Day 21, 19 February: Katima to LivingstoneToday we crossed the border to Sesheke, Zambia on the 'new' bridge at Wenela. Friendly border officials both sides, many fees to pay in Zambia, referred to as cross-border fees (carbon tax SAR300, local municipality fee 50 Nam dollars, Insurance SAR 300, Road toll 20US dollars !). Insurance is purchased at a dodgy caravan. Nevertheless, a painless crossing. 195km later, we were in Livingstone, and pulled into Fawlty Towers backpackers and camping. It has been raining again, so we opted for a room. We settled quickly and checked the ACCESS (it's FREEE!, but sometimes not available). Bandwidth battle settled, we went on the hunt for food. Imagine my glee to discover a brand new Shoprite centre right across Mosi-Oa-Tunya (had to buy a beer to get the spelling) road, complete with Mr Price's homestore and clothing too!! It gets better, as the food franchise that rules here is the Ocean Basket (Sherhaad, I recall a similar lunch in Lusaka)! Anyway, what better than Calamari or hake & chips on the Zambezi? They do a good cappuccino, so I must not whine.
Day 22, 20 February: LivingstoneToday we went down to the falls (duh), where we got very, very wet. Mosi-a- , the smoke that thunders, would more accurately be smoke that pours.I spared many thoughts for other friends: Estelle, Pieter J, Ritesh and Theo, 2003 and the prophecies of one Zyapapa in Vic Falls: Strength, Happiness and Suckysess. The ingredients of our strategies ahead! I wish it to you all again, even to the woman with the head of a man. We passed by the Zambezi Sun, and I declare that I will have a healthy Mosi on all of you (I have converted from Windhoek to Mosi lager, naturally). Also, a pic on the bridge. Unfortunately, we didn't get to the Zim side to visit David Livingstone or do high tea at the Vic Falls Hotel.The boys did some daring stuff, taking a zipline across the gorge. Don't ask, of course not! With a Mosi and techie stuff from Noah, we may post their zipline clips, but don't count on it.
Blog at last! (free internet at Fawlty Towers in Livingstone means I have time to update).Thanks for all the encouraging comments, we really appreciate them and always look forward to reading them! Please keep them coming, and also please send any suggestions of interesting places, people, good food, coffee, beer, anything that we can do to celebrate any place with you. Next destinations are Lusaka, Chipata, Lake Malawi, Tanzania, Rwanda.

Day 23, 21February: Livingstone

A day of activities. The day started out very rainy, but we were booked for a Jetboat trip in the Zambezi rapids below the Falls. We departed in a truck at 12:30. The 45 minute trip through the bush passed through the village (Mukuni) of the Paramount Chief (who governs approximately 20% of the Zambian people, is an Oxford grad and ex-marketing director of BP Zambia. He now lives in a humble palace in Mukuni from where he conducts the affairs of the region). Getting into the Zambezi gorge involved a cableway descent (a very exposed one!) to take the Jetboat around the rapids. A jetboat is a superb, very fast and fun way to get around, get wet and do the rapids without the effort of paddling etc.
We got back to Livingstone just in time for a far more sedentary river activity - the traditional sunset cruise on the Zambezi. This time around, it was on the African Queen, a colonial style boat well suited to Gin & Tonic etc. Again, I spared a few thoughts (they come slowly on this boat) for the teambuilding team of 2003. Estelle, Pieter, Theo & Ritesh - Cheers!
We're up to date, and off to Lusaka tomorrow . .