Clocking up the kilometres and the hours

A summary of the week in Western Province, mainly to show that getting around just one province in Zambia can be a lengthy, time consuming and bumpy task.

1. Lusaka to Mongu: 8 hrs by bus (passed through the centre of Kafue National Park but no animals in sight)
2. Mongu to Kalabo: 3hrs by boat but first a 3hr wait for the boat to fill up with passengers
3. Kalabo to Mongu: another 3hr wait after buying the ticket and this time the return trip by boat was longer, around 4hrs, as we ran out of fuel within a few kilometres of Mongu harbour and then had to wait to be towed in by another boat
4. Mongu to Kaoma: should have been only 2hrs by car but took 3 as we got a puncture along the way
5. Kaoma to Lukulu: 3hrs along a very bumpy road which meant we got covered in dust
6. Lukulu to Mongu: 5hrs, more dust and bumps
7. Mongu to Mumbwa: 6 1/2hrs by bus which was to be expected
8. Mumbwa to Lusaka: 1hr waiting time followed by 2hrs by minibus and then a taxi ride home.

And finally 30 minutes spent metres away from my house waiting whilst the taxi driver went searching from house to house for some change.  He was definitely not going to get a 100% tip so stubbornly I waited and waited.