Africa

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Zeb the Duck Visits a Fishing Village then Lunch at Ngala Beach Resort.

Ripple Africa is working with the local tribal chiefs and the local fisherman on Lake Malawi.   People were given mosquito nets to reduce mosquito bites which can prevent malaria.   The nets were given with good intentions, but now there is a problem.   The fisherman, trying to support their families, need to catch as many fish as possible.   Unfortunately they have been using mosquito nets as fish nets.   This results in very small fish being caught.   If the small fish are taken from the lake, there will be a shortage of fish very soon.  Ripple Africa is trying to persuade the chiefs and fisherman to not use mosquito nets for fishing.   This will cause a reduction in income now and for a few years, but then an increase in fish, and an increase in income. Many people understand and agree with this, but there are still a few that are worried about a reduction in current income.   We were invited to a meeting with the tribal chiefs about this problem.   The meeting was held near this school.

Children going to school

Children going to school

The children are so curious about the volunteer women.    I love the bright colored uniforms.   After the meeting, we visited a fishing village.   These are the fishing boats used on Lake Malawi.

Fishing boats

Fishing boats

You will notice the nets in the boats on the right and on the left.   There was no decision that day; this will take time for all to agree.   After the fishing village, the volunteer women, and I, Zeb the Duck,had a wonderful lunch here, at Ngala Beach Lodge on Lake Malawi.

Ngala Beach Lodge

Ngala Beach Lodge

Chris and Sandi, the owners of the Ngala Beach Lodge really made us feel welcome.

Chris and Sandi, the resort owners

Chris and Sandi, the resort owners

Well humans, let’s go inside.

Let's enter the resort

Let’s enter the resort

Isn’t this beautiful?

Lake Malawi from deck of resort

Lake Malawi from deck of resort

Lake Malawi from the deck the lodge is gorgeous.   These bright flowers are so tropical.

Beautiful tropical flowers

Beautiful tropical flowers

I could stay here and feel like I was in paradise.   An extra bonus.

Swimming pool

Swimming pool

We always appreciate a great swimming pool.   This is a wonderful place for me.

My friend, the hippo

My friend, the hippo

This hippo is my new friend.   And look.

Giraffe with long neck

Giraffe with long neck.  I am sitting on a turtle table.   His shell is comfortable.

Everyone loves a giraffe.   These wooden carvings are fantastic.

Wooden carvings

Wooden carvings

With all these animal statues, we must be in Africa.   For more information about this resort, visit http://www.NgalaBeach.com This is a really great day in Malawi.

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Zeb the Duck Sees Daily Life on Lake Malawi

In Malawi, we walk to most places.   While we are walking we often see friendly children, in school uniforms.

Friendly school children

Friendly school children

The children always want to talk to us, asking our names and we ask their names.   They want to know where we live.   Many visitors here are from the United Kingdom, so the United States or America, also invites more questions.   These children are very polite and kind.   They seem to enjoy practicing their English with us.   There are many cows here, also.

I like these cows

I like these cows

Usually there is a Malawian man nearby, watching the cows and directing their movements.   I like these cows.   This teacher is standing in front of his preschool classroom.

Preschool teacher in front of classroom

Preschool teacher in front of classroom

Aren’t these tropical plants so green?

Such beautiful tropical green plants

Such beautiful tropical green plants

So pretty.  We walked to Ripple Africa’s nursery.   These tree seedlings are almost ready to plant.

Tree seedlings

Tree seedlings

Ripple Africa teaches about reforestation and is involved with the local community to plant trees.   Also at the nursery, the human volunteers made bricks.   First they removed their shoes, put water in the dirt, and walked barefoot, mixing the dirt and water to make mud.   Then the mud was put into molds for bricks.

Barefoot in the mud. Filling brick molds with mud for bricks

Barefoot in the mud.  Filling brick molds with mud for bricks

The full molds were then dumped to dry.

Bricks will dry in tropical sun

Bricks will dry in tropical sun

Most people make bricks for making stoves and houses.   Later we visited Angela.   Angela had land and wanted to help her community.   She is using her land as a farm.

Angela at her farm

Angela at her farm

She grows some potatoes and plants many trees.   She plants a variety of fruit trees.    This is a welcome and familiar sight in our village.   Many children go to school, at least to primary school.

Children in uniforms entering school

Children in uniforms entering school

We believe that education is very important for everyone.   Remember that the human women are volunteering with Ripple Africa for 2 weeks.   Ripple Africa has two locations on Lake Malawi.   This sign shows the direction for each.

Lowani or Mwaya?

Lowani or Mwaya?

I am staying at Lowani Beach.   Mwaya Beach is where the long term volunteers are staying.   The two locations are very close.   We walk between them, sometimes on the road and sometimes on the beach.   Each location has housing and dining areas.   Also, each location is on a beautiful  beach.   This is our friend, Pumpkin.

Pumpkin caught these fish

Pumpkin caught these fish

He had been fishing and is showing us his catch.   Very nice fish, Pumpkin.   Pumpkin is also an artist.   We bought a couple paintings from him.

Painting by Pumpkin

Painting by Pumpkin

We liked this typical Malawian activity.

Painting by Pumpkin

Painting by Pumpkin

Lake Malawi is so pretty.   We think these paintings are very nice, don’t you?   Today I wanted to show you what we see every day and a little about how the people live in our closest village.   These humans in Malawi have all been very friendly and very nice to all of us.   We like Malawi and the Malawians.

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Zeb the Duck and the Humans Visit Secondary Schools

On our first day with Ripple Africa the human women and I went to the secondary school campus.   Since this is our first outing, I think this means that everyone believes education is very important.   I, Zeb the Duck, believe so also.   Here are some of the teachers in front of the administration building.

Secondary teachers by administration building

Secondary teachers by administration building.   We did meet a lady teacher also.

Two classrooms are in each of these buildings.   We visited the class on the other side of this building.

Classrooms here. We were in class on other side

Classrooms here. We were in class on other side

These students loved to have their pictures taken.

Students love to have photos taken.

Students love to have photos taken.

Really, they loved seeing their pictures.   They were so friendly and nice.   Walking on the campus, I met these girls.

I like these students

I like these students

They are my new friends.   Ripple Africa helps support this secondary campus.   Ripple Africa pays some of the salaries for teachers.   The government of Malawi pays some salaries also.   Ripple Africa helps construct the buildings.   Some of the teachers receive housing on campus.   Here, another house for a new teacher is being built.

Building a new house for future secondary teacher

Building a new house for future secondary teacher

One of the teachers took us to see his house.

Secondary teacher's house

Secondary teacher’s house.  Limited electricity is available here.

I like his house.  This teacher has chickens.   The chickens can climb this ladder and sleep in the chicken house.

Chicken house

Chicken house

Some of the female chickens are in this pen.

This chickens furnished eggs for our breakfast

These chickens furnished eggs for our breakfast

These ladies provided the eggs that Esther cooked for our breakfast.   And the eggs were delicious and so fresh.   Many students walk hours from home to school every day.   This is very difficult as they also need time to study and have work to do at home.   The school, with help from Ripple Africa, built this dormitory for female students.

Girl's dormitory for secondary school

Girl’s dormitory room for secondary school

Some girls can live here, eliminating the hours of walking.   I, Zeb the Duck, think this is great.   After our tour of the school and campus, we walked back to Lowani Beach.   Along the way, we saw this cassava soaking.

Cassava, peeled and soaking

Cassava, peeled and soaking

Cassava is a root vegetable and one of the main foods eaten in this area.   Before soaking, the cassava is peeled.   After peeling and soaking, the cassava is dried in the sun.

Drying cassava

Drying cassava

I will tell you more about cassava another day.   While walking home, we stopped to visit Patrick, the tailor.

Patrick the Tailor

Patrick the Tailor

Patrick was very nice and everyone seems to know and like Patrick.   These are some other stores near Patrick.

Rural stores

Rural stores

I, Zeb the Duck, enjoyed my day visiting the secondary school and seeing things on the walk home.

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Zeb the Duck Goes to Africa

Look at this!

Safari vehicle at Kiboko Town Hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi

Safari vehicle at Kiboko Town Hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi

I, Zeb the Duck, am in Africa with 6 human women.   We are in Lilongwe, the capital of  Malawi in southern Africa.   Where, you may ask, is Malawi?   Many humans ask, so here is a map of Africa showing Malawi in southern Africa.

Map of Africa showing Malawi. From Bradt travel guide to Malawi

Map of Africa showing Malawi. From Bradt travel guide to Malawi

Three humans and I take this taxi.

Our taxi and our friendly taxi driver

Our taxi and our friendly taxi driver

We arrive at Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary.

Let's explore he Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

Let’s explore the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

This is a beautiful, peaceful place in Lilongwe between Old Town and Capital City.   These sofas look inviting, but they are made of cement.

May not be too comfortable. They are made of cement

May not be too comfortable. They are made of cement

Heading down a trail, I, Zeb the Duck, am fascinated with the twisted trunk on this tree.

Twisted tree trunk

Twisted tree trunk

What are these hanging from a tree, over the river?

Nests of Weaver birds

Nests of Weaver birds

The humans say they are nests of the Weaver Birds.   The male Weaver bird builds the nest, and if the female does not like it, she will knock it down.   Then the male has to build a new and better nest for her.   I love this river.

Love a river

Love a river

It was so pretty and rivers always sound soothing.   We wander around the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary for awhile, enjoying every moment.   We decide to walk to the adjoining Lilongwe Wildlife Center.   Crossing the river on the road, these monkeys entertained us.

Monkeys are so playful

Monkeys are so playful

Here at the Lilongwe Wildlife Center, injured, abused and orphaned animals are cared for.

Lilongwe Wildlife Center is also a rehabilitation center

Lilongwe Wildlife Center is also a rehabilitation center

Some may later be released into the wild, and some will remain at the wildlife center for the remainder of their lives.   Let’s follow this bridge, with our guide, and explore.

Let's go see the Lilongwe Wildlife Center

Let’s go see the Lilongwe Wildlife Center

The diuker resembles the deer we see in Colorado.

Diuker

Diuker

This orange baboon could be my new friend.

Orange Baboon

Orange Baboon

Here is a big crocodile.

African crocodile

African crocodile

And it is no surprise that it is an African crocodile.   This is Africa, of course.   This was a great first day in Lilongwe, Malawi.   But there is much more to show you, so check back here soon.