AN OFFCOURSE ENCOUNTER

by maimbolwa simainga (Zambia)

Making a local connection Zambia

‘’ We are lost Mambo admit it!’’. I don’t know how possible it was for two adult women to get lost in something as basic as a park. But then again this wasn’t your usual run in the mill Upper East Side, coffee sipping, park bench sitting park. This was a Zambian park, with hungry wildlife roaming free. As well as vast dry savannah grasslands stretching across as far as the eye could see. My instant thoughts at that realization was how would they bury me when they found my parts scattered across the trees and bushes somewhere. Well on the plus side, my best friend and I had seen some of the most amazing things all because we finally decided to scrounge up some money, leave our monotonous 9 to 5 jobs and head out into the fresh air that was Livingstone. The quaint but luxurious bungalow style safari lodge that is Tongabezi had called to us from the moment we laid eyes on its outdoor minimalistic style rooms. It was located on the banks of the Zambezi river and a few kilometers from a vast array of national parks, hot springs and not excluding the majestic Victoria falls. The possible sighting of a crocodile and walking with the cheetahs filled me with such glee. It had promised danger and thrill and so far it was delivering. Not a bad way to go; eaten by a lion. I lived for exploring outside my comfort zone but this was my companion’s least favourite activity. As we scurried along navigating our way through the trees and the grass my phone died and with it went Google Maps. Dismayed and defeated Mulako’s wails only got louder. I quickly remembered I had carried a campus but what good would it do with no map in site. As the blind led the blind we were suddenly out of the trees and bushes, but then I heard Mulako scream out in pain. My worst fears were confirmed as I looked at her, she had been bitten by a snake. Barely knowing any first aid I quickly tore my shirt with a pocket knife I had and tied it around her leg in attempt to stop whatever poison was coursing through if any. I helped her up and we continued our journey limping on slowly. After what seemed like hours we came across a dusty path close to some rocky hills one side and patches of dry grass. It seemed as though majority of the trees had been cut down and the land cleared by wild bush fires left to roam the land. It suddenly dawned on us in our fear and panic that it had actually gotten dark and none of us had a flashlight. There was not a single car or streetlight in sight. As we walked on for what seemed like hours we finally came to a halt as we came across a woman sited in a ‘kantemba’, a makeshift shop and was selling calabashes she had made from butternut covers. Luckily for us Mulako spoke some Tonga which was the only thing the woman could speak. She could tell we were not from here and Mulako quickly elaborated our ordeal. She graciously took us to her home 2km from the where we had met her. There she squeezed at the now swollen area and treated it with some ash before quickly adding a series of other remedies on to it. Once she was done we sat down to eat and we exchanged some details about ourselves. She then told us about how there had been a drought in her area leaving only her as the one surviving member of her family and the few other residents of the settlement scattered across. We then turned in for the night. The next day she led us back to our lodgings and as gratitude we invited her to share in our meals, she was quite the fiery spirit and filled with so much joy. Uninhibited by the unfortunate events of her life. One week later she died. Life is short, live it.