Hello neighbours! A trip to Victoria Falls and Chobe

Day 1: Thursday, 15^th December 2011: Cpt – Jhb – Livingstone – Victoria Falls

There is a feeling of awe as one steps off the plane into another African country. It is hard to describe as it is something that is felt by the heart, in the silent pause that follows the thought as you place your feet on African soil... I am in Africa!

The word is not simple said in an ordinary manner; you say it with emphasis. The word is created at the bottom of your stomach and comes grumbling up and gushing out with excitement and adventure. At the same time your arm sweeps back and forward like a pendulum and your fist punches the air, high up above your head and you shout...

I am in A-fri-ca!

That one word holds so much enthusiasm for our trip to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Chobe in Botswana. This year my parents both joined the Swinging Sixties and decided to celebrate with an adventurous family trip to Victoria Falls. Unfortunately my brother and his family couldn’t join us as five months ago they were blessed with a little baby girl but a family friend, Ella, joined our adventure party of four.

Little 5 month old baby girl Juliette with her granddad

Mom already joined the Sixties Club in September this year and dad, well, actually today. At the airport we surprised him with a delicious chocolate cake made specially for the occasion by Greta, and popped a bottle of sparkling grape juice to celebrate his milestone.

Enjoying Greta’s chocolate cake for a birthday breakfast

Hurriedly we boarded for Johannesburg. Then from Johannesburg we caught another flight to Livingstone in Zambia.

As we flew into Livingstone, a glimpse out the window showed a beautiful canvas of flourishing green grass and trees edged with blue sky decorated with some cumulonimbus clouds.

I distinctly remember, when I stepped off the plane, I was welcomed by the fresh smell of grass after the rains. It felt so earthy and natural, nature at its purest and cleanest. Rudyard Kipling’s words came to my mind, “The first condition of undertaking a foreign country is to smell it!”

So here we are in Africa and we are going to smell it, feel it, taste it and just simply experience it with all our senses.

The queue at passport control took quite a while and this is where one soon realises, in Africa, you will have to adopt patience. Our passports got stamped and into Zambia we entered for our shuttle ride to our hotel in Victoria Falls.

Four travellers happy to be on holiday in Africa

To reach Victoria Falls one has to pass two more border controls, first to exit Zambia and then to enter Zimbabwe. Excitingly this means more stamps in the passports but unexcitedly meant that each time we had to make a mad dash for the offices in the pouring rain. Actually pouring rain is too gentle, it was bucketing down from the sky and the rain water was gushing down the streets, damming the gutters up.

The pouring rain streaming down the streets of Zambia from the bus window

Driving through Zambia to reach Victoria Falls

Our first introduction to our neighbouring countries was beautiful. From the green grass to flowering acacia trees, the unexpected baboon scurrying across the road and the friendly locals that wave to you as you drive past. Yet the most incredible part of it all, which nothing can prepare you for, is your first view of the mighty Victoria Falls as you drive across the border bridge. The gasps of admiration echoed all the way from the front of the bus to the back like a Mexican Wave.

The sheer magnitude of the geology leaves you mesmerized in awe. It is simply, beautiful!

Shortly afterwards we arrived at the Kingdom Hotel, our home for the next five days.

The Kingdom Hotel, Victoria Falls

We strategically chose this hotel for its position. The falls are within walking distance and can be reached within five minutes by foot.

Staying at The Kingdom Hotel can prove to be quite luxurious but also dangerous.

Crocodiles at the hotel can check in too?

Lush green gardens at The Kingdom Hotel

Having arrived late afternoon, we made a cup of coffee and sat on our porch, watching the rain pour down, viewing the spray of the Falls from a clearing in the bush surrounding the hotel. It was as if she was teasing us and inviting us to come explore her beauty.

Relaxation after a day’s travelling

In the evening we enjoyed a lovely buffet dinner at the hotel. Live performers also came to enchant the guests with African beats and moves.

Local entertainers performing traditional dances

Along with the excitement and adventure that comes with Africa, being daring naturally follows. At the buffet table I found a bowl of cooked Mopani worms and thought that my trip to Zimbabwe would not be complete without trying at least one.

So with a deep breath, as if the air around me contained courage I could inhale, I popped the worm into my mouth. Hmmm… interesting, it had a crunchy leathery texture with not much of a taste but I remember the word leather came to mind a lot while chewing. Luckily I had a good glass of local wine I could wash it down with.

Yes; it is a Mopani worm, it is going in my mouth and getting washed down with a glass of local wine

Located in the Ruzawi River Valley, Mashonaland, Mukuyu Winery is the only wine farm to produce and bottle wine in Zimbabwe. We enjoyed a semi dry Colombard which boasted a lively, fruity bouquet.

We went to bed knowing that we had a lovely first day in Victoria Falls and that we had another three more to enjoy.

Let’s see what other adventures and happy memories we will create in the days to come.