Luapula Province - 3 days, 3 waterfalls and 360 goats

We have just had a trip with our friend Maureen to Kwamambwa in Luapula Province in the far north of Zambia.

Maureen came to Aberystwyth to study agriculture about 16 years ago and she is the first contact we had with Zambia.  Without her we would never have come here.  She is currently working for Heifer International, who provide livestock to families whom they have previously trained in livestock care and business management.  She is based in Kwamambwa (almost on the border with the Congo) and was in Choma to collect 360 goats.  We went with her as she accompanied the truck full of goats to their new home in the north.  The journey took 3 days – which was much longer than it should have been because of issues with the truck and driver.

Loading the goats

Nearly there - we were going a short day's drive beyond Mansa!

So much water

 

Luapula is very beautiful.  There are lots of trees, lots of water, big views and no dust.  (Choma is DUSTY).  The predominant tribe is Bemba, so a different language, and surprisingly, a different outlook on life.  The local people don’t farm, so despite the abundance of water and the good soil, there is no farming.  There is a lot of fishing, but the Luapula river has now been pretty much fished out.  Currently the only thing that seems to be being grown is cassava, which is the staple food.  I did notice some cattle as we travelled and Maureen said ‘oh yes, I think a Tonga lives there’!  Heifer International, in partnership with the Zambian government is trying to improve farming in the region. 

The other side of the river is the Congo

A small village right next to the river, and no crops!

Bridget, Carol and Maureen

 

Our journey home was 20 hours.  Our bus left from Kawambwa at 4am and arrived in Lusaka at 6pm.  The bus from Lusaka left at 7pm and got to Choma at 11.30.  We were home by midnight.  This sounds like a night mare, and a few years ago I (Bridget) would never have believed that I would submit myself to such a thing, but it was ok and a good way to see so much of Zambia as we bounced past!

A bit of the journey: