Nsobe Game Park

Photos to follow when the internet speeds up

We headed off to Nsobe Game Park around 9am. 13 kids and 16 adults. John did a lot of head counting during the day to make sure we didn’t lose any. It is a big day of excitement for the kids and us as well. John has been taking the kids and teams there for 10 years and over that time the owners (white couple) have become Christians- as demonstrated by the sign at the entry gate.

We had a safari ride on the back of a truck and saw giraffes, monkeys, bush bucks, antelopes and even a goanna. From there we had a walk to see the snake exhibit. They had spitting cobras and even a Black Mumba (you have 20 minutes to live if one bites you and there is no antivenom in Zambia) Then there was a small bird and Rabbit enclosure.

By then we were all very hungry. The staff had made us up tables down by the lake and the kids a chicken nuggets and chips with a bottle of “pop”. The restaurant had a good selection and the adults had some good food, including some “Game Casserole”. The staff had put out some rolls with butter and tomato sauce and some green chillies cut up. Phil had a spoonful and found out it was very very hot. A mouth full of butter calmed it down a bit. The kids started putting it onto their plates when they were finished – looking for more to eat. We were trying to communicate that it would not be a good idea, but little George shoved in a big mouthful before we could stop him. It was quite a sight. I don’t think he had ever experienced anything like that before. The rest of the kids thought it was hilarious, and we had to get the rest of the butter into his mouth to give him some relief.

The biggest excitement of the day was the swimming pool. Now none – I mean none of these kids can swim. There were life jackets tied as best we could around them, but it was a massive effort to keep them afloat. Just as we started one of the new girls “Loveness” snuck through the gate and jumped straight in the deep end. The lady owner of the park was there with her small kids and a few local kids doing some swimming and she was the first to see Loveness sink to the bottom, so she jumped in clothes and all and grabbed her. Loveness was wearing Sue’s swim top and had assured Sue that she had pants on, but in the rescue effort it became obvious that no, she did not have any pants on. The first taste of swimming did not put her off and she had lots of “swimming” – jumping at someone then being held up and sort of breathstroking.

It was a very tired bunch of campers that got back to Grace at 6pm. And the very good news was that the roof tin and valley gutters was delivered today. So we have tomorrow morning to get it on and sorted as the Canadians fly out of Friday morning and tomorrow afternoon is the Team Soccer match against the Zambian workers. Apparently the Canadians have never won.