On top of the world!

One of the activities in the Grace Academy programme was a bush walk, which included climbing a local outcrop of iron ore, called Sanjay Hill:

It is a substantial pimple on the fairly flat landscape, but nevertheless, gives wonderful views in all directions.

The steep climb took a path covered with loose stones, but we all managed by holding onto overhanging branches for support and accompanied by several local kids from the farm site:

The top is made up of huge slabs of rock, which made a great place to sit, rest and take in the views:

On the hillside there are several interesting features.

A man who lives on the hillside, makes charcoal to sell locally:

However our guide, one of the Christian Vision guards, commented that this practise is gradually de-nuding the hill and making the paths unstable.

The hill's 'resident' sleeps in a natural cave, which provides some shelter from the cold winter nights at this time of year. Penny bravey posed at the entrance to the cave:

Another hole in the hill, is a mine shaft from some old workings. This time our guide refused to go into the entrance, warning us not to go in, as people have entered and not come back out!

We heard recently that Sanjay Hill may soon disappear from the landscape, as its heavy iron pyrite will soon be mined again. A steel works' is currently being built on the River Kafue. When it is complete the iron pyrite at Sanjay Hill will be 'harvested'. This project will have an enormous environmental and social impact on the area.

At present the route to Sanjay Hill is surrounded by small villages with traditional homes...

...and women carrying babies on their backs, gather sticks for burning on small fires:

I feel rather sad that this quiet way of life may go forever, to be replaced by heavy trucks thundering down the road which curently runs through the Christian Vision site.

As we were walking back a friend from a nearby village offered some of the kids a lift to the crossroads, on the back of her truck - it was another highlight and definitely not covered in the risk assessment!