Dwayne visits Amora's homeland..... for 20 minutes

Enjoyed my Private Bed and champagne in Lufthansa Business Class, FRA - JNB. Arrived in Johannesburg and was taken to a very nice hotel near the airport for an overnight stay. Great little quiet spot, some game (an ostrich and some springbok) in the yard, and fantastic breakfast the next morning. All this for prices that are very low compared to Europe.

Was awaiting Dwayne's arrival at the Jo'burg airport the next day. I was at the departure gate for Livingstone, Zambia (Vic Falls). He was arriving and connecting on BA from London. The plane did arrive just slightly late.... but where was Dwayne? I kept watching the escalator into our gate area.... no Dwayne. It was getting painfully close to departure, and then the bus arrived to take us out to the plane. I waited for the last bus, but still no sign of him.

I was worried, but not freaking out. Perhaps I got my dates wrong and he was coming tomorrow. Maybe he missed a connection in London. How were we going to catch up to each other????

Got a bus to the Zambezi Waterfront Campground, although they had no record of my name for pick-up. Hmmmm, today is not one of those smooth travel days. Things got even stranger when I arrived at the campground and they did have both of our names??? So where was Dwayne? I checked in, found the internet, and prepared to email him and Robert for help.....

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Johannesburg airport, a very tired Dwayne was following the herd and clearing South African Customs. Seems he missed the "Transit" sign, where you can transit directly to another international flight (you will recall that Livingstone is in Zambia, not South Africa).

Anyways, Dwayne got through South African Customs, and was tight to check in for Livingston. Sorry, that flight is closed, no check in allowed. Soon, the 737 was off to Livingstone, sans Dwayne, but with a very bewildered Neil.

Dwayne was calm, but firm. Next days flight meant an overnight in Jo'burg and missing a day in Zambia. Well sir, said the now somewhat helpful BA lady, we do have a flight to Victoria Falls. "Gee, that is just where I am headed" thinks Dwayne - let's do it.

So off flies yet another 737, to Victoria Falls. On board the plane Dwayne is receiving his Customs declaration. Question: where will you be staying in Zimbabwe?
It was precisely at this moment in time that Dwayne realized he was headed to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. Oh yes, and due to the tight connection, he was unable to go to a bank machine in Jo'burg, so he had no money!

Landing in Zimbabwe, he did not panic, but prepared to figure out how to get to Zambezi Waterfront Campground in neighbouring Zambia. But first he need a visa to transit Zimbabwe. US $65 please!

He then, with a bit of assistance from someone, organized a very reasonable US $85 taxi ride across the border - NOT! He "stole" the money from the cash he needed to hand over to GAP Adventures at the start of the cruise, and off he went.

The taxi was a horribly dilapidated K-car, sputtering along though the Zimbabwe countryside. What are those birds, asks Dwayne. Vultures, replies the taxi driver.

At this point the taxi, probably firing on 2 cylinders, came to a halt, with the driver looking a bit worried. Kind of like Dwayne's face looking out the taxi window at the vultures. Yes the taxi had died.

After a bit of confusion, Dwayne was off in taxi number 2, an old van. After a while is this lovely vehicle, he was put into a third taxi, which made the now dead K-car look good..... yikes!

Somehow taxi #3 got him close to the border, where he walked into Zambia, and got his visa stamped. Zambia looked like paradise now, not to mention taxis that looked like they might get to their appointed destinations.

Meanwhile.... Neil had figured out that 20 minutes of internet time would cost 20 rand, which he had. He had no idea what that was in Kwatchas, Zambia's currency. He was just about to pay for the internet, and try to find Dwayne, when the front desk clerk came up behind him, and muttered those magic words.... "Mr. Burnham, Mr. Sanderson is here."

So, the 2 traveller were finally united, and Dwayne had a great story to tell. They headed for their tent, and their first night in Zambia.

Time for a cold Mosi Zambian beer!!!!