Lusaka, Zambia

As to how I arrived in Lusaka, I don't know. What I recall is that ,I was on my way from Johannesburg to Malawi.I left Jo'burg and went to Gaborone, travelled overnight by train from Gaborone to Francis town. In the morning I crossed the border @ Plumtree into Zimbabwe,from Plumtree I took a taxi (minubus) to Bulawayo. I then took a bus from Bulawayo to Harare. I had hoped to catch a bus from Harare to Blantyre- Malawi. When I was supposed to catch the bus I was informed that I need a Mocembequen visa to travell to Malawi. I then decided to abondon the trip and go back home (South Africa). As I was at a bus tickets counter purchasing a bus ticket from Harare to Johannesburg, I saw a bus reversing out of the bus station. I asked the person serving me at the counter, where the bus was going. I was informed that the bus was on its way to Lusaka, Zambia. I decided to purchase a ticket for Lusaka instead of Jo'burg (crazy indeed).Those who have travlled in with public transport in Africa will understand that transportation is VERY cheap and I made a mistake of estimating the bus fare to the distance to be travelled. We left Harare at 10:00 am and we arrived in Lusaka at 22:00 pm. This was my fourth day travelling, I was hungry, thirsty and needed a nice long shower and a hot home made meal. on arrival in Lusaka I checked into a B&B which was located at the bus stop and I decided to have a nice hot meal. In the morning I took a bus to the main bus station in Lusaka. I then had an experience with the police. I converted my money in the black market (illegally), while there was a police station 50 ft away from me hmmmm. After converting the money I bought a bus ticket from Lusaka to Lilongwe (Malawi) I was advised that the trip will take +- 36 hrs, upon learning this I decided to go back to South Africa. Since I had converted most of my money to a Zambian Kwacha I needed to convert it back to a Zim Dollar so that I can use it when passing through Zimbabwe on my way back to South Africa. I asked the guy who changed my money to convert the money back but he refused, I asked the bus driver to refund me and he refused. I then figured out that I will not travell all the way from Jo'burg to be roobed at day light in Lusaka. I staged a sit in on the bus by blocking the seat which allows the bus to be filled at the back. The bus driver was very angry with me but I wasn't going to let him rob me. People started complaining in the bus , luckly I didn't hear what they were saying. Finaly a gentleman who had just arrived asked to move out of the way I told him that I was selling my bus ticket, he bought it. I got off the bus and went to the bus driver just to show him that I can be stubborn too... he was not impressed but I was proud of myself. I then had to convert my money back into Zim dollars, but the guy who changed it refused to convert it back. I went to the police station told them what I had done, they then located the guy and I got my money back.NOTE: I was not arrasted, I don't know what happened to the guy BUT if he had given me my money back I wouldn't have had to involve police. I then took a bus from Lusaka to livingston, hoping to catch a train from Livingston to Bulawayo and then Jo'burg.I was told that we will arrive in Livingston around 17:00, I was planning to catch a train from Livingston to Bulawayo at 18:00. AFRICAN TIME!!! We arrived in Livingston at 23:00, mind you I was on transit 24 hrs ago.. I then knew that I was in trouble with border control. I spent a night with a family of a guy I had met in the bus from Lusaka. I then asked if I could spend the weekend with them and they agreed. I woke up the next morning and went to the border post to cross into Zimbabwe so that I can call my parents and update them regarding my where about also to buy food etc for my host family. The immigrations officer started asking me loads of questions e.g. why I was crossing back into Zimbabwe since a day ago I crossed into Zambia stating that I was on transit. I tried to explain that my plans had changed and I was exiting Zambia, I figured out he wanted me to bribe him, well I don't like bribing so decided to block a long que.. finally he stamped my passport for exit. I did some shopping at victoria falls and then called my parents. I then went back to the border post, as it maybe the officer who dealt with me when exiting dealt with me again on entry just after 4 hrs of us having dealt with each other. He asked me for my host adress and the length of stay in Zambia, I asked for 30 days even though I knew I was only there for two days, I then gave him my host adress in Livingston.. he couldn't refuse me entry could he!!! !! so what did I do for the weekend... hmmm