Blogs from Livingstone, Zambia, Africa - page 6

Saturday September 1 It's the third evening of a five night stay in Livingstone, Zambia and although The Cough is back (thought I was on the mend after Round One but I've seemingly picked it up again in Round Two), it's been surreal so far. Not only have I white water rafted the 'mighty Zambezi', I've survived. Yes, fancy that. That was followed by an unexpected ride in a jet boat, a rather sedate Booze Cruise and a drum lesson! I was so tired by 9pm that I was unable to construct sentences! Then today it was another early start and I spent the morning with lions and this arvo with white rhino in the smallest of Zambia's national parks which I think all that went agreed is the best guided walk we've done on the ... read more

I've never been so wrong about any country. If my safari experience in Entabeni is the highlight of my African travels, this Zambian adventure definitely is a very, very close second. Not Just the Victoria Waterfalls In all my readings and research, I have simply concentrated on Victoria Falls. As one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World methinks it was certainly worth a visit. For good measure, I signed up for the helicopter flight for a majestic full view of what is touted as the largest (not highest nor widest) curtain of waterfalls in the world. For a hefty price, of course. Methinks I might as well. You come here. View the Falls. And never head back. So might as well do... read more

The journey from Lusaka to Livingstone took 7 and half hours. It was fairly comfortable, but quite monotonous with the scenery unchanging the whole way down. I stayed at Jollyboys Backpackers, which is the most popular one in Livingstone and is one of the busiest I had stayed at in Africa. One funny thing about my stay here was the incredible amount of Irish people staying here. I must have encountered at least ten different groups of people in the few days I was here. Livingstone is a busy enough town and is 8km away from the Victoria Falls, but it is difficult to imagine if there would be anything there if it wasn't for the constant stream of tourists that come to visit the falls. It has seen an upturn in its toursim in recent ... read more

We got up early and again had to hurry, this time to make our morning tour of the falls. After a quick breakfast at the hotel buffet we were off. The local name is Mosi-oa-Tunya which translates to “the smoke that thunders”. We stopped along the drive to look at the top of the falls from a distance and see the persistent plumes of spray that look very much like smoke. The water goes over a ledge into a wide, deep crack in the earth created by volcanic activity. The tour is along the opposite edge of the crack, facing the falls from approximately the same height as the top. The thundering sound of the water was audible long before we could get a view, but shortly into our walk we came to our first viewing ... read more

So far we (Safari) have seen amazing things here in Livingstone. Victoria Falls (Mosi oa Tunya - The Smoke Which Thunders), baboons, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, and more. We have been without Internet since we arrived in Livingstone, so we could not update you each day. Here is a taste of what we have been doing. We literally have thousands of photographs to share. There has been bungee jumping, gorge swinging and flying like superman. Getting drenched by the Falls, more bargaining in the market and trying to find the Subway Sandwhich Shop that used to be in Livingstone. Having a house to ourselves, meeting the trekkers from New Zealand, Scotland, Australia, England and California. Doritos on the boat (never tasted so good), having a soda by the lion's watering hole and seeing Sister Nama. See ... read more