The past two days have been pretty much just driving. We are making our way to South Lulongwa to start a safari. Our safari will consist of three game drives through the national park. To get there though involved a lot of driving. We needed to go from Livingstone (which is where we were last night) to Lusaka (to overnight) then arrive to South Luangwa. 


We left Livingstone and headed to Lusaka. Nothing all to exciting here. More sleep, more dirt roads, more goat, more cards. We actually arrived to Lusaka at a reasonable time, for once, and everyone was really excited about it. Holly knew Lusaka had shopping malls and a movie theatre and she REALLY wanted to go to the movies and see Wonder Woman. We decided we would get dinner and see a movie at the mall. Meg wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed behind. Before we left, Holly and I also paid to have some laundry done- woot woot! Clean clothes.


We go to the mall and eat dinner at this place called Mugg and Bean. We ordered so much food and it was SO good! Before we left, we saw in the dessert display case that there was cheesecake. Bec had been talking about cheesecake all week. How bad she was craving it and wanted some. It sounded great to everyone, so now we have all built up this desire to have some cheesecake. After seeing it in this display case, we all decided to get a piece and save it to eat while watching the movie. After we ate, we had some time to kill, so we walked around the mall a bit. Went into a Pick N’ Pay which was like a Walmart, the grocery store, and window shopped. Eventually it was time for the movie and we go to head in. Everyone is excited for the cheesecake and movie. The movie starts, there is practically no one else in the theatre, and we all take out our slices of cake. I am the first on to take a bite.


I almost gagged right there.


I spit it up immediately, as it was the worst tasting cheesecake I had ever eaten in my entire life. I spit it up, make a face, and Bec (sitting to my right) says “No, no, no, no, it can’t be true!” Holly and Bec both take bites. Both met by the same disgusted face. We start laughing out of disappointment. Mitch got chocolate cake, his tasted great, so I let him try mine. He also, made a face and spit it up.


It was AWFUL! It tasted like something was rotten or sour. Bec was so disappointed! It was so sad. Everyone was so sad. But the movie had started! We all put it away, so heartbroken, and watched the film.


Well, actually, I slept through most of it. Not on purpose, it’s a great movie! I just was SO tired I kept fighting to stay awake and lost. The nice part is that the ticket only costed $4. Four dollars! Four dollars to see a blockbuster hit. The movie ended, we headed back and went to bed. 


We got up early the next day, ready to go, only to find that Mophy’s car wouldn’t start. Axon was frustrated. He finally started venting saying how disorganized Mophy is and how he was trying not to say anything in front of us, but finally had enough. We all felt so validated. After a long start of errands (breakfast/bank) we headed out.


Same thing, boring car ride, more sleep, more cards. We did play Phase 10- which I had never played before and loved! We stopped in Chapata to get dinner and finally made it to South Luangwa at like 10pm.


Guess who also wasn’t expecting us? 


They accommodated, giving us a chalet, and it was SO cool!! It has a huge bathroom, kitchen, and three beds.


This place is in the middle of the Forrest and there are signs everywhere telling you to be careful. Driving in we saw Hippo! Just on the side of the road, 20 feet from the car, and an elephant! It was rad.


The woman checking us in told us that there are night guards to walk us to and from our rooms and to always be careful and walk with a torch. Animals come everywhere here.


And they did. Last night after we all got settled, we could hear loud shuffling and rumbling. Something was eating plants. We look out our door to see THREE elephants! Just outside, walking past. We followed them through the windows into the kitchen and watched them just outside. Eating leaves off of a tree. It was SO cool. Finally we went to bed, listening to the sounds of the animals. It’s an early day tomorrow for our first game drive!