Ngepi to Katima Mulilo

Day 11 - 1^st  February 2007

 Up at 7.00am, and departed by 8.10, and then on through the Caprivi strip. The sides of the road now become interspersed with grass hut villages, and every 10 - 15 km, a school. Copious amounts of waving to children (enthusiastically reciprocated), and various items of livestock venturing onto the road, requiring occasional panic slowdowns or stops. Fairly monotonous riding conditions. Eventually draw into Kotima Mulilo, by now, universally referred to as “Katie Melua”. Find a little oasis of calm on the river, The Caprivi River Lodge. Comfortable chalets overlook the river frontage, and run by Keith (a Harley owner/rider) and his wife, Mary. Excellent lunch and superb dinner. Mike suggests a quick run into the fast moving, Croc infested river (the Lodge owners had lost a dog only 2 weeks previously, to a Croc), and run out again. Offering to do it first. The rest of group soon cottoned on to the fact that ones survival chances progressively decreased after swimmer No:1, coupled to a questionable risk/reward paradigm. Mike (Larium Day) did a quick dip. HS and Glenn found a local tractor service agent had some springs that would suffice as a temporary replacement for some of the springs broken on the retro-fitted centre stands. Mike and Rennie service the Land Cruiser at a local garage/service agent, while Crocbait, Nick and Matthew book the Royal Livingstone Hotel, after the group decide to view the Vic Falls from Zambia, rather than line filthy Mugabe’s pockets and stay at the Vic Falls Hotel. Retired to the Lodge for excellent, well lubricated dinner, followed by Keith’s photos.

In the strip Getting some souvenirs after a fuel stop	Ooh look, a croc. Can I? Can I?	Houseboat for sale bear in mind this is on the stretch of river where the owners of the Lodge had lost a dog 2 weeks previously to a Crocodile. Naturally, John wanted to have a look at it!		One of the Chalets