#TanzaniaToZambia #DarToNakonde #Tunduma
Christmas getaway December 2020 to Nakonde (Zambia). Travelling by bus, car and truck to and from Zambia. I didn't want to be home for the 2020 Christmas holidays. This trip was not organised in advanced it was pretty much spur of the moment. I was thinking of going to Malawi but ended up in Zambia.
Zambian people are pleasant. I was made to feel welcome everywhere I went, whether at the customs border crossing, the hotel or the random people I met that gave me directions and assisted me. Thank you to you all and thank you Zambia for having me.
If I had one criticism it would not be the people but the main road at Nakonde. It needs serious attention, it's tooooo bumby for a first impression of Zambia. I thought Zambia had a lot of Chinese what are they doing about this road?
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING TO AND FROM ZAMBIA BY ROAD, BUT THIS COULD ALSO APPLY ELSEWHERE:
THE NUMBER OF THINGS YOU NEED TO PACK WILL DEPEND ON HOW LONG YOU'RE STAYING.
ENOUGH CASH TO PAY FOR TRANSPORT, HOTEL AND BACKSHEESH!
BUSES DO NOT RUN ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT IN CERTAIN PARTS OF TANZANIA. BETTER TO PAY FOR A DECENT COACH THAN A REGULAR BUS. MOST REGULAR BUSES ARE FINE BUT SOME MAY TAKE THE BUMPY BACKROADS IN AN ATTEMPT AT AVOIDING TRAFFIC POLICE. THIS NOT ONLY MAKES THE JOURNEY UNCOMFORTABLE, ON BUMBY ROADS, BUT ALSO LONGER AND RISKIER AS THE BUS COULD BREAK DOWN & GET STUCK IN A DITCH ETC. YES IT HAPPENED TO OUR BUS.
PHONE SIGNAL MAY NOT ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE AND YOU COULD BE DRIVING FOR HOURS AT NIGHT ON THE BACK ROADS WITH NO RECEPTION, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUSH, WITH STRANGERS.
BE CAREFUL IF HITCHING A RIDE AT NIGHT. I TRAVELLED ALONE BUT IT MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY FEMALES.
SOUTH OF TANZANIA CAN BE CHILLY, PACK A FLEECE AND A T-SHIRT AT LEAST. SEE IF THE HOTEL CAN GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BLANKET FOR THE NIGHT.
IF YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE QUE AND FIRST ON THE BUS THEN YOU CAN GET A WINDOW SEAT AND FILM SCENERY OTHERWISE COME LATE AND YOU WILL GET A CRAMPED ISLE SEAT AND BE SAT THERE FOR THE DURATION OF YOUR JOURNEY.
WHEN CHANGING SEATS ON THE BUS/COACH CHECK THAT YOU HAVE YOUR PHONE, I CHANGED SEAT ON MY BUS AND LEFT MY PHONE IN THE SEAT. LUCKILY A TANZANIAN WOMAN MANAGED TO LOCATE IT AND HAND IT BACK TO ME. ALMOST LOST MY NEW IPHONE 11.
I DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES WITH PICKPOCKETS BUT I WAS TOLD TO BE CAREFUL. ALSO WATCH YOUR BAGS AND KEEP THEM CLOSE. ONE OF THE DRIVERS ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY BACKPACK IN THE BACK OF THE COACH AND I HAD TO MAKE A POINT OF MY VALUABLES BEING INSIDE.
A FL!P!N COVID CERTIFICATE WITH RECEIPT! COST £50-$150 DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GET IT. AT THE BORDER IT IS CHEAPER BUT LAST MINUTE IS RISKY. PLUS YOU NEED AN OFFICIAL STAMP, ON THE COV CERTIFICATE, AT THE TANZANIAN BORDER.
YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION CARD! SOMETIMES.
HOTEL/AIR BNB CONFIRMATION PRINTOUT! FOR IMMIGRATION.
ITINERARY BREAKDOWN OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING AND WHERE YOU WILL BE GOING.
$50 CRISP DOLLARS FOR YOUR VISA! BOTH WAYS. DON’T HANDOVER OLD BILLS, IT CAN DELAY YOU, AS THEY DON’T TRUST THEM.
CHANGE OF CURRENCY FOR TAXI AND FOOD. YOU CAN CHANG MONEY AT THE BORDER, COME EARLY AND CHANGE IT AT THE BANK COME LATE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE STREET THAT CAN CHANGE IT FOR YOU. CHECK/COUNT YOUR MONEY.
SIM CARD AND TOP-UP VOUCHERS FOR ZAMBIA - ZAMTEL - MTN - AIRTEL ETC (TOP UP AT LEAST 40KWA).
ITEMS FOR HOTEL - SLIPPERS, TOWEL, SHAMPOO ETC AND PERHAPS A CAN OF BUG SPRAY FOR ANY COCKROACHES ETC.
10 KWACHA IS APPROXIMATELY 1000 TZS (TANZANIAN SHILLINGS).
AT DEC 2020.
HOTEL I STAYED IN IZUKANJI LODGE BUT THERE ARE OTHERS JUST ACROSS THE BORDER WHICH DO NOT SHOW UP ON THE AIR BNB APP.
ALL SITES AND IMAGES, THAT APPEAR IN THIS FILM, ARE FOR TRAVEL INFORMATION & ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. MAKE YOUR OWN CHECKS AND DON’T RELY SOLEY ON THE INFORMATION IN THIS VIDEO.
This was a much longer video but it was edited down for brevity and ease of upload. Apologies for the dark images or unsteady hand, it’s no fun filming when you’re tying to enjoy at the same time.
My sometimeish solo travels
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Tanzania Travel 2020 Playlist
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX...
Tanzania Travel 2021 Playlist
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