Well, Kwatchas are the currencies of both Zambia and Malawi. The difference being about 40 Zambia Kwatchas to 1 Malawian Kwatcha. When negotiating my laundry costs my brain was still in Zambia and my laundry bill was 5000 Malwian Kwatchas which amounts to about $40 U.S!! Oh well, chalk it up to supporting the local economy. It was bad enough that I paid way to much, but the wash came back smelly, soaking wet, and full of river sand.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Mgomo's Village
On Lake Malwai near Senga Bay is Chief Mgomo's village. After a very rainy night and morning a few of us went with our guide Rodger and a swarm of children to visit this village.
This is a cassava field near the village. This root plant is grown from cuttings in about 8 months. The root is then harvested stripped, dried, and pounded into a power.
Roger is here demonstrating one of 4 wells in the village bought and paid for by the villagers. The villagers also have to take care of all maintinence on the pumps.
We then met Chief Mgomo himself and visited the village elementary school.
The maximum class size is supposed to be 60 students, but it is often over 100.
The health clinic and hospital serves over 20 Tonga villages for a radius of 30 kilometers.
Inspire of signs like this one the one mid-wife and clinic staff receive no outside assistance or funding.
The fish and farmers' market were open when we were leaving the village for our camp. There were some beautiful butterflies in the gardens.
I bought myself a Dokolosi for good dreams, good luck, and protection.
This is a cassava field near the village. This root plant is grown from cuttings in about 8 months. The root is then harvested stripped, dried, and pounded into a power.
Roger is here demonstrating one of 4 wells in the village bought and paid for by the villagers. The villagers also have to take care of all maintinence on the pumps.
We then met Chief Mgomo himself and visited the village elementary school.
The maximum class size is supposed to be 60 students, but it is often over 100.
The health clinic and hospital serves over 20 Tonga villages for a radius of 30 kilometers.
Inspire of signs like this one the one mid-wife and clinic staff receive no outside assistance or funding.
The fish and farmers' market were open when we were leaving the village for our camp. There were some beautiful butterflies in the gardens.
I bought myself a Dokolosi for good dreams, good luck, and protection.
Zambia to Lake Malawi
Malawi seems to be one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. Hill after hill is covered with small villages. The road on a Sunday is a steady stream of foot traffic in both directions with an odd bicycle and motor vehicle thrown in here and there.
There are open air bicycle shops in almost every village. Most also have a church, mosque, and farmers' market.
There are open air bicycle shops in almost every village. Most also have a church, mosque, and farmers' market.
Mukuni Village School
In Zambia, even though they say the children are the future, there is no free school for anyone no matter how poor. So the school at Mukuni Village has
40-45 students per class room, no books, no bulletin board information, a few pencils, no art supplies, no sports equipment, and teachers with a high school education.
The small home made note books the students have are sewn together glossy magazine pages for covers with cut up binder paper for worksheets.
Our guide in the village told me that these students would love to have pen pal class rooms from the U.S. She gave me her correspondence information.
I am including it here for any of you who would like to write and to also send some classroom supplies.
Ms. Felistus Mwaanga
Mukuni Village
P.O. Box 61123
Livingstone
Zambia
e-Mail felistusmwaanga@yahoo.com
40-45 students per class room, no books, no bulletin board information, a few pencils, no art supplies, no sports equipment, and teachers with a high school education.
The small home made note books the students have are sewn together glossy magazine pages for covers with cut up binder paper for worksheets.
Our guide in the village told me that these students would love to have pen pal class rooms from the U.S. She gave me her correspondence information.
I am including it here for any of you who would like to write and to also send some classroom supplies.
Ms. Felistus Mwaanga
Mukuni Village
P.O. Box 61123
Livingstone
Zambia
e-Mail felistusmwaanga@yahoo.com
Zebras at Lusaka
Well it rained again on the drive today and then again during the night. It is a pattern that has followed us most of this journey with the exception of our bush camp on the Okavango Delta.
This evening the Zebras came to our camp so I have put a group of photos here that you can put together into some sort of critter.
This evening the Zebras came to our camp so I have put a group of photos here that you can put together into some sort of critter.
Zambezi Sunset
The skies of Zambia are huge. The skies of all of Africa are huge! I sat on the dock Wednesday evening beside the Zambezi River listening to the roar of Victoria Falls 6 kilometers away as the sun set. Here are a few photos of the unbelievable towering spray from the 5 million cubic meters of water per minute flowing over the falls.
Mosi oa Tunya
After horse back riding a few of us went back down to the Mosi oa Tunya (The Mist that Roars--Victoria Falls). This is the view just above the falls on the Zabian side of the Zambezi River.
We then walked along the river to near the bridge to Zimbabwe.
At this point there is a trail to the bottom of the falls and the huge whirlpools. It is quiet roar thought the rain forest.
At the bottom as we near the river the roar of the cataract increases. Rafting has been suspended for the rainy season, but I can see why friends have warned me off this river!
This is the lovely light filtering through the mist and the border bridge.
We then walked along the river to near the bridge to Zimbabwe.
At this point there is a trail to the bottom of the falls and the huge whirlpools. It is quiet roar thought the rain forest.
At the bottom as we near the river the roar of the cataract increases. Rafting has been suspended for the rainy season, but I can see why friends have warned me off this river!
This is the lovely light filtering through the mist and the border bridge.
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