Elephant Grass
Long reeds of elephant grass shoot from the either side of the two lane highway connecting Lilongwe with Lusaka. The towering grass hangs lazily above the road, bobbing and swaying with the wind. The grass, when coupled with the many hills and blind turns makes for a thrilling ride through southern Africa’s hinterland.
Zambia’s landscape is a stark change from our previous three months of cycling. Many riders say riding across Zambia is how they pictured the entire ride across Africa. The hills, blanketed in green, are numerous and occasionally expose the odd rock formation. The tarmac is smooth and the traffic sparse. The rural populations are notably smaller, as most Zambians (40%) live in cities. In fact, one tenth of the population lives in Lusaka, where we find ourselves today.
With the improving landscape comes increasing distances. Our longest day thus far was several days ago, clocking in at 197km. From Lusaka to Victoria Falls will be our longest consecutive three-day stretch - averaging 165km per day. We are pedaling furiously, taking in the landscape and mentally preparing for our Cape Town arrival only a bit over a month away.
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Posted April 08, 2008 by Chris Boehner
Tour Updates | Zambia |
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