Concrete Jungle?

Our concrete slab at the back of the house was poured about two weeks ago - so we now have a piece of concrete in the jungle. I'm sure we'll be spending many good times out there.

Backyard Beauties

I know I keep on saying it but we are just amazed at how much beauty we are surrounded with when you start looking. Here are a few photos Pierre took on Sunday in our backyard. Fabulous, don't you agree?

Fresh Produce

Check out these mushrooms, fresh from the veld! They really come in all sizes and colours around here. The large one above is edible and great grilled on the BBQ or panfried in garlic butter. Pierre cooked us some served on toast for dinner tonight.

Where Are We?

Lumwana is located in the North Western Province of Zambia, 220 km northwest of the Copperbelt and 65 km west of the town of Solwezi (our closest shopping facility) and close to the southern border of the DRC and the eastern border of Angola. Lumwana is easily accessed by the T5 Northwest Highway. The Copperbelt, one of the world's greatest concentrations of copper-cobalt deposits, has been a centre of commercial copper production for 80 years. The Northwest Highway, which links the Lumwana region, Solwezi and the Copperbelt, passes within 3km of the mine project. The Government has completed a highway upgrade as far as Solwezi and has committed to extend the upgrade to Lumwana. The Government has also completed the construction of a 330KV power line to Solwezi which will be extended to Lumwana. Apart from Lumwana, Equinox controls 100% of prospective tenements covering 19,300 km2, located predominantly in North Western Zambia and on the Copperbelt, referred to as the Zambezi Project. Equinox controls extensive ground positions over 3 of the 4 mineralized ‘domes’ in Zambia. Because our closest shopping facilities are quite far, we are well looked after by ATS (Allterrain Services) who supplies us with fruit, veggies, meat, dairy, groceries, drinks, cleaning products, etc on site. Whatever they don't have in stock, they try to source for us from either Solwezi, Kitwe, Lusaka or Johannesburg. Just remember, if you ever visit site, you cannot arrive without a little something - wine, champers, chocolates, biltong, cheese, etc are all very welcome. See you soon! (Information and map courtesy of Equinox Minerals www.equinoxminerals.com).

Bird Watching

We went to the dam yesterday late afternoon. Unfortunately I don't have any photos to post but for those of you who are interested in bird watching, these are the birds we saw there (Afrikaans names in brackets) :

• Hamerkop (Hamerkop)
• Little Grebe - also known as Dabchick (Kleindobbertjie)
• Kingfisher - it was either the Grey-Headed (Gryskopvisvanger) or Brown-Headed (Bruinkopvisvanger) - we're not sure
• Pied Kingfisher (Bontvisvanger)
• Malachite Kingfisher (Kuifkopvisvanger)
• African Jacana (Grootlangtoon)
• Yellow-Billed Duck (Geelbekeend)
• African Black Duck (Swarteend)
• Great White Egret (Grootwitreier)
• African Darter (Afrikaanse Slanghalsvoel)

I'm also lucky enough to see a lot of birds at home because the houses are right on the edge of the forest. Next time, I'll list the birds I usually see from my kitchen window.