we did enjoy Zimbabwe. We didn’t run short of food since only staple food was missing, that the only one affordable. Processed food and other “luxury” tin food were plentiful. We didn’t meet that many Mugabe supporters. But the anti Mugabes were careful on who to speak with. We had to leave because we ran out of strong currencies and we couldn’t use our credit card there. I mean you can, but this is a serious huge rip off if I’ve ever seen one. So sad we missed a park where they would have allowed us with the bikes and tents!
anyway, here is Botswana. It looks like the foot and mouth disease had been quite serious here. We had to walk and ride the bikes through some large basins filled up with chemicals to kills whatever germs responsible for the disease. We had to dip in our other shoes as well. We only rode on the eastern side of Botswana, which is not the most scenic part of the country. The Botswana country tourists go for is on the other side, near Namibia. But the pans, the famous hot and dry pans were nearby. The temperature was close to 35-40° C everyday. For the first time, we took naps during the hottest time of the day. Personally I don’t suffer at all from heat, I even breathe better than usual, when people pant and feel useless. I discovered that feat one hot summer in Texas that I coped much better with asthma in blistering hot weather. Big distances, hot weather, I got a bit concerned again with water, Joanne precised with “paranoid”. Anyway, we were carrying up to a total of 17 lt of water between us whenever we could refill. We were each drinking 7 to 8 lt of water everyday. Add a few sodas here and there, water from cooking pasta… But we didn’t feel sweating really.
Botswana by then, 2002, had about 1.5 million people. A good third was HIV positive! Campaigning was quite visible.
once in a while a little homestead, basic but essential for our needs.
common scenery on the continent.
Baghdad café revisited…
the country is dead flat, I don’t remember a hill. We rode easily 100 km or more on a day.
a novelty: fences everywhere, to fight the foot and mouth disease. Not so easy to camp on the side of the road in Botswana.
Francistown but it could be anywhere, the pavements are often invaded by various traders, hawkers, touts, thieves… you name it.
very smart to set a telephone business near a bus stand. Convenient to call friends and family and announce the delays.
I’m was puzzled and still is, to know where these guys get the phone connections. It obviously didn’t look the national company stands…
these women were selling goodies through windows to the travellers who don’t get down the bus. Usually food and drinks. In Tanzania, I only see men doing this job, with a bit of aggressiveness and competition. Here, sweet behaved ladies, all calm and polite. Refreshing.
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