The first solar eclipse of the new millennium will occur on June 21st next year, almost in our backyard, with the path crossing Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar.

If you want to observe this impressive event then you have a choice of a number of places to go to, each with it’s advantages and disadvantages.

The event occurs between roughly 1.00 pm and 5.30pm local time in the afternoon, beginning in the Atlantic ocean off the west coast of Africa. The shadow path then crosses Angola, south of Luanda, and then Zambia, with Lusaka being in the path of totality. Although it is about 40km from the centerline, Lusaka will get nearly 3 1/2 minutes of eclipse. The shadow track then moves eastward and crosses the north eastern corner of Zimbabwe and then on across Mozambique. Madagascar will catch the shadow track, although it will be late afternoon, and people there will see the sun set with a chunk missing due to the moon.

The further west you go the more favourable the eclipse elements, with totality lasting 4min 56 sec in Angola and only 2min 19 sec in Madagascar. Also the sun will be at an altitude of 55 deg in Angola and only 11 deg in Madagascar when the eclipse occurs.

So where are YOU going to go to see the eclipse? Here is the bad news - every single bed in Zambia and Zimbabwe is fully booked and has been for more than a year. The only alternative is to camp out or to find accommodation privately.

Here is a brief summary of options :-

• On a ship off the west coast of Africa. This will give you the best possible view of the eclipse, if the weather is clear. Duration is 4min 56 sec altitude 55deg.
  
• Angola. Although on paper the best land vantage point ,the security situation in Angola will prevent a lot of people from going there. It is also impossible to contact the Angolan embassy for any assistance and getting tourist information is more difficult than catching a falling star. Weatherwise Angola offers the best prospects. The shadow track runs between Luanda and Lobito.
  
• Western Zambia. There is a national park in this area, Kafue, which is fully booked, but you may get a cancellation at a game lodge (for R3000 pppn). Otherwise you will need to find a place to camp out. Weather prospects are good in this area. Some of the roads may be category 16 (4x4). The centerline is about 100km north of the gate to the park. From Lusaka to the park is 279km and some of the roads are constantly under repair.
  
• Central Zambia. Lusaka lies in the eclipse track and would be a good base if you could find a place to camp out. A group from Austria and Germany will be flying to Lusaka, getting off the plane to watch the eclipse at the airport and then jump back on the plane and fly home. No need for visas or inoculations , or even luggage. This is certainly an option. Every bus and coach in the city has been booked for the day, so it probably won’t even be possible to hire a car. Lusaka will get an eclipse lasting 3 min and 35 sec although it is about 40km south of the centerline.
  
• Eastern Zambia. In the Zambesi river area. You could stay near Kariba and travel to the eclipse line. Again you will need to find a place to camp. The Zambesi valley does experience some cloudy weather from the Indian ocean at this time of the year but odds favour clear skies. Duration 3min 29sec. Altitude 29 deg.
  
• Zimbabwe. Probably one of the easier options for South Africans, although there is still concern about the security situation there. The Harare centre are making plans to welcome visitors and it may be that working through them will be the most effective way to travel. The centreline only just makes it into Zimbabwe for much of the track and it looks like access to it is limited to a few specific roads. Mount Darwin is in the path. About 238km from Harare on the Tete road and you’re on the centerline. Again you are in the Zambesi valley area which gets its weather from the Indian ocean. Duration 3min 20sec. Altitude 26deg.
  
• Mozambique. The area in Mozambique is in the mid northern section. There is a road from Beira to Quelimane which leads to the shadow path. Weather conditions are less favourable as you get nearer to the Indian ocean. Duration 3min 9 sec. Altitude 23 deg.
  
• On board ship in the channel between Africa and Madagascar. This appears to have the second best probability of clear weather, although the eclipse will be shorter and take place with the sun at a low altitude.
  
• Madagascar. The western part of the island has a greater probability of clear weather than other sites, but the sun will be low and the duration of totality only 2 mins 36 secs. The eastern part of the island has less favourable weather forecasts. Altitude 11 deg.

My advice is to start making arrangements as soon as possible. Africa is Africa and it takes you 3 or 4 weeks to get a reply to an email seeking details. The Internet may carry messages in a hurry but that does not mean that people do things in a hurry. Don’t leave it to the last minute and think you are going to arrange everything in a couple of days. Remember too to allow time to get your passports sorted out, get visas and have the necessary medical jabs. There are going to be plenty of people travelling to the eclipse track and as roads are so few they are probably going to be pretty busy.

If anybody has any ideas for eclipse expeditions then I would very much like to hear from them.

Zambia will be my "destination of choice". I have made contact with the government tourist office in Lusaka and have been informed that camping facilities are available in all 3 areas of interest - the Western part, Lusaka, and the Kariba area.
If you would like to travel to Zambia, then please contact me ASAP.

I am also very keen to get information regarding the western part of Zambia, and the Kariba area if anybody has perhaps been there.

Brian Fraser,
July 2000.
Email brian.fraser@macsteel.co.za