Lower Zambezi

Hello blog readers!  I figure it is about time for an update.  The Kids were out of school this week so we decided to head down to the lower Zambezi River which is about 2 1/2 hours from Lusaka.  We stayed at Kanyemba Lodge.  I highly recommend it as the chalets were nice and clean, the food was great and the wildlife was abundant.  Kenyemba is known for two things: Elephants and Tiger Fishing.  And we had plenty of both.  Mix in some hippos, crocs, tons of birds and vervet monkeys and you have a recipe for safari success.  The only thing missing was those "friends" who keep saying they are coming to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity at resident rates.  You all know who you are.  Did I mention it was hot.  We had to utilize the pool at the lodge on several occasions to cool down. (No big sweaters or mittens and gloves for us).  

The tiger fishing was interesting to say the least.  You have to use metal fishing line and a hook the size of my index finger.  You put on a chunk of beef (2"X 2") or a half a fish (about a foot long) and let your line drift behind the boat as you float down stream.  When you get a bite you have to keep the line taut or the tiger fish will shred your metal line in half.  We spent more time re-stringing line than we did catching fish and never did get one of those medieval looking fish in our boat.  So I guess we will just have to go back and try again.

The Zambezi river is beautiful.  As we trolled up and down the river we saw tons (figuratively and literally) of elephants, many hippo herds, crocs and local people who live in villages near the banks of the mighty Zambezi.  Once again the sunsets were stunning and beyond description.  I've included some pictures but they just don't do it justice.