Day 8, 12 July 2012, Leaving (Lusaka to Chipata) - On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again... Willy Nelson was all over it. 550 kms (roughly) yesterday on excellent roads. 600 km promised today. Roads optional. We made "camp" last night in utter luxury at Zambia Pioneer Camp and despite the dire predictions of our guide about the standards of East African accommodations we were blown away, pix of the gorgeous chalet in the album and the African Sunrise that greeted us at 6.15 am. Shame we only got to be there for 8 hours - but time and overland trucks wait for no Hardies. Off to Chipata in Zambia) and our driver promises mucho African massage today - the roads are apparently going further to pot.
On a slightly deeper note - it feels like we are going through the bible belt of Africa. In every small town there will be several churches and places of worship - sometimes cheek by jowl along the main road. All the public transport mini buses have large slogans on the back - God Gives / God Saves / God Lives an so forth. Perhaps a reflection on the safety of the buses and having a bet each way in the event of an accident, but the general feeling I get is that of a deeply religious people living a very hard scrabble existence and looking for any possible form of divine intervention to ease their daily trials. They don't smile much - or maybe it''s just when they turn their heads towards white tourists.