Finding a Lodge in Kasane/Chobe

NB: This post merely serves to update information available on the interweb.

Looking to spend the night in Kasane? Sure, the big lodges - Chobe Marina, Chobe Safari, and Mowana - are listed online, but what about the small ones? And what about Bushtracks, the organization that will take you to the Zambian side of Vic Falls? Amazingly enough, some of these smaller operations - including Bushtracks - aren't in the 2010 BTC phone book, either. Look no further.

(These are all +267)

Kubu Lodge - 625 0312 or 625 0314

Toro Lodge - 625 2694

Bonazazi Border Lodge - 625 2999

Bophirimo Guest House Self Catering - 625 2390

Muchenje Safari Lodge - 620 0013

Sedudu Guest Lodge - 625 1748

The Garden Lodge - 625 0051

Water Lily Lodge - 625 1775

Bushtracks for Zambian side - 625 0840

Gaborone-Lusaka Express

NB: This post merely serves to update information available on the interweb.

As of today, the Gaborone-Lusaka Express bus runs everyday (including Sunday). It departs at 1900hrs and arrive in Lusaka at about the same time the next day, and costs P500. Tickets are available at the office within the Gaborone Hotel compound at the Station. No need to book in advance unless travelling on a holiday.

And, yes, Gaborone-Lusaka Express gets it done.

Thinking of calling a taxi company? Think again.

If you're not familiar with the kombi system, it's not easy to get from A to B. My absolute last suggestion would be to call a taxi company.

You might, however, call a taxi. The way it works is as follows: you call a specific person, mention you are trying to get from A to B, and say the time you would like to be picked up. You then ask if it is possible. If it's within town, expect to pay P30 ($4.34).

But which taxi should you call?

My main man is Tendai. He never stands me up, and he's never late. Apart from Sunday mornings, he's always on duty. He's the most reliable taxi driver I've come across in my time here. He even let me borrow his CD one time.

When it comes to cabs, Tendai gets it done.

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Tendai

Cell: 7120 3278 or 7136 1366

Tired of not knowing what people are saying?

Eventually, one gets sick of living in a place and not knowing the language.

Please, do yourself a favor, and take some Setswana lessons. It's not hard to learn the basics, especially if taught by the right person.

As far as I can tell, there are very few people who make a living out of Setswana lessons. Nthati is one of them. She's amazing. She's taught Peace Corps volunteers for over a decade, and is willing and able to give private or group lessons. Compared to language courses elsewhere in the world, her hourly asking price of P50 ($7.25) for group and P150 ($21.75) for individual lessons is nothing. Nada. Take the lessons. You will be happy. You will make others happy. You will know when people are talking about you.

Ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo. The biggest battle you can fight is with your mouth.

When it comes to Setswana lessons, Nthati gets it done.

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Nthati

Cell: 7169 8807

New Car, New Needs

We just got a car - the only car, really. When it comes to Southern Africa, it's got to be a Toyota Corolla. Everyone can fix it; everyone has parts.

What everyone doesn't have, though, not even at HiFi Corporation, is the adaptor to go from headphone jack to tape player. For that, again, we ended up at Silver Star (PTY) LTD. Check it out: they're on Facebook.

Once again, Silver Star gets it done.

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Silver Star (PTY) LTD

Dealers in Musical Instruments and Professional Audio Equipment

Physical: Plot 8883, African Mall

- See it on the Top Thusa map -

Phone: 391 3913

Fax: 397 4566

Email: silverstar.bw@gmail.com

Thomas the Tailor (and his Colleagues)

I'd gone to many of the tailors in BBS Mall, at fabric shops, and various other places, and finally happened upon a solid tailor. In fact, I happened upon a whole flock.

I had heard rumors of the Tailors of African Mall for some time, but I'd never ventured into their lair. One must go down an alley between the buildings that house Kopano and the Fashion Annex. Go through the gate. A sign for industrial equipment sales beckons the unsuspecting visitor inward. Once inside, the alley opens into a small courtyard, and there are tailors "all over the show". There might be ten or fifteen tailors in a given room. Though it looks like a sweatshop, my understanding is that it's a collective.

We went to a guy called Thomas. We gave him both the shorts we like, and the fabric with which to copy the design. (It should be noted that we purchased the leteisi from Timba Trading, right next door, which has seriously ramped up their stock of german print/shweshwe/leteisi.) Thomas did a fine job, and completed our two pairs of shorts in four days. One was BWP100 ($14.40), the other, BWP120 ($17.28), which just slightly undercuts what most fabrics stores charge. Just be sure to try on your article and have him make any adjustments before completing the deal.

When it comes to sewing, Thomas the Tailor (and his Colleagues) gets it done.

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Thomas the Tailor

Physical: African Mall, between Kopano and the Fashion Annex

- See it on the Top Thusa map -

Phone: 7168 3672

Maja Enterprises (PTY) LTD

Colleen's mother sent me a massage pillow to help with my ailing back. Because all of our electronics can handle 220v and require only a power adaptor to convert the plug, I didn't give it a thought, and immediately blew the circuit board. Ugh.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a similar massage device. This thing is amazing. So I took it apart.

I excised the fried circuit board and brought it around to various hardware stores (Mica, the one next to Woolworths in Kgale View, et cetera). Two of them said Silverstar in African Mall. While Silverstar indeed seems to be one of the only places that sells a single-outlet 220>110 converter (for BWP99, or $14.25), that wouldn't fix my board. The knowledgeable guy there suggested Maja Enterprises in Broadhurst Industrial (in the shopping center just West of Broadhurst Motors).

Just walking in, it was obvious that they meant business. Small trays labelled with alphanumeric combinations lined a very long wall. There must have been thousands. Many glass cases contained fuses, capacitors, resistors, potentiometers - you name it. The woman at the counter (wearing a ZCC badge) identified the problem and retrieved the parts. When I asked if they might be able to solder the F1 fuse and capacitor to the board for me, she called Banda out of the back. Two minutes and BWP30 ($4.30) later, I had a working massage pillow.

When it comes to electronics, Maja Enterprises gets it done.

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Maja Enterprises (PTY) LTD

Electronics Components & Repairs

Physical: Plot 5665 - Shop 3 - Kubu Rd

- See it on the Top Thusa map -

Postal: Box 40689, Gaborone

Phone: 391 3540

Fax: 318 2023

Email: maja@botsnet.bw