02-13-2014 - Victoria Falls, Zambia

Exercise at last!! Except for the Plantation House, at all other destinations we have been unable to do our morning walks, much less anything more strenuous. Either we had an early morning pick-up for safari, or other transportation, or we were in an area occupied by dangerous animals.

Here at the Royal Livingstone, there are paved wakways all around the grounds as well as those on the property next door that eventually lead to the falls. At Victoria Falls numerous trails not only provide a variety of spectacular viewpoints of the falls, but also lead to Knife's Edge foot bridge to the Head Point and to Victoria Falls Bridge which spans the gorge and connects Zambia to Zimbabwe. For our morning exercise, we simply started out walking, huffing and puffing, and before we knew it, we were there -- at the falls -- with no camera!!!! The view of Victoria Falls is really something else! As it approaches the falls, the Zambezi River becomes very wide and fast-moving. Just before the river drops off the side of the escarpment, giant rocks liter the edge. Some have bits of plant life that have managed to take root are growing among the rocks. When the river finally reaches the edge, it crashes below so hard and so fast that mist fills the air and creates rain. Victoria Falls is not nearly as tall as Niagara Falls, but it is wide, very wide. I have not seen the stats but it looks to be at least a half-mile wide. It is breath-taking and inspires an almost religious experience. And the landscape around the falls is beautiful beyond belief, lush and green.

We walked all the trails, all nicely paved but some were very steep and some very wet. Hiking there is much like walking in the rain. We crossed Knife's Edge Bridge - that's where you invariably get soaked!!! And we walked across the Victoria Falls Bridge. This bridge was built in 1905 and still carries train traffic, local traffic and big trucks traveling between Zambia and Zimbabwe. At one time it was the tallest bridge in the world and still today, it the stage for the longest bungee jumps in the world. People do it all the time—not me.

After this first walk, we had breakfast, showered, grabbed our camera and went back again to take photos. We covered the whole thing again. Seeing it a little later in the morning provided a brand new perspective. Many people visiting Africa overlook this wonderful bit of God's creation. I am so glad we came here!

Along our walk back to our hotel, we did a bit of souvenir shopping from local craftsmen. They make beautiful handmade things but we have very limited luggage capacity. We are allowed to have bags weighing no more than only 15 kilos each; we are close to that limit already.

We were hoping to take a helicopter ride over the falls today, but the minimum number of people failed to sign-up. I'm a bit disappointed but in its place, we will partake in high tea.

Tomorrow we will meet a new guide who will drive us to our lodge in Chobe National Park. It should be a whole new scene.

One final note, we found the stats on Vicotria Falls. The falls span an area of 1600 meters across. That's just about a mile!!

Gosh, what a wonderful world!

This is indeed a special day! I wish a really big happy birthday to my wonderful brother, a great man, Michael Latting!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROTHER!