18-Jun-2001 -- As experienced confluence hunters (Switzerland
47N 8E), we came to Zambia to spend our summer holidays and see the solar eclipse, which was a terrific experience. In Lusaka we hired a 4x4 car to drive to Livingstone, Kafue, Chirundu and back to Lusaka. Being equipped with a GPS (Garmin 45), map and compass, we realized that pretty close to the street between Mazabouka and Kafue there is the Confluence 16S 28E. We planned to find the point on our way from Livingstone to Kafue on June 18th.
First we figured out the point on the street closest to the Confluence. The distance was 3.1 km – can’t be such a problem. However the challenge was to get permission to the property of the Dallas ranch that we assumed would house the point. We asked the guard at the gate of the Ranch, if it would be possible to drive or walk to the point. But he denied since he didn’t understand that one would like to visit a spot that was just a spot on the map. We didn't surrender. Further down the street there was a small dirt road heading more or less into the right direction approaching the point from "behind". After having passed an open gate and a couple of huts we left the path and followed the direction the GPS was telling us, ending up in front of a fence. We left the car, opened the fence and walked the last 1.2 km to the point passing friendly local cowboys driving cattle. We reached the Confluence that is located in a savanna-like landscape where the cattle usually graze. On our way back we saw that the gate we passed before was closed, but when we were approaching it, a friendly smiling guard opened it waving us good-bye.