Zambia, birthplace of man and home of the hippopotamus.
The legendary chase of the hippopotami happened many milenia ago when the first men encountered the hippo’s of Zambia. Both being territorial a clash was inevitable. What we now know as Luangwa river was the start of the chase by the hippopotami.
The riders start at the luxurious Mwaleshi camp and heading north with the famous Luangwa river close by. Alway...
Read moreZambia, birthplace of man and home of the hippopotamus.
The legendary chase of the hippopotami happened many milenia ago when the first men encountered the hippo’s of Zambia. Both being territorial a clash was inevitable. What we now know as Luangwa river was the start of the chase by the hippopotami.
The riders start at the luxurious Mwaleshi camp and heading north with the famous Luangwa river close by. Always on the lookout for breakaways and sudden movements from the river.
Reachin Chifunda community bushcamp the riders leave the river behind and they are welcomed into the savanna of Zambia. A scorching sun replaces the hippo’s and when there was no race to be won the Chimbwe Pans region was a sight not quick to be forgotten.
Northbound the terrain gets more green and the heat is more bearable. Imagine this ride with a group of hippos behind. We are blessed these days. Reaching Natwange the roads are less bad and some pace can be made. On the gravel stretch to Mukungulu breakaway can be formed. When you are in the lead you can benefit from the decent roads in town.
The race leads through the green hills and mountains all the way to the finish line in Mpika.
By then the riders could be referred to as “Scarlet runners” being all dusty with the red sand and named after the early mailmen that ran through the savannah in the early 30’s of the 20th century.
The riders did the the chase of the Hippopotami and at the end deserved a nice cool drink. They do not think about the men many rains before them. If they did they would understand that without a bike it is not possible to stay ahead of the hippo. Reaching Mpika and finish the chase is these days the norm but back then it was impossible.
