(21 January – 9 February 2026)
Our much‑anticipated journey to Zambia kicked off on 21 January 2026 and spanned nearly three unforgettable weeks, wrapping up on 9 February 2026.
Itinerary Highlights
- Johannesburg → Lusaka
- Lusaka → Ndola
- Ndola → Kafue National Park
- Kafue National Park → Lusaka
- Lusaka → Johannesburg
First Stop: Lusaka and Our “Pimp Mobile”
Upon touching down in Lusaka, we were greeted not just by the warm Zambian air, but also by what would become both our companion and our nemesis — the so‑called “pimp mobile.”
A friend we’d met earlier during a trip to the DRC kindly lent us the car. It was the equivalent of a Toyota Corolla, neat enough for city driving, but hardly designed for Zambia’s patchy roads — let alone the rugged tracks of the game parks. (That particular adventure deserves its own chapter later!)
A Taste of Luxury at Lilayi Safari Lodge
Our next stop was Lilayi Safari Lodge, located about 40 km south of Lusaka. It was the perfect way to ease into the trip — a touch of luxury before the dust and adventure ahead.
The lodge was simply beautiful. The rooms were elegant, the atmosphere relaxing, and the service exceptional. If there was one thing to note, it might be that the menu options were somewhat limited and leaned on the pricey side. Still, that hardly took away from two blissful days of indulgence and rest.
The Great Passport Fiasco
Every trip has its share of unexpected moments — ours came courtesy of a certain team member’s impenetrable safe.
After settling in, he decided to lock his passport away “for safety.” Unfortunately, safe it was — a little too safe, as he later forgot the combination completely. Cue the Manager on Duty arriving at 9 p.m. armed with what looked like a full ring of medieval keys. After a few tense minutes of fiddling and chuckles, the safe was finally opened and the passport rescued. Crisis averted… or so we thought.
Fast forward to check‑out day. The team meticulously packed, checked under beds, behind doors, inside drawers — but somehow forgot to re‑check the safe. You can guess what happened next: we left the passport behind, blissfully unaware, and set off toward Protea Safari Lodge.
(That part of the story — well, you’ll have to stay tuned for the sequel!)
