day... hard to explain but for people that have never seen anything but Mwandi, this stuff is REALLY exciting!! Today I have the Police visiting OVC which is great – I am really looking forward to it as it was building this relationship between Police and OVC that I was hoping to achieve while here... so stay tuned!
Definitely the highlight to my week was my time with Mushabati, the boy that I have sponsored for 2 years now. He is 14 years old and the eldest of 3 sisters and 3 brothers. They all live in a mud hut with their mother, who was left a widow a few years ago when her husband, a fisherman, died from HIV.
After school on Tuesday Mushabati met me at OVC, where his siblings visit for feeding, and took me to his house. His English was not great, but he was quite excited I could tell and we had some laughs and small chat on the way. He was caring for his youngest sister who would have been only a year or so old.
I spent a few hours with him and his mother – I was worried that he might have to leave school to help care for his siblings but thank God seriously, for the OVC Project with takes care of this! I guess this is where you really see that the project has helped; Mushabati was a part of the feeding program while younger and it is through good health and nutrition that kept him at school. The sponsorship program then kicks in, which funds their education. I told his mother that I will continue to sponsor him throughout all his basic school, secondary and college if he wishes to follow his dream and be a doctor – though English was limited, I did sense an overwhelming sense of appreciation from her which was so nice I couldn’t even describe. To top things off I gave him some gifts from SAPol’s Blue-light/ community programs donations (thank you Port Augusta Police!) and it was a Christmas this boy had never had! I can’t wait to hand out the police hats and the Police visit to OVC later this week!
There are still plenty of children that need sponsorship to go to School. Being here now I can’t explain how important this is – perhaps just imagine if your own child was left playing in the dirt because you didn’t have enough money to send them? I dropped into the school on Friday with another Volunteer here while we took photos of kids for their sponsors, and you can feel the appreciation. They know what we are doing and what it means so please consider sponsoring one of these kids. I will post more photos of the school next week as Mushabati has welcomed me to visit his class which I know already will be another amazing experience.
Current Sponsorship Prices: Mwandi Basic School (Grade 1-7)$70US
Mwandi Basic School (Grade 8-9)$130US
Secondary School (Sesheke)$370US
Only children demonstrating suitability for Secondary/college education are offered sponsorship.
Please email uczovc@gmail.com for a sponsorship brochure or contact me when I get home! (Or post comment with your email for me to organise personally while I am here...)
Other than that, working with the Police has been interesting to say the least, time with the staff at OVC has been great and I took my first Sunday School Class ever! I’ve also been doing some training with the watchmen which has been hilarious! I will post another blog later in the week with photos for that! Spending time with the kids at OVC is the most heart-warming experience and being already half-way through my stay here, I know its going to be very hard to leave...
Sunday, June 6, 2010
While I can take and OK snap I’m not sure of how good a writer I am… I’ll do my best to describe this place in ways that pictures alone can’t.
The place is peaceful, welcoming and incredibly loving… like no place I’ve ever been and I’m sure I’ve already tried to say this. But as beautiful as it is, there certainly are moments where your breath is just taken away, reality hits, and all of a sudden the illness and suffering that is so prevalent through this village smacks you in the face.
After strolling through the village on Saturday afternoon I sat down on a shop step with my roomy and new friend, Lou. We were having a drink and playing with some young girls that were having fun with our cameras. This lady walked up to me and just stood there right in front of me. I asked if she wanted her photo, with a simple `hmm’ and a pose, I then took her picture. With such pride to look well I noticed she was even wearing makeup to cover her paleness but she was terribly thin and quite obviously very ill. I’m not sure if awkward is the word, but there was certainly something uncomfortable about taking this photo – nevertheless, I took it and showed her – she found the strength to give me a tiny smile of appreciation, then her frail body wandered off.
I can only guess what this woman was thinking; and my guess is that she is very ill, she doesn’t have long left, and having an opportunity to see an image of herself with her son who will soon be an orphan, was there. I’m not sure what more to add to this but that’s the story behind this picture anyway.
Click on image to make LARGER
