To be honest, I wasn’t used to all the people, I didn’t feel like I was able to find many moments to relax. Anytime I I thought I was alone, I would stop and someone or a group of people would appear out of the bushes.
Luckily, the Zambian people are extremely friendly (the most so far in Africa)…but it was mentally tiring.
I arrived in Lusaka and realised I didn’t want to ride along the highway anymore. It was boring and not the reason I came to Africa.
I came here to go to the wild places, see animals and be on an adventure…and I just wasn’t feeling like that while riding along the highway.
I managed to research an off-road bikepacking route along the Old Petauke Road from Petauke to Mfuwe. So rather than spending another 4-5 days riding along the highway to reach Petauke, I took a bus there.
I was happy and I made the right decision because I know if I would have ridden from Lusaka to Petauke, I would have been bored of the highway, and just wanted to leave Zambia, skipping the Old Petauke Road.
As you can guess, bikepacking along the Old Petauke road was amazing. I would pass through numerous small villages with friendly locals that were happy to see me.
They lived in thatched roof huts with no running water or electricity. Some villages were small with populations of less than 20 people and some large with over 1000 people.
And I was finally able to have a little more space.
The reason this route was so appealing is it goes along the unfenced border with the South Luangwa National Park. Which essentially means you’re riding through the national park for free.
I was having encounters with elephants, giraffes, antelope, warthogs, baboons, hippos and crocodiles.
It was honestly awesome, and I felt very privileged to be able to ride through such a beautiful area with no-one else around.
During the first evening I wild camped in the bushes…the first time in Zambia so far.
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