Lower Zambezi: Chongwe Falls

Date: 2 May 2011

Location: Royal Zambezi Lodge, in the Lower Zambezi Valley, Zambia

Walkers: Helen, Dorothy, Dom, the rest of the gang, plus our guides

More from my visit to Zambia: the lodge, various fishing trips, game drives, a walking safari and a canoe safari.



Our group went on an expedition to see the waterfalls on the Chongwe River. This meant a half an hour drive into the bush, up into the hills.



As we arrived we were delighted to see that the staff from the lodge had set up a picnic lunch for us: under a magnificent tree there were drinks and a delicious lunch waiting.



We thoroughly enjoyed our refreshments.




Then we strolled down the road to the big pool at the base of the falls. It looked fabulous for swimming but we were warned that it is not safe due to crocodiles. Eeek!




Our guide led us up a path and over the rocks to see the falls.





The water was flowing strongly through the weathered rocks. We'd been heading for a small pool that is sometimes good for swimming but there the river was far too full.






Instead we went back to the road and took another path up the hill.



There was a lot of this pink flowering shrub on the wayside.



This route brought us to another body of water above the falls. This pool was shallow and rocky, and was deemed safe for paddling and swimming. It was so good to cool off in the water!





Lots of large red dragonflies were flitting about.



What an idyllic spot to while away an afternoon.



All to soon it was time to go, an uneventful drive back to the lodge.


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Lower Zambezi: Canoe Safari

Date: 30 April 2011

Location: Royal Zambezi Lodge, in the Lower Zambezi Valley, Zambia

Walkers: Helen, Dorothy, Dom, the rest of the gang, plus our guides

More Zambia: the lodge, fishing trips, game drives and walking safari.



Another group expedition from the lodge: a canoe trip down the river. Our route was 7km along the Zambezi and then another 7km along a quiet channel around an island in the river. Sounds far, but it was all with the current, so the paddling was very easy. And no paddling back upstream was necessary either as we'd be picked up by a motor boat at the end of the route. That's the way to do it.




We were meant to keep in single file, but there was a certain amount of competitiveness between the canoes and some overtaking!



It was a beautiful afternoon. Such pretty clouds.



Can you see the little plane?



This view of the hills of the National Park was becoming very familiar now... I found the shapes and shadows in the late afternoon sunshine particularly pleasing.



And the lovely trees!



We turned left into the channel. It was narrow and shallow, but also very quiet, pretty and peaceful.




Ooh, animals! Impala coming down to drink, and waterbuck on the ridge.




And birds too, including many colourful bee-eaters...



... and a jacana in the grass.



We saw several buffalo too. At one point we had one on either bank, so we paddled very quietly in the middle of the channel. One ol' buff stood up and stared at us very intensely and I was relieved once we'd passed him.



Further on the channel seemed even more lovely and peaceful that before. Canoeing is a really fun way to explore a wilderness area.





So much to see. Here: a warthog, an impala, a monkey and a fish eagle.



There were plenty of baboons and vervet monkeys.



Also a multitude of bee-eaters, making their homes in the mud banks.




On the way back a flock of enormous storks soared overhead.


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