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Well we are at our last night in Zimbabwe before we head to Johannesburg and then off to Kenya on Monday where we will meet up with Anita and Ryan to start the overland part of our journey that's if Anita and Ryan haven't got lost in transit somewhere.
The last four days have been very relaxing spending time in Victoria Falls kicking back and taking in the sights.
On Thursday we had a very relaxing day wandering around the town and visiting various shops and markets. I finally struck it rich by purchasing a one trillion dollar note from a guy on the street. As you will be aware Zimbabwe has suffered over the last ten or so years with their economy finally completely collapsing a couple of years ago. Since then they have used the US dollar as their currency and have given up the Zimbabwe dollar as it has spiraled out of control somewhat. Hence the old bank notes are readily sold on the street for a few cents as a souvenir for tourists and would be Doctor Evil look a likes! " a trillion dollars!". With our new ill gotten gains we felt
it necessary to flaunt it and so visited the Victoria Falls Hotel for a meal as equally impressive as our bank roll...but settled for a cappuccino over looking the beautifully manicured lawns and the distant falls.
To round off the day we took a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi river and enjoyed watching elephant coming down for their evening drinks while we both got completed trashed on ginger beer and nibbles. The sunset was, as expected, very impressive and a great way to finish a very relaxing day.
The next day we had an early rise to get to an amazing experience called Lion Encounter. This place is set up to breed captive lions so they can eventually be released into the wild and boost the dwindling lion populations of Africa. Believe it or not the African lion population had decreased by 80-90% in the last thirty years and lions are heading towards the endangered list if something drastic isn't done. Anyway to raise money for their endeavors they offer a "walk with the lions" experience which entails spending about 45 minutes walking and patting two 15 month old lions in their natural
habitat but under close supervision. This was one of those once in a life time experiences and lived up to expectations. Steph and I had the opportunity to sit alongside the lions and spend time enjoying walking with them and stroking them and we both came away with all our fingers and toes in tact even if one didn't like being pushed along by the handler and objected by snarling at him as only a lion can.
We spent the rest of the day at the actual Victoria Falls taking in the amazing views up close and certainly made up for the lack of showers the previous week in one foul swoop. The volume of water that pours over the falls is astounding and makes you feel very humbled to see such a sight in person.
Our last day has been extremely relaxing mixing with the rich and famous at the Victoria Falls Hotel. We checked out of our bed and breakfast accommodation at the Villa Victoria and stepped back one hundred years right into the middle of colonial Africa. The hotel is quite something else with wall to wall paintings of the British monarchy and
what space is left is taken up by the heads of any wildlife silly enough to have wandered in front of a British hunting party. We were greeted at the front door with a welcoming glass of lemonade and shown to our room which is part of the "Royal wing" which hosted the Queen when she was here some time back. We spent the rest of the day relaxing by the pool and viewing the falls before indulging in traditional high tea served to us by a fine fellow called Robertson, on the terrace. When we finished we felt that we had a lot in common with our newly arrived lawn guests, a family of warthogs as we were bursting at the seams and looking forward to dinner which would be an opportunity to dress up ( that is if dressing up is our best tramping boots, zip off trousers and cleanest possible T shirts)
All in all our last night in Zimbabwe was very memorable. Roll on Kenya with tents, one pot meals and freshly dug toilets!
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Ron. Kitto
non-member comment
Sorry!!!!
I really am sorry that it has taken me so long to reply to any of your blogs but here goes. We are certainly enjoying all you have to say about your trip thus far and in particular those great photos of the various animals. You sure have hit it there. You are most surely having a great time and the main thing is you are obviously keeping well and thats great. All is well here and we are keeping fine. We had lunch( usual hot roast meal) at Annettes today with Anita and Ryan and were able to say our farewells to them as they left for the airport.Lets hope all goes well with you all. Just remember the old family adage " everything will get back to your father" so just behave yourselves. Looking forward to further blogs, God bless and be safe Lots of love Dad and Mum