The Black Continent is a real test even for hardy men
Let us recall that the Equites team consists of three brave travelers – Goltis, Alexander, and Konstantin – three adventurers who plan to circumnavigate the Black Continent (that's 70,000 kilometers and 37 countries!). The team will have at their disposal a specially equipped jeep, modern telecommunications equipment, photo and video cameras, a paraglider, a parasail, and many, many various gadgets, including an Iveco tractor truck to transport the jeep, without which a traveler would simply be bored and uncomfortable in unfamiliar terrain.
The first step, 35 meters long, the guys took by diving under the ice of Diamond Lake ("Zagranitsa" No. 9, February 2001). And the very next day, the guys were lulled by the hum of the airliner's turbines carrying them to the Republic of South Africa.
The Equites team took the "second step" directly on the Black Continent. The mission of the landing was to test the body's readiness for new conditions, right on the spot. The travelers drank raw water, communicated with the locals, and exercised in strength, endurance, and courage.
Goltis, Konstantin, and Alexander told journalists who met them at Boryspil Airport about their nine-day journey through Zimbabwe. So, Zimbabwe, the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls... The footage of the video that the guys edited literally "on the fly" takes us to distant and so unknown Africa. Remember the billboards: "Why Africa?" And indeed, we practically know NOTHING about this continent. And when Konstantin said that even colors are perceived differently there, we were surprised but believed. And about the baobabs, which are some 2,000-4,000 years old, we also believed.
Meanwhile, information from the TV screen kept coming, and the guys voiced it as much as possible. For example, why is any European who tries local water doomed to at least malaise, if not dysentery or some kind of fever, within 30 minutes? The answer is simple – in Africa, even the bacteria, which, as we know, are present everywhere, are not like ours. Therefore, the Equites team prioritized the issue of body adaptation and maximum increase of immunity. And it should be noted that the "horsemen" handled this issue very successfully.
But what kind of show is this, you will say, if you don't tickle the nerves of the good citizens. Ha! Please! For the knowledgeable – bungee jumping, for the rest I'll explain. Victoria Falls is the highest point in the world from which jumps are made with a special rubber band 111 meters long. The guys enjoyed the height to the fullest, jumping three times each, including with the Ukrainian flag, thus becoming the first Ukrainians at Victoria Falls.
And then the word "extreme" never left the lips of those present: jumps on an eighty-meter "tarzan swing," descents down sheer cliffs, encounters with wild animals, overnight stays in the open air, and... the unforgettable cuisine of the hospitable African hosts. Goltis told how in one village they were offered something resembling a meat dish, but with a very disgusting smell. Super-trained Goltis realized that even his capabilities had a limit. The situation was saved by a native cat, to which he fed this "delicacy" under the table. As it turned out later, it was goat entrails.
All the guys noted the extraordinary openness and simplicity of the locals, the interesting colorful African landscape, and the fact that they had never even heard of Ukraine there. Therefore, they had to replenish the vocabulary of everyone they met along the way with the word "Ukraine." Regardless of the local dialect.
Remember the lines from Chukovsky: "In Africa there are sharks, in Africa there are gorillas, in Africa there are big evil crocodiles..."? The "African tour" program also included a descent down the Zambezi River. First – by boat, then... on boards. In fairness, it should be noted that at this time (well, it's the season) tourists do not swim on the river – there are many crocodiles. It can't be said that they are teeming, but they are everywhere. Therefore, Goltis and Kostya signed a statement that they have no claims against either the crocodiles or the organizers of the "rafting."
And now – look at the headline. These are the first lines from the instructions in case you do get caught. In more detail, it sounds approximately like this: if a crocodile has grabbed your leg, do not try to pull away – it will only clamp its jaws tighter. Relax. Imagine you are in a warm bath. The crocodile is only scary in appearance. Feeling that you are not resisting, it will loosen its grip and attention out of surprise. And then you must hit it on the nose with all your might, or better in the eye. And better with a knife. And even better – with a machine gun while standing on the shore... During the "rafting," the team covered 22 kilometers along the Zambezi and several breathtaking rapids, earning the respect of the local population.
The result of the foray – the organisms (read: stomachs) are normal, courage is abundant, and skill, apparently, as well. The guys say that they remembered the ice holes on Diamond Lake several times, because in Zimbabwe it is now plus 35. But that is already behind. And in Kyiv, they were met by snow... Remember what winter it was? But when they had to dive, it was, as if on order, minus 8. And they brought snow from Africa! Miracles.
The third step to Africa will be climbing (or driving) a jeep up a skyscraper. Let's see what nature will offer us this time. Maybe a hurricane?
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"Zagranitsa" No. 10 (63), 2001