Blogs from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa - page 12

Our group decided that rather then go back on a short drive to Mama Rulas, we would get up at 4:00 and make the long haul to Victoria Falls by way of Lusaka in two days instead of three. It was brutal getting up so early and we had a very sleepy truck full on this long drive. After the 3-hour bone jarring, teeth rattling 'back massaging' ride back out to the highway, that is. We marvel that our truck is still in one piece. Good old Mercedes. Our driver Hungry Man does on the spot maintenance daily.  Once again, we chose to watch the passing scenery instead of sleep. More fascinating country sprinkled with little villages, scattered homes and a web of footpaths leading off into the countryside. We estimate that 99.9% of the population ... read more

Saturday (PM 31/7/2010) On arrival at the Zim side of Vic falls we sat down to a presentation of the optional activities available, but this time we wouldn’t be partaking. We had a quick lunch and went to watch the other’s bungee jump from the Vic Falls bridge. Feeling equally as nervous we were quickly signed up as photographers and camera men as our mates took a leap of faith on the bungee, gorge swing and flying fox. Duties all but done we hurried back to camp as we were swapping trucks and hence crews we had another predeparture meeting to attend at a difference camp site. We made it in time for the taxi to Tokkie Lodge for a quick briefing with our guide Jack and substantially smaller crew of just six… including us! Eva ... read more

by Kamini Crossing the border from Botswana to Zambia across the Zambezi River (the river forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia) was made much easier by a lovely Batswana lady named Ambrosia, whose friend gave us a free ride across the river. She also made sure we didn't get ripped off by the taxi drivers on the Zambian side. Ambrosia was on her way to Zambia to buy fruits and vegetables as they were surprisingly cheaper than in Botswana and worth the effort of crossing the border. We stayed at Jollyboys, a popular backpackers in the town of Livingstone and a very easy place to while away the hours: lots of cushions to lie on, swimming pool, bar which unfortunately : ) only sold wine by the bottle. However the first thing we had to ... read more

Africa in comfortFriday, August 27. The two-hour flight from Joburg to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe (Zim) is uneventful. We load onto two large vans and head for Stanley and Livingstone Hotel which turns out to be a series of separate one-bedroom bungalows designed to look on the outside like native huts complete with thatched roofs. The place is meant to capture the opulence and comfort of the early English-based hotels. Rooms are furnished with antique furniture and fittings. Even the books on the desk and tables in the living room are old. Ahren and I are impressed. And delighted. We hear that this is a very fine, very expensive place. It is not normally on the tour and we don’t know why it’s on the tour now. Perhaps the economy led to rooms going empty so ... read more

Hello Hello! It has been quite a while since I have last posted but the internet has been sparse and we only stop in major (or small to be honest) towns for like an hour a pop and then we have to buy all our snacks and such, check our emails, and if lucky reply to a few. Anyhow weve made it to Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE: My first humourous observation regards Zim currency. In the first half of the 2000s, Robert Mugabe, the last of Africa's “Big Men” said that he would not “be bound by traditional economic practices” and he proceeded to add an additional zero to the end of his currency about once a month for 5 years. The result was currency in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 billion zimbabwe dollars! A ... read more