The Mighty Zambezi River

[DrWilly]

Where to go for a long weekend? There’s a few national parks up north along the Zambezi River around a 5.5 hour drive or 1 flight from Harare and a heritage listed area as well. Decided to drive and the roads weren’t too bad, except for the last hour (30-50kms or so). There is variety of accommodation to choose from basic camping to expensive lodges… we chose a small self catered lodge.

The road petered out to a track, you had to watch the goats, cows, pigs, baboons and people regularly crossing it and it was a fairly rattlin ride.





we stopped for water at this little general store in a typical African village. Kids came flocking around to see what was up (and perhaps a free handout from the visitors).



Next door we discovered this little bar was the home of Liverpool!



Finally got to our lodge, the boardwalk shows how high the river can get, but right now central Africa is experiencing a drought.



cracked open a cold one.





And another.

[Mendip]

^ I really miss Africa.

Nice wheels as well!

I always found that the sky seemed to look really high in southern Africa, as in your first pic. Is it because the condensation level is very high?

[DrWilly]

The views of the river were marvellous. Sunrises and sunsets were stunning, the night sky was a carpet of stars, planets and the Milky Way, but nothing worth sharing with just an iPhone camera, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

[DrWilly]

^ I really miss Africa.

Nice wheels as well!

I always found that the sky seemed to look really high in southern Africa, as in your first pic. Is it because the condensation level is very high?

I hadn’t noticed, but I guess so.

You really need a 4WD here, the roads are often dicey. The hilux is a solid vehicle annd I am also really enjoying the range a tank of diesel has.

[Neverna]

^^ Nice sunset pics.

cracked open a cold one.

And another.

I quite like that cider. Did they have other ciders or was that the only one available.

[DrWilly]

They have several available, I just chose this one as I’m not a huge cider drinker and I know I prefer dry. It was pretty decent. It was my first time to try it and I will definitely buy another case.

[david44]

Thanks interesting report from somewhere I'll never see.

what were the black and white 'deer like' animals a type of Eland, bok, antelope or gazelle but I thought they were sandy colour?

[DrWilly]

Goats.

But the parks along the Zambezi include:

• The Zambezi River is home to 75 species of fish, including bream and tigerfish
• The Zambezi National Park is home to a vast range of wildlife: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, sable antelope, eland, waterbuck, and smaller wildlife

Best Zambezi Park Lodges – Zimbabwe | Rhino Africa

[klong toey]

Nice way to spend a few days,virtual beer in you inbox.

[DrWilly]

I gotta admit I kinda got in a wee bit of trouble from the wife cos I bought a case of beers and ciders, plus a bottle of whiskey for me. And 3 cans of lemonade and ginger for the kids and her.

whoops.

[hallelujah]

Great thread, Willy.

Tempted by a swim at any time?

Thought not.

[DrWilly]

Great thread, Willy.

Tempted by a swim at any time?

Thought not.

The lodges had a swimming pool.

As for swimming in the Zambezi, you’d have to be mad, it’s full of crocs, hippos, and the occasional ele. But I do have a story about that coming…

[DrWilly]

As for the temperature, days floated around 75-85°f and a wee bit cooler in the evenings but never cold.

[DrWilly]

An estimated 12,000+ Nile crocodiles in Zim, 80% located in the Lower Zambezi according to this study. Just a moment...

Nile crocodiles can grow up to 1 tonne. We saw a few in the evenings, but no photos.

[Bonecollector]

and the Zambezi shark aka bull shark which as an ozzy you will know, they don't come to just fuck spiders

Have you rented or bought/ leased the wheels, very nice!

[bsnub]

Great thread Willy! Green owed.

[tomcat]

...what currency were you using?...

[DrWilly]

Everything gets quoted in USD.

and the Zambezi shark aka bull shark which as an ozzy you will know, they don't come to just fuck spiders

They reach sexual maturity at about 6 years and a length 2.5m. The bull shark is known to most South Africans as the Zambezi shark, as it has been found many kilometers up the Zambezi River.

Bull Shark Zambezi - OCEANS AFRICA

[DrWilly]

We booked a late afternoon fishing trip on a local boat. The best time to catch tiger fish is September & October, but it’s not unheard of in April either and given the lack of rains will be more likely. Also a boat is a good way to see much of the wildlife and enjoy a river sunset.



Packed water for the kids and wife and some beers to stay hydrated with.



Last time I went fishing we spent 40 minutes catching small baitfish with bread. This time we drive upstream five minutes and bought some live baitfish being kept for that purpose by a Lebanese fellow who was also building a mosque. $5 for 10 small Talapia (bream) and we were on our way. The boatman showed us how to skin and remove the jaw to turn them into tasty tiger fish morsels.





The motor to a likely spot, cast your line out and wait. Within ten minutes we had a couple of big nibbles, including a 10 metre run on the spool but didn’t catch much. Everyone was happy, except for the youngest fellow.

[reinvented]

Everything gets quoted in USD.





They reach sexual maturity at about 6 years and a length 2.5m. The bull shark is known to most South Africans as the Zambezi shark, as it has been found many kilometers up the Zambezi River.

Bull Shark Zambezi - OCEANS AFRICA

They found one in peru, 4000 Km upriver

[hallelujah]

The lodges had a swimming pool.

As for swimming in the Zambezi, you’d have to be mad, it’s full of crocs, hippos, and the occasional ele. But I do have a story about that coming…

That's what I was referring to, Willy. And the bull sharks as BC mentioned.

Tempted by a swim at any time?

Thought not.

Didn't stop this nutter though:

Swimming with Crocodiles in Zambia – WE MARRIED ADVENTURE

[hallelujah]

They found one in peru, 4000 Km upriver

The Jaws film was inspired by attacks that took place on the coast and in rivers in New Jersey in 1916.

Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916 - Wikipedia

A lot of the documentaries I've seen - and the wiki article - blame bull sharks for these attacks even though the film itself was based on a great white.

I believe bull sharks are the most feared by divers as they are naturally highly aggressive.

[katie23]

Nice pics, willy. 3rd and 5th pics on post #3 were my faves.

[Bonecollector]

^^ + Willy reply

its a massive [at][at][at][at]...what river does it swim up in Oz again...wasn't their an attack on a Navy guy or something a few years back, massive [at][at][at][at] of a shark

[DrWilly]

^^ + Willy reply

its a massive [at][at][at][at]...what river does it swim up in Oz again...wasn't their an attack on a Navy guy or something a few years back, massive [at][at][at][at] of a shark

Possibly the Hawkesbury River.

One of the most famous attacks in Sydney Harbour occurred in 2010 when navy diver Paul de Gelder was attacked by a three-metre bull shark during a routine anti-terrorism training exercise off Garden Island in 2010.He survived, but his hand was severed in the near-fatal mauling and doctors were later forced to amputate his right leg above the knee.

Sydneysiders warned to ‘stay out of the water’ after shark attack | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site