5,4,3,2,1......BUNGEE!!!

---

Mark: Wow! We have had the most amazing 2 weeks! Thought it was about time I got everyone updated cos it's been a while! The last 2 weeks have been spent in Zambia, which has been just awesome.

The journey here was (for once!) nice and straightforward, an easy border crossing unbelievably! Though the $150 VISA fee hit hard I must say! We spent a couple of days in a small local town, Chipata, before deciding last monday that we would head for 'Africa's best kept secret' South Luangwa National Park. What should have been a nice straightforward 6 hour journey then turned into the stuff of nightmares!

We got on the minibus at 10am. Now I say minibus, but that would imply we had a seat to ourselves but no, they crammed 4 of us onto one seat, one seat which smelt like it had been used as a toilet, the roof was caving in, but we were assured it would be leaving 'soon' so we decided, ok we'll do it. Well, in Africa, 'soon' can mean anything. Eventually, 5 hours later, the bus, absolutely ram-jammed, finally set off. We got 20 metres when suddenly it stopped. We were informed that the driver had broken the law by loading the bags on top of the minibus inside the bus station. So all the bags were taken down and taken round the corner where the driver proceeded to reload them.

Well, the police had followed us, and this policeman came storming over, grabbed the driver and took him to the police station, where, we would later learn, he was quite severely beaten. Well I am not going to try and explain away the Zambian judicial system, but as I sure you can imagine, the policeman were left a bit red-faced when it turned out that the minibus we were on actually belonged to the chief of police! We were very quickly sent on our way at this revelation! So finally at 10pm we arrived at the camp for South Luangwa, and, after pitching our tent, collapsed into dreamland.

The previous days exertions were completely forgotten the next morning though, as I woke up bright and early, opened the tent, and there stood not 10 feet from me, was a family of elephants! Unbelievable! They surrounded our tent, happily going about their business, before meandering off into the park! A special moment. Later that night we went on our first night drive which was really cool; we saw buffalo, elephants, giraffes, impalas, kudu, waterbuck, plus civet and genet which are incredibly rare, as well as a spotted hyena. However, the highlight was undoubtedly spending an hour or so following a pack on lions, a mother, 2 sub-adult males and 3 cubs as they prowled the plains looking for food. Sadly we didn't see a hunt but on the way back to the camp we got up close and personal with a big male lion, who walked within a few feet of our completely open vehicle. The feeling of awe, wonder, and complete vulnerability is something that I can't put into words.

Elephants and hippos were constant and regular nighttime visitors, wandering through the camp and we got up close and personal with a hippo, about 5 metres away with nothing between us which was amazing. Late one night I was just about to get in the tent, with Lou already in there, when suddenly I heard an animal sprinting. I looked up to see a hippo thundering towards me a full pelt. It ran right behind our tent and off into the distance, pursued by an amorous male. I dived into the tent, terrified and excited at the same time. Phew!

Having met a couple of english guys based in Zimbabwe, and having to begrudgingly turn down their amazingly kind offer of a trip through Mozambique and Zimbabwe for practically nothing, we headed onwards. After 3 thankfully trouble free journeys we arrived in Livingstone, which is 10km or so from Victoria Falls.

On Sunday we made our first trip to the falls. The water is very low at this time of year so from the Zambia side you cant really see much waterfall wise. The scenery though is amazing and monkeys and baboons are everywhere. Oh yeah, and I jumped off some bridge!

The Victoria Falls bridge bungee jump is one of the highest in the world, and must be set in one of the most spectacular settings. Sadly, even though I have lost 10 pounds, we were just too heavy to do the tandem jump, so I went it alone. Describing the feeling is very hard to do, but we have it on video, and it was definitely one of the best things I have ever done. The moment before I jumped was terrifying, but once you're falling (111m), the buzz is incredible!

On Tuesday we returned to watch Louise jump but sadly the bungee was closed, so back we went again yesterday. Louise decided to stump up the extra cash and do all 3 activities, with a gorge swing and zip line also included. If I wasn't scared doing it myself, I was terrified watching Louise jump. She really went for it, and was so brave, though the gorge swing looked a bit mental, as it's effectively the same as the bungee, but instead of diving, you run off the edge, which Lou really did, and the resulting videos are hilarious!

We just had one thing left to do, so yesterday afternoon, we walked all the way along the Zambian side of the falls to Livingstone Island from where you can see the main falls. There was water here all right! Huge swathes of it thundering over the edge. What we did next was crazy. You may have seen in the paper pictures of people sat on the edge of the falls, in what they call devil's pool. This was electrifying! A metre either side of you is one of the natural wonders of the world, and you are sat the edge of it, covered in spray, rainbows all around; truly a perfect setting.

Well, think we've had enough of danger, and this has turned into a seriously long entry, so I will call it a day here. We're heading to Botswana in a couple of hours, so am gonna hit the pool (not devil's don't worry!) and cool off first. Hope everyone's well, and keep the comments coming.

Mark & Lou
xxx

PS. I know you are all waiting for pics/videos. Well Southern Africa isn't the best tech wise but we should be able to do so in about 2-3 weeks in cape town, so keep your eyes peeled!

---

Comments

[Rose]

WOW! Sounds incredible, although I have to say I'm more jealous of the animal encounters than jumping off stuff. No way would you get me bungeeing. I miss you guys! x

[Clare]

Hippo's
Am now very very jealous. Bungee jumping and nearly eaten by a Hippo. Fabulous.

[Wayne]

Amazing!
Wow you guys are having one fantastic adventure - I'm totally enjoying your updates. Nothing quite as exciting happening in Leeds - Mike invited us all to Halloween party (few weeks ago) & we all got drunk - but I was the only one to Smash a Bottle (on Mikes freinds newly done out Kitchen Floor) & also managed to throw up out of the window of another of Mikes mates car window - so a good party. The mortgage support Christmas Do was this weekend and it wasn't as good as the summer do. The main highlight was Craig wearing 17 hats (apparently this is very dangerous - if major hat wobble had occured he would have lost his head). Enjoy your journey southwards & wave at the Elephants for me.