Something Different

On our second full day at Kafue we had the option to cast off the boat for fishing, Linda, Fred, Phil, and Steve fished in the morning.  The rest of us took a pleasant picnic boat ride on the Lufupa River.  Lots of Hippos, an Elephant along the shore that decided not to swim, some crocodiles, and lots of birds.  Very wide and peaceful river filled up with us getting wider but very peaceful people.  The fisherpeople caught six large mouthed bream, we think they were bass.

The challenge here at Kafue is that an elephant dominates the camp.  Fun to watch at first as he blocks the path to your cabin or shakes the trees for small coconut like fruits which he enjoys but humans do not eat.  On the river side of our permanent tents are hippos nesting on the shore when they are not in the water.  At no camp can we walk on our own after dark or even just several of us together.  But here, we cannot walk, even during daylight, back to our cabins or just for the exercise.  Although they indicate there is 24 hour coffee, tea, and cold water, we have no access except during planned activities or meal time.  

It does get wearing to be constantly in a group or, I imagine, even with your spouse, 24 hours a day for a month!

In the afternoon, instead of a game drive, we took another boat ride.  This time up down the Kafue.  Again, nothing much to see but the sheltered boat was comfortable and we had our Sundowners as we drifted along.  For the afternoon fishing trip Bud joined in. More fish were caught.

Back at the camp it was Boma night.   Each one has been different.  This time we sat by the campfire while we had our starters.  Those were roasted ground nuts (peanuts) and a small fish, tinier than a sardine.  They reminded me of the Pic-Nic brand of Shoestring Potatoes.  But smaller.  Eaten whole and very salty.  I skipped crunching bones and eyeballs (in truth, I think our hostess Mwami said they were sightless) and stuck with the peanuts!

We moved into the dining lodge for dinner where the fresh caught fish were prepared deliciously.  There is more than enough food being served on this trip.  

This time our part of the entertainment was This Land Is Your Land accompanied by kazoo.  After the first verse each state that we represented said a little about their state. Bonnie, from Champaign, Illinois, said that our president, Barack Obama was from there.  This got a big hand from the staff. But I think the biggest hand and most noise came when I said that Atlanta was the home of Coca Cola!

We continued the song with a modified verse saying we had safaried to Zambia and “YOUR land was made for you and me.”  Off to bed again early with an expected 6:30 a.m. wake up call.