2 weeks in Zambia

Me and my wife spent an amazing 2 weeks roughing it in Mtendere East, Lusaka, Zambia in December 2011. We arrived on the coach from Vic Falls half way through a 3 month trek through Africa. Our chilled out policeman host met us at the bus station and our first adventure was the local bus to our compound over the rough untarmacced terrain.

After a night of pure fear and "what the hell are we doing here" we took a couple of days to get acclimatised before starting our 2 weeks in the orphanage. Unlike the stereotype, our orphans were aged from 9 upwards, and we had to entertain them with some educational help, such as maths tuition and English, creative art and games. WE were pretty much left to our own initiative, which was scary but at times but extremely rewarding. The highlight was definitely taking the kids to the local waterpark, a pure treat and the excitement of the kids was special.

Love Volunteers were always accessible by email (when we ventured out to the shopping malls for a bit of R&R) and keen to know how we were doing. OUr host was eager to please, but chilled out and let us get on with it. The living was basic. Water from a borehole, no fridge, Nshima rather too regularly and roaches and lizards on the walls. But that made it even more of an adventure.

I'd say Love volunteers is a great organisation for seeing the true Africa. We were the only two Mazungu in Mtendere so felt truly embedded. Great value and a superb experience.