The Landing Update

UPDATE to On the Ground, Safe and Sound: 11-12 May

Since we didn’t get the update completed when we first arrived, I figured I would provide this now. But stay tuned, a longer update will soon follow.

We made it, and without much trouble at all. The flights on South Africa were as smooth as any red-eye flight can be. Although the airport in Johannesburg (where we had our transfer) has been updated since the 2017 Zambassadors came through, it still has that long-line, slow-moving South African charm. (<—faceitious)

Not everyone slept so well on the flight, but everyone was wide-eyed enough to not get lost along the way - for we all landed in Lusaka, Zambia, on schedule, and all our bags arrived. For the next 3+ weeks we will have the same transit crew from JJ Africa caring for us as we had in the 2017 trip - Mr. Mike Dube, our driver, and Mr. Bachi, our chef. This group of Zambassadors will undoubtedly enjoy them and come to know them as friends.

The truck is just as expected, except the seats had new upholstery, and for 2017 Zambassadors reading this, you may also be impressed they got the water tank fixed! What luxury.

Our camp is set up at our fenced in camping park just outside of Lusaka, Eureka Camp. Mr. Bachi and Mr. Dube had already set up several tents for us - all of which were brand new, and a fair bit larger than our old tents.

We went out for both a late afternoon (1530-1645) game walk in our camping park, and got some nice close encounters with giraffe and waterbuck, and we saw a lot of great birds too (blue waxbill, crested barbet, fork-tailed drongo, helmeted guineafowl, red-eyed dove, and brubru). One of us had a run-in with army ants, but it was Dr. Lafferty, the other leader. We capped off the night with an evening walk in the camping park, and although the big animals had already bedded down, we did get some great looks at bushbabies.

With an excellent meal in our bellies, dishes done, and camp made, we were all in bed by 2200hrs. We start early the next day for Livingstone and Victoria Falls.

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NMU in Zambia - 2019!

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