Home » Zambia » Day 4. Tue 20th April Victoria - Falls.

Blondie and I are up at six for the "Rhino Walk" in Mosi-oa-Tunja zoological park. Spotters are already out looking for the three White Rhino (actually they are not white, the name is a corruption of "wide", referring to the shape of the mouth, White rhino are the same colour as black rhino, but have wide mouths for grazing, while black rhino, which are browsers, have pointed mouths), and are in radio contact with our guide Tony, an Australian.

Day 4. Tue 20th April Victoria - Falls.

DaveMidgley
2005-10-22 10:07:29

Displayed times (last time: )

deadline, and when we arrive at the falls at 2:00 as arranged there is no sign of them. It would seem that the bungy jumping is running late. The falls entrance is full of stalls selling souvenirs (actually about the only souveniry sort of place we visit on the whole trip - later I realise that I should have bought presents here as I never really get another chance.) Ken goes off to buy a hat and Blondie and I "do" the falls, but with the water so high there is actually little to see but mist. Waterproofs are available for hire, but I scorn these and, having emptied my pockets of valuables, walk out onto the bridge over the falls unprotected, and get thoroughly soaked. Blondie is a little more trepid, but with a little encouragement also makes the journey through the spray to the centre of the bridge. We cannot view the falls from the south side, where the view is allegedly much better, as once again this would mean entering Zimbabwe.
Sunshine and Pirate finally arrive about 3 and we explain the revised timetable. They are a bit disappointed to have so little time to see the falls, but trot off for the obligatory drenching while Ken and Blondie and I take a walk upstream, steaming gently in the sunshine. Ken has managed to find a hat that fits, but it is bright yellow and decorated with monkeys. Still, it does make him easy to spot in a crowd.
Musician at Vic FallsVic Falls view downstream. The channel and bridge.
We all climb soggily back into the Land Rover and head back to the lodge in time to change for the evening cruise. I dig out my pegless washing line and hang my dripping clothes outside the chalet to dry.
The cruise around Long Island is very pleasant. We have hired the boat just for ouselves, and there is a meal thrown in. However, half way through the voyage the storm clouds gather yet again over Zimbabwe, the thunder rolls, and the wind begins to blow. We scuttle down below and eat our meal while the rain rattles on the roof. I am getting very concerned that my clothes, hanging on the line back at the lodge, will be soaked again, or, worse, may have blown away completely.
The crew bring us safely to shore at about 7, and round off the evening by singing some traditional African songs accompanying themselves on a big drum, which has to be heated for several minutes first to get the skin to the correct tension, and a coke bottle struck with a kitchen knife.
Cruise boat Vic FallsCloudscape. Zambesi river cruise at Vic FallsKen and Blondie on Zambesi river cruise at Vic Falls. Ken sporting new hat.
The crew sing for us. Zambesi river cruise at Vic Falls. (Click for sound)
We return to the lodge and I am extremely relived to find all my laundry still hanging there - and dry! The rain was very localised and only a few spots have fallen at the lodge.
We set off at six tomorrow for Botswana, so we all go off to our rooms to write postcards and diaries, pack our things and charge our camera batteries - we will have no electricity now for seven days.

Pages: 1 2 [3]