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A View To The Promised Land
By John Aritho
The Annual
Kariba Bike Rally was held recently in Kariba, Zimbabwe. Organised
by the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association), Zimbabwe Chapte, it
attracted bikers from all over Zimbabwe and the Zambia Bikers were
invited. The Lusaka Bikers Club and the Copperbelt Club members rode
down in numbers to Zim for a truly memorable weekend.
Crossing the
border proved a bit of a hassle, quite expectedly I guess. The
Custom Officials, especially on the Zimbabwe side, delayed the
process for the Copperbelt riders for some three hours with all
sorts of taxes to pay and registration to do!!
There was a
lot of speculation about the fuel crisis in Zimbabwe but it turned
out to be quite exaggerated as there was good supply of petrol in
all petrol stations.
Kariba is well
known for some great accommodation places and is truly a beautiful
lake side resort with outstanding views. The turnout for the Bike
Rally was indeed outstanding with many bikers and their families
braving the 7 hour ride from Harare to Kariba and others from Ndola
and Kitwe all the way to Ndola.
Hosted at the
MOTH Cottages the camping facilities were great and for the not too
adventurous there were good value cottages and caravans at a nominal
price.
 With
the current state of inflation in Zimbabwe the weekend basically
cost $30 for the whole weekend…Accommodation and three meals
included!!
One of the
main features of the Rally was a “Dead Engine Run” from the Kariba
Peak. Here the rider goes down a sheer drop on a beautiful tarmac,
winding road without the power of the engine; the winner being the
biker who careened down the hill the fastest and stopped the
furthest away once flat land was reached. Blaze, an experienced
biker from Harare, won it hands down! Next was the slow race, where
the biker that rode from one point to another in the longest time
without stepping down to balance himself, won. It was a great
weekend filled with activities such as bike tyre throwing, and
obstacle riding in a wooded park with a passenger (pillion rider) at
the back carrying a glass of water on a tray. The idea was to have
the fastest time without spilling a drop!
All in all
Kariba turned out to be a fantastic weekend for bikers and
enthusiasts alike. The highlight for the evenings were the
outstanding sunsets over the lake which the Zambian bikers teased
the Zim bikers was a view to "the promised land…Zambia!!”
The Lusaka
Bikers Club, known as Zambezi Bikers Club, is planning a major
Rally in Lusaka during September this year and invites have gone as
far as South Africa and Zimbabwe, so that they can experience some
real Zambian hospitality. |
July
2006