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Journey along the Great East Road (20 years on) Print E-mail
Written by Mike Craigen   
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 08:00

I too have a memory of a journey along that road (Kenneth Miller @1956), but 20 years later!! I had been sent to senior boarding school in Scotland, as it appeared to be about to get too difficult to get to Marandellas, Rhodesia to Peterhouse after junior school at Ruzawi.. Memories of crossing by foot across the Vic Falls bridge carrying my suitcase, with the border officially closed!!!

Anyway, on several holidays , I did not get to go back to Zambia ...as my folks were heading towards Europe. So I had the opportunity of staying with a good friend from school in Belgium. As a big thankyou, when we finished school, my parents arranged for Dave, my friend, to be flown out to Z for a holiday of a lifetime.

We started with the Falls, and then motored up to Lusaka, and then on up the Great East Road, heading for Luangwa Game Park. So far the holiday had been 'relative luxury' ..with a three night stay in the Musi-o-Tunya hotel in Livingston.  Journey time had us arriving in the metropolis of Kachalola Hotel for evening (it is on the map!!).

Thatched rondavels, and the smell of woodfire stoves...said 'BUSH'!!!! We went into the diningroom after showers for the evening meal...no menu...but the waiter told us it was 3 courses....Rice Soup, followed by Braised Goat and Rice, followed by Rice Pudding!!!

My friend Dave, started to get green around the gills...as the idea of goat..sank in..... My Dad said 'this man does not want to eat goat...have you ANYTHING else....???' The waiter disappeared and returned some minutes later after deliberations with the kitchen. 'Please Sah we can do the chicken.....with rice'... to which Dave agreed..

Two minutes later there's a hell of a commotion as out back, and easily audible through the mosquito gauzed window behind us, we hear Kachalola's finest 'hooku' being swiped off her roost for the night...to satisfy the pallet of the visitor........that was enough for Dave...it was early to bed and no dinner!!!

I guess he tells that story to his Grandchildren...  and who says you can't get 'fresh' food in Zambia!!!

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