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Malawians travelling or staying along the Songwe border to Mzuzu road had a rare sight as 19 vintage vehicles passed by last Sunday as part of the 2006 Classic Safari Rally that hit the road from Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
“It is good to be in Malawi, a country we have heard has people who always smile. Our journey from Dar-es-Salaam to this place (Songwe border) through Mbeya has been an exciting one,” said Hermany Layher, from German, in an interview at the Songwe border.
As the vehicles emerged on the border one by one, the site reminded on-lookers of movies that depict life in the early 20s and around 60s. The gist of the sight was a 1913 made Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Alpine, whose look could deceive you it was made just a couple of years ago. This was driven by Gerhard Weissenbach and Anna Nun.
Other vehicles of different models such as Mercedez Benz, Bentley, Chevrolet, Jaguar, and Saab 96 formed part of the safari rally, whose owners came from over 13 nationalities around the world.
Over 34 participants are taking part in the four-week Safari that will see them travel through Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and back to Cape Town in South Africa.
Information and Tourism minister, Patricia Kaliati, said the event would give the entourage a chance to appreciate Malawi’s beauty and the warmth of its people.
“The composition of this rally is of great importance to Malawi because the countries you come from are key tourist markets for our country. As such I am compelled to appoint each one you as Malawi’s Tourism Ambassador,” said Kaliati, during a dinner she hosted for the entourage.
She said it was Malawi government’s wish that such a Safari is made an annual event.
On Thursday morning Kaliati, donning Malawi flag colours, could not help but board in one of the old vintage cars to join the Safari to Lusangadzi Road block as the entourage was on its way to Lilongwe.
Rally manager, Martin Clark and one of the organizers, Phillip Young, said the reception they had received in Malawi was very remarkable and enticed many of the participants to come again for holiday tours.
“We are flattered by the welcome gesture of your minister and equally by the wonderful way Malawians have treated us all the way from the border to Mzuzu. The police and Immigration officials have been so good, we don’t take it for granted,” said Young.
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