Siavonga

A couple weekends ago Henry and I visited the southern part of Zambia. Henry wanted to do work related to micro grids he is helping build in that area, and I tagged along. We drove, and it was quite the road trip. It took us two days driving each way. We probably could have made it in one day. However, driving is so stressful here that we preferred to break it up. The roads are so poorly maintained, you never know when you will come across a pothole that shouldn't be passed at more than 20 mph. The roads are also full of cars and trucks of variable quality and condition. This means everyone is going a very different speed, and there is a lot of treacherous passing. I was very glad to get safely there and back and do not look forward to the next driving trip.

We stayed in a moderate sized town called Siavonga, located right on Lake Kariba. The town has very few amenities, but because of the lake, did have some resort type hotels. This made for a lovely stay. As is our experience, however, even the most lovely places still have some reminders that we are not in the US. Before I could enjoy our room, Henry had to kill a massive spider.

Landed right in our coffee service, effectively squashing any coffee drinking for the rest of the stay.

The room and facilities were lovely, and welcome treat compared to our day to day. The biggest luxury: air conditioning. Not just air conditioning, but air conditioning AND 24 hour/day power. Which of course didn't actually translate into 24 hour/day power. There was still a 1-2 hour power outage in the middle of one day. But hey, I'll take. 

Best TV we've had in Zambia...included perhaps 3 watchable stations. 

Because the hotel was on Lake Kariba, it had a gorgeous view of the water, and a gorgeous pool that I sadly did not get into.

I wouldn't mind this in Kitwe.

We were there only 2 days, and most of the time was spent working. If you have to work, better to have an office with a view. 

This was also my introduction to the fruit tree beverage - essentially blended juice.

The resort had zebras and impalas roaming everywhere. I was amazed how close they would let us get.

Hello, friend!

Because Henry was collaborating with some of the engineers working the dam, we got an exclusive tour. The dam on Lake Kariba is the primary source of power for Zambia. This is also the source of much consternation. Part of the reason for the load shedding we are enduring is the low water level in Lake Kariba.

Dam...

The dam is huge, which makes sense given that it generates enough power for most of two countries (it is shared with Zimbabwe). Henry can give a lecture on both the engineering considerations and politics of the dam and the current load shedding. I, however, can really only speak to the day to day frustrations of it. The many, many frustrations

Lake Kariba is huge (biggest man made reservoir ever!). While there I also ate bream, a local fish harvested from the lake. 

Checking out the water level...

The river divides Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the dam provides a link between the two. So we made a quick trip to Zimbabwe just by walking across.

Walked from Z to Zim.

We had a free morning before starting our drive back, so we decided to do a quick boat safari. We went to a lodge a little further east, and boated around the Kafue and Zambezi rivers.

We got wet bums because of course the boat wasn't covered last time it rained...

On this trip we mostly saw hippos... so many hippos. We also saw a lot of vultures. Cruising around on a boat was a really pleasant way to spend the morning. If we weren't moving, however, it was so so hot (I'm sure I haven't said that about my time here yet...). In general, it was much hotter in Siavonga and around than in Kitwe. Henry thinks he has really adjusted to the climate, but right now it doesn't feel like I ever will. Regardless, you just have to accept it and relish the air conditioning when you have it.

Always hanging out together.

Although this makes it look like all we do is travel, there is a lot of boring work that happens in between trips. Look forward to a potentially boring blog about it...