Our next country after Malawi was Zambia. As with the previous two countries the main roads were once more excellent and totally free of traffic. The first section after Chipata which is just inside the Zambia border from Malawi was potholed in places but by Kenyan standards was very good. This very soon gave way to the best surfaced roads of our entire trip to date. The road as far as Lusaka is a sportsbiker’s paradise. Twisty well cambered roads totally to yourself, with a surface as good as you could ask for. Zambia has one of the least densely populated countryside in the whole of Africa and this was noticeable as we passed very few villages and saw only the odd cluster of huts in among the trees, which contrasted greatly with the endless stream of people that were constantly walking the side of the Malawian roads especially approaching towns. The countryside in Zambia towards Lusaka was one of rolling hills and mountains covered in a blanket of forest as far as the eyes could see. Indeed in many respects Zambia is the quintessential African landscape as indeed is its relatively undeveloped state. We covered 398Km to Lusaka without seeing a petrol station and were glad of our 43 litre petrol tanks which are probably the singularly best modification we’re done to our bikes for a world trip.

Lusaka itself is a mix of low lying buildings and modern taller complexes with Cairo Road the main street similar to Kenyata Ave. in Nairobi lined as it is down the centre by beautiful trees. The ones in Nairobi being lavender coloured while those in Lusaka have a red blossom but both of which are truly beautiful and add a charming quality to these thoroughfares. Beyond Lusaka towards the Zimbabwe border, we found the countryside more boring. The road itself was even better than before Lusaka but other than that fairly forgettable. We are now in Livingstone at Victoria Falls. We went down to see them this morning and while undoubtedly spectacular, would be more so were it the wet season when all the water comes thundering over them. When we decided on this trip initially, we reasoned that September would be the best time to leave since theoretically at least we would be constantly following the sun and good weather as we journey in a month south north direction. This has proved to be exactly the case. I’ve no doubt that we have been extremely lucky to have had such good weather since we reached France and in some respects it’s been too good as it has only dropped below the 30s in Nairobi and while on a cold winter’s evening in Ireland that might seem ideal it can be tiresome. At any rate no rains mean the falls are less spectacular so by way of making them more interesting I am heading over them in the next hour in a microlight.