Mama Rula'ls, Chipata to Croc Valley Camp , South Luangwa National Park- Monday 8th Feb

Surprisingly no overnight rain so packed up the tent and headed out about 8am for the 125km drive which would take between 3 and 4 hours however virtually no traffic on the road expect for locals walking or riding their bikes so we made good time. 

Lots of charcoal on the side of the road for sale today

We stopped along the way at a local factory called Tribal Textiles who have started a company employing local people to design and manufacture things like blankets,soft furnishes and  clothing. We also stopped  at a craft shop at the town before the camp site where another woman had established a sewing and craft shop about 9 months ago to support the local people. We purchased some nice material for a framed picture whilst Jo also made a donation to support the sanity pad project for young girls as they won't attend school when they have their periods so the lady has designed and made washable sanity pads for the girls to wear and every donation aids one girl in the local area .

Pulled into Croc Valley Camp ground just before lunch and one of the overland crews that had been in Kande Beach were in the process of packing up and heading back to Mama Rula's place.

We set up right beside a full and fast flowing South Luangwa River that had nearly been a dry river bed in September last year when Amanda no Jan were through with another group.We could hear the hippos but couldn't see them in the river as they spend most of the time underwater- the banks of the river are too steep for them to climb up thank goodness.

Have to be very careful with the monkeys in the park as they will try to take anything not locked down, especially food.

Post lunch we had a visit from a bunch who stole the scraps bin and hit the toe as I chased them away

The white scraps bin was wedged under the car and they managed to pull it out. Post finishing the scraps they came over for another look through the kitchen area

Joey caught up on some washing given it was a beautiful hot sunny day whilst monitoring the activity of the monkeys at the camp site whilst I updated some of the blogs with better wifi access in between the power blackouts that the power company has been imposing since last August.

Jan did some late afternoon hippo spotting from the car whilst we relaxed by the river bank