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Departure: Katima Mulilo (Mukusi Cabins)
Destination: Mongu (Acamms Lodge)
Date Time Start: 2018/05/14 07:30
Date Time End: 2018/05/14 14:27
Total Travel Time: 06h57
Odometer Start: 87,528
Odometer End: 87,834
Total Distance (km): 306
Weather:
Katimo Mulilo: Clear skies at 19.5C
Mongu: Clear skies at 32C
Trip Summary:
I passed through the Namibian border in 4 min. It was not busy. Got to the Zambian Border at 08h30 and left by 09h30.
As you enter the customs area, ten's of people try to offer you Kwacha currency (R0.8 = K1.00). Trading price is between R0.7 and R0.75. Officials only work in Kwacha and once instance US Dollar. The process is:
1) Health check: Stand in front of the camera. They give you a tag that you hand in at a counter on the opposite side of the office. You get a go ahead to proceed with entrance.
2) Customs: You pay carbon tax (K70) and get a vehicle clearance to enter Zambia
3) Department of Transport: You pay USD10.00 (Why USD when all other exchanges is Kwacha?)
4) Insurance: You pay K427 for this.
5) You proceed to the exit where they check the vehicle details and all the paperwork.
6) Council Tax: After items 1 to 5, you proceed to the exit where you are stopped again to pay K35 to the local town council.
TOTAL: K642.00
7) The final check is just before leaving the customs area and they double check that all the papers are in order and they staple them together.
Once clear of the border obstacle, I looked for a place in Sesheke town to buy a SIM card. There are many booths from which you can buy this. They all take Rand or Namibian Dollars but you do not have much to negotiate in terms of the exchange rate (I got 0.75).
Interesting, most towns do not allow you to park along the road. You must drive behind the building you want to visit to find parking.
I parked where I could keep an eye on my bike as it was like a honey pot to a bear. People gathered around and when I returned to depart, they asked questions and two guys asked to have their photo taken with them on the bike, which I obliged.
I headed North along the M10 which is a good tar road all the way to Mongu. I stopped to take photos where the M10 crosses the Zambezi river.
I stopped in Senanga to refuel even though I had enough to get me to Mongu. As one is not sure where you can get fuel, it is better to always have 200km spare in your tank when refueling. 200km seems to be the worse case distance between towns with fuel. Some petrol stations do not take cards and only transact in Kwacha. I crossed the road to an ATM and withdrew some Kwacha.
Sesheke Market to buy a SIM Card
Acanns Lodge - "Camp Site"
Acamms Lodge - Restaurant and Pool
Bridge across the Zambezi River
The mighty Zambezi
I arrived in Mongu and the temp was 32C. I stopped and refueled and asked the attendant if she knew of any camping places. She directed me to Acamms Lodge about 8km North of Mongu.
I pitched the tent, had a swim and decided to have a beer and update the WEB site. Zambia use square 3-pin plugs and I had no adaptor. I could not make any WEB site updates so I enjoyed a couple more beers.
I ended up chatting to a few locals who had booked into the lodge for a conference that was being held there the next day.
Local Beer is called a Mozi and only costs K10. I had pork chops and vegetables at K100.
The power failed at about 19h00 and the generator kicked in. It was located in the camping area. By this time the Christmas Beetles were making their continuous high pitch noise as well. When I went to bed I could not sleep due to the noise so I put in my ear plugs which dulled the noise sufficiently for me to sleep.
Accommodation: Camping
Acamm's Garden Lodge is not really for camping, however they did allow me to camp. They offered me a chalet to shower in.
The "camp site" have no water or electricity.
At least it has a great swimming pool and a restaurant that offered cold beer and meals.
Fishing from the dug outs
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