We're off on holiday! ZAMBIA 02.05.12

So, after our fails at Christmas time to get to Zambia and enjoy the falls, we decided to try again!
On the Wednesday all packed and ready I waited at the rest camp for Tyche and Simone (all the way from Luderitz) to arrive so that we could set off.
At the hitch hike point around 12 we first got a lift with a man driving all of the way to Otavi and jumped in the back of his bakkie, sleeping most of the way until we got there. 3 hours later we arrived and were then lucky to receive a lift from another guy travelling to Grootfontien and so then proceeded with him. He was very interested in England and was making casual hints of how he really wants to go but needs somebody to stay with. I DON'T THINK SO! haha.
Finally reaching Grootfontien 2 hours after, it was now around 5pm. We decided to try and get a lift to Rundu although it was almost dark and after some time of nothing, gave in and went to stay at the Pondoki rest camp there where we pitched our tent and enjoyed some nice chicken cheesy bites and chips then went to bed.

6am was an early wake up. Everything was packed up in minimal time and we walked up to the road to wait for a lift. By 9 we still hadn't got a lift, so the owner of the rest camp gave us a lift to the service station to try and were picked up straight away.
At Rundu peterol station i asked around every car for a lift but everybody wanted money. Two old guys travelling to Katima Mulilo agreed to offer a lift, but for a small sum of money. We ended up paying N$50 each, around 3pound 80pence for a 500km trip. Not to mention all three of us had very heavy luggage. It was dark when we arrived in Katima and we did debate going to the Zambia boarder but then decided against it and stayed in a complex, in our tent for the night. Dinner was a chicken burger from the fuel station, my first meal of the day and we hit the pillow at 7 ready for the early wake up again in the morning.

The boarder opened at 6 and we were there at 7am excited to be crossing into Zambia. Once in, we sat by the road for an hour trying to get a hike to Livingstone (home of the falls). We ended up getting picked up by an oak who said that he would drive us into the town of Sesheke where we would find a lift much more easier.

Another hour later in the town of Sesheke we were still waiting for a lift. Many people had stopped and many people wanted money, but we continued to wait for a free ride. A man stops and says that he will be able to give us a lift for free. However, he is going to Namibia for 2 hours to reful. We wait for 3 hours and see no sign of him. At this point we then decide that it is time to give in and pay for a lift. We all bargain with a mini bus driver and convince him to give all 3 of us a lift for N$200. We leave off for Livingstone at 12.30.

The ride from Sesheke should take around 2 hours. 3 hours later we are sat at the side of the road having been stopped by a police road block. Other stops had been made along the way to pick up various other people along the road and also because the driver wanted to buy some fish, but this stop took the longest.
This also happened to be my first physical sight of corruption in Africa.
From what we were told sat in the back of the mini bus for an hour and a half; as the car had driven by, the police had seen myself, Simone and Tyche sat in the back. 3 white girls in Zambia mean a lot of money and the police were under the impression that we had paid the driver a lot of money for him to drive us to Livingstone. They made up a false accusation that the car was not insured, not registered, the driver didn't have a license, and that the car was pirated. This however was not true, as the driver did happen to prove all of this accusations false.
The police would not budge, and continued to find fault with the people we were travelling with and demanding large sums of money. Something that happens very often in Zambia, a Zambian passenger told us, because people are so broke they abuse their authority in order to cheat people out of money, just so they can feed their families. Quite sad really.
Finally, the driver was issued a large fine and we were able to drive on. Nothing else was said.

We reached Livingstone at 4.30pm and were relieved to be welcomed in to the Jolly boys backpackers. The tent was pitched. We headed out to town to buy some food shopping and then spent the night chilling there and deciding what we wanted to do the following day. The backpackers was dead cosy, with a bar/restaurant, outdoor pool, gift and internet shop and not forgetting the amazing chill out area, filled with cushions to just spread out and relax on. Complete with a cosy tree house just above to view the vast milky way during night time.

On Saturday we awoke with many plans in mind, most of which didn't get done. In the morning we prepared our own breakfasts and then headed out on the backpackers free bus to the falls. We simply went down and checked out Simone doing her bungee jump off of the bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Afterwards there was no time to head to the falls. We had to hurry back to the backpackers in order to be picked up for mine and Tyches gorge swing experience. With half an hour to kill before the pick up, we meet a English woman, Hannah, staying at the backpackers, waiting to begin her volunteer work in Zambia. We invite her to come along with us to watch.
At the Gorge site, myself and Tyche are briefed for a short while about what we can do, go together, or go alone. Also about how to avoid whiplash and informed of the long, uphill hike we will have to endure after, to get back. In the end, we decide to go together and wait whilst we are harnessed up and chained together.
Standing at the edge, it suddenly felt real, and it was a LONG way down. My heart was pumping at twice it's normal rate, and as the man began to count down, I just wanted a moment to breathe. On one, we both rocked backwards and a sudden gust of air filled my lungs to an amount that caught my breath completely. And then it was over, and we both screamed in sync and were swinging back and forwards across the valley. It was truly beautiful, but my whole body was shaking like crazy.
10 minutes later we were hoisted down and endured the 20 minute long walk up the side of a mountain. But it was worth it.

The rest of our afternoon was spent cooking some dinner and then we decided to take a taxi, with Hannah, down to the falls to see the lunar rainbow during full moon. A spectacular sight, although the falls were not fully visible, however the rainbow caused from the moons reflection on the mist was as bright as ever. It was like nothing I have ever seen before.

The next morning we returned to the falls again. This time to see them in daylight. We went down to the boiling point, and got soaked crossing the bridge over the falls. We swam at the top of them, drank the water and sunbathed there for most of the early afternoon. The rest of the afternoon was spent at a local orphanage, with friends we had made at the backpackers, playing football with the orphans. Something that the backpackers organizes for travelers every Sunday.
Finally, we ate out in the evening at a superb Italian restaurant called Olgas. I thoroughly enjoyed my Carbonara pizza.

We spent our last day in Zambia chilling! Walked around a few of the food markets. Brought ourselves the odd souvenir and the relaxed in the pool at the backpackers. The evening was spent playing card games with friends we made and getting ready for our 2am bus back to the boarder. We didn't go to sleep.

So originally we were told that the bus back to Sesheke would leave at 2am. And were therefore there and ready at 1.30am. Big mistake! Considering it didn't arrive until 3 and didn't leave off until half an hour after that. We were starting to feel the sleepless night by this time.
When we finally departed, we were put onto a huge, cramped coach between the smelliest men I have ever smelt! Luckily we caught some Z's though and arrived the moment the boarder opened and passed through back to Namibia without any problems. By this time it is 7am.

The journey back to Omaruru was a blur, but it was also very long. I can recall being sat at the road in Katima for 6 hours waiting for a lift before we finally got one. And being harassed in Grootfontien by taxi drivers who wanted money or for us to sleep with them. A very upsetting and revolting situation to be in.
But when we did eventually get back to Om, it was such a relief. Just to be home, with friends and to not have to sleep on the floor anymore. But I really did enjoy Zambia. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to go. And I would never have had the opportunity if it wasn't for my mums generous funds. Thank you, to her and her boyfriend.