Prince Alberters reach out to Africa

-Carol Campbell-

One of the highlights of 2006 for four of Prince Albert's most adventurous citizens was an expedition to Zambia to erect a windmill donated by the NG Kerk of Prince Albert, for the Kings Highway FCE (Foundation for Cross Cultural Education) mission station at Kalunga in Northern Zambia.

Local farmers Leon De Wit and Willem Freysen accompanied by Leon's daughter, Anneke, and Dorrien Tissiman left the Karoo on a very chilly morning on June 24, 2006 with the intention of reaching the small FCE mission station on the Tanzanian border in four days. Their goal was to erect a windmill, which they towed behind Leon's bakkie, so the mission station could further increase the amount of water they pump from the nearby river for use in their garden and mission station.

Leon and his son, the late Heinrich de Wit, had taken part in previous expeditions to the same FCE mission station to erect and maintain the original windmill.

"This trip was about Prince Albert reaching out to Africa," said Dorrien, "it was a symbolic gesture acknowledging the need of people north of our country's borders."
For the four adventurers it was test of patience. The four day trip through Botswana, which included close encounters with elephants, and crossing into Zambia by ferry at Kazangula, was extended a further day. This was due to them being given the inevitable uphill by the customs and clearing agents at the Zambian border post. After much restraint on Leon’s part he insisted on the team presenting their papers to the customs officials in Livingstone. (Fortunately none of the expedition was locked up for taking a swipe at any of the customs officials.)
A wonderful overnight stay in Livingstone at the Maramba Lodge was even more exciting when an irate hippo stomped through the camp at 1.30 am in the morning.

The community of Kings Highway were overjoyed at the arrival of the Prince Alberters and were on hand to help with the installation. "While they were very keen to be involved they had no knowledge of how to mix cement or install a pump," says Dorrien, "Leon and Willem were very patient showing community leaders how to make repairs if anything went wrong."

Accommodation at Kings Highway was comfortable with the group sleeping in small rondavels which was a change from being on the road where most nights they camped or slept on a church hall floors. "The food was the real test," admits Dorrien, "We lived on Bully Beef potjies and I, for one, really longed for a few vegetables."
The assembly and erection of the new windmill as well as maintenance on the old windmill was completed in five days. Leon then decided that it would be a great idea to go up to the southern end of Lake Tanganyika. After a gruelling day in which they travelled just 200kms in six hours the team stopped in a town called Mpulungu on shores of Lake Tanganyika. There they feasted on a Nile Perch fried in butter by a local woman. "It was the night of the World Cup soccer final and the whole town was watching TV. At one point there was so much shouting and screaming I thought we were caught up in a coup d' etat," confessed Dorrien.

They spent two nights in Mpulunga, enjoying a trip out onto the lake in a dhow-like boat powered by an outboard motor. All tried their hand at fishing hoping to catch the elusive Nile perch or tiger fish, but no luck!

It was then back on the road with the object of visiting Vic Falls on the way home. And then over the border again by ferry at Kasane. They overnighted at a campsite on the Chobe river experiencing a true African sunset over the water. The next morning it was up early and back on the road with the team arriving back in Prince Albert late the following day on July 9. In total nine days were spent driving with all fuel paid for by Leon, Willem and Dorrien. “This trip was an incredible experience that I would love to do again,” said Dorrien.