Day 62: Petauke – Mfuwe

The small parking spot at Chimemwe Lodge in Petauke wasn't bad at all, if a little noisy. Things progressed well until Chipata. The border town was bustling, and we filled up again. Then we headed off toward South Luangwa National Park, specifically Mfuwe. We meandered through the potholes and arrived late in the afternoon. Yesterday and today, we crossed densely populated and agricultural regions. Soy, corn, and sunflowers are being purchased from the mills, and today we also saw a large tobacco factory and cotton shacks.

Mfuwe is nice. Essentially, it would be nothing without the lodges outside and within the park. Despite the tourist infrastructure, the whole place feels sleepy and peaceful.

The first campsite, Croc Valley Camp, had a spot for us by the river, but it was very close to the restaurant, and somehow the infrastructure didn't appeal to us. $20 per person/night was too much for us, so we switched to Tracks and Trail Rivercamp. No spot by the river, but overall a nicer atmosphere and, at $15 per person, a bit cheaper.

Unfortunately, a mishap occurred while parking: Becky touched the braii block and had a huge dent in the rear panel. Shit. The rule of the series. First, nothing for over 55,000 km, and then two dents in a short space of time.

So, instead of relaxing, we went to a garage. Will the metal be straightened and will all the sensors, cables, and connectors, including the water pump, be properly seated and functioning again? We had doubts at times. But together with Emmanuel, John, and McJones, we managed to get everything fixed, didn't look like a disaster, and the hatch on the rear side compartment opened and closed smoothly again. Because who knows when we'll need the recovery gear next...

The three guys earned the weekly rate of a mechanic (US $70) with us in two hours, but we're satisfied.

It's already dark when we return to camp – enchantingly, we come across giraffes just before the entrance.

Although we're not registered for dinner, we still get a delicious portion of spaghetti and a brownie with whipped cream – we wouldn't have had the energy to cook.

We shower and flop into bed, deciding to spend a day at camp tomorrow. The park isn't going anywhere.