Blogs from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa - page 18

Well, we flew into Joburg, and were already late for our connecting flight. Then, we lost our luggage. I know, great. Anyways, luckily, we had someone who met us at the airport and reasoned with the people at the check in counter to let us through all the lines. I can't say that it was bad! We took a tiny little plane to Victoria Falls. It was awe-inspiring to look out the window of the plane and see herds of elephants, giraffes, and zebras (pronounced zeh-bras. we took a little flack for this :)) Victoria Falls is amazing. The falls are almost a mile wide, but be warned you get soaked. I don't mean the oh-bring-a-jacket kind of soaked, I mean the I-couldn't-take-of-my-jeans kind of soaked. I swear I thought I was going to drown. ... read more

After Chobe, some of us crossed into Zimbabwe to experience a lion walk. This was incredible. The African Lion Environmental Research Trust raises lions from cubs, teaches them how to hunt, and then releases them into a large area (10,000 acres) where these lions will form prides and raise their own cubs. These new cubs, who do not see or come into contact with humans, will then be relocated in areas in Africa. Why are they doing this? In the last 20 years 80 percent of Africa's lions have disappeared. And the situation is just getting worse. As part of raising the cubs, between 4 months (younger than this they just like to bite in play) and 18 months (older than this they become too strong when they play and can seriously hurt a person), the ... read more

Due to political situations in Zimbabwe we are skipping overlanding through there but still managed to visit briefly to see our friends jump in the bridge in the Zimbabwe side of a bridge that span through the Victoria Falls. ... read more

Zimbabwe was probably one of the more interesting countries we've been to economically. It's really hard to describe the experience. When we arrived, the street rate for US dollars was 50,000,000 to one. However the bank rate was only 30,000 to one. So we were either forced to change on the street or use US dollars exclusively. Luckily we had a contact that could change the money for us so that we wouldn't get scammed. We changed $40 and instantly became billionaires! Although our $1 billion bar tab was a little scary... The political situation has been very damaging for the people expecially in Vic Falls which is built on tourism. The tourists have stopped coming and the street vendors are barely scraping by. You'd see one guy in the morning who would try and sell ... read more

Africa has been so much fun, we are into our last few days, and have mixed feelings about leaving. John is so at home here, he is really enjoying the bush life. I am too of course, but I am really aware of how much I need to see the towns and meet the people to get a feel for the place. We have just returned from Zimbabwe which is the most beautiful country I have ever seen - susie and matt also agree. We are already talking about when we will be back - definitely in the dry season and after the next elections (a kenya type situation will happen this year in Zim). The currency there is so inflated that a beer costs 1.5 million and a gin cost 2 million plus the mixer. ... read more