| | Dec 29, 2005 - Victoria Falls - The Seventh Wonder of the World | (click to enlarge)
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 | Our excellent home in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
| | At the Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | Carl and the massive elephant skull
| | Our first views of Victoria Falls - from Zimbabwe side
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 | Swinging from the vines!
| | Victoria Falls - From the Zimbabwe side
| | At the main section of falls - Zimbabwe
| | Victoria Falls - Zimbabwe Side
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 | Danger Point
| | Eric at the falls
| | Bridge to Zambia
| | Victoria Falls Hotel
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 | Mama Baboon and her baby
| | Bungy Jumper off the Victoria Falls Bridge
| | Victoria Falls from Zambia Side
| | Victoria Falls - from the Zambia Side
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 | | | Victoria Falls - from the Zambia Side
| | Top of Victoria Falls - Zambia
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| | Victoria Falls - The Seventh Wonder of the World
Our journey to see the world's longest waterfalls and the seventh wonder of the world didn't go quite as planned. The original plan was to fly on Christmas Day from Entebbe Uganda to Johannesburg where we would spend a day and a half before flying to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and then catching our 20 - day overland safari through Botswana, Namibia and finishing in Cape Town South Africa. Johannesburg was to be home for us for Christmas and our first good chance in a long time to do laundry, shop and to stock up on necessities we would need for our overland safari.
After the help of our hotel we confirmed our flight on Christmas morning and set off to the airport where we were shocked to find our flight cancelled. It took the better part of the day on day to get back to our hotel, check in again and get ourselves reconfirmed on the next flight to Johannesburg which happened to be with Kenyan Airways via Nairobi rather than our original direct flight with South African Airways.
A rather unexpected way to Christmas day, however it was great to be in a nice hotel in Uganda and we were both able to speak to our families. The phone connections on both calls were pretty poor, but clear enough to learn that I was going to be an uncle again! My sister-in-law Cindy was pregnant again and her due date is July 22 - my birthday - very exciting news!! Since then we are even more excited as we learned that she is going to have twins!!
Eventually just past midnight on Boxing Day we arrived in Johannesburg but with only about nine hours before we caught our flight to Victoria Falls. Arriving in Victoria Falls we took a cab to our ideally situated Ilala Lodge which we used as a base to explore the world's longest waterfalls from both the Zimbabwe side and from across the border in Zambia.
The falls were a spectacular sight still very much left in their natural surroundings as you could imagine David Livingstone had discovered them back in the days of the early African explorers. The views of the falls vary greatly from the Zambia and Zimbabwe sides and also with the season and volume of water pounding over the mile long spectacle. For our visit, the Zimbabwe side provided awe inspiring views as we walked for almost a full mile along the mist shrouded falls, hearing and feeling the thundering water drop 100 metres to the gorge below. At times over 500 million litres of water per minute plunge over this world wonder as tourist from around the globe stare through the mist and take in the adventure activities the area offers such as bungy jumping, scenic flights, white water rafting, wildlife safaris and much, much more.
Outside of the tourist items, purchasing items in Zimbabwe can be like a mathematical puzzle due to the astronomical exchange rate. It is not too often we are used to dealing with prices that are in the millions and pretty sure that is the only time on our trip when we will have a hotel and restaurant bill of over 28 million dollars - which actually worked out to less than 300 dollars!
Overall, Victoria Falls was well worth the visit and would highly recommend it if you can fit it into your African itinerary. The area could be a week long vacation destination itself, but for us was mostly a chance to see the wonderful falls, have a glimpse into the unfortunate economy of Zimbabwe and as a gateway for our 20-day overland safari departing from Livingstone Zambia and going through Botswana, Namibia and finishing in Cape Town.
Ten Tips for Victoria Falls
1. If you are using Vic Falls are a starting or finishing point for a safari and are only interested in seeing the falls a half day should be sufficient.
2. If you are interested in doing adventure activities Victoria Falls is a great place to try bungy jumping, abseiling, night safaris, river cruises, helicopter rides, crocodile farm etc. Budget these into your agenda for both time and money when you are planning your trip to the falls.
3. Viewing the falls can be very different experiences depending on the time of year you visit. Dry season can mean very little water flowing over the falls and they will be much smaller. Peak of the wet season and there can be so much water flowing over the falls the mist is so heavy visibility can be very poor.
4. Visiting the falls you can stay on either the Zimbabwe side or the Zambia side. From many of the hotels on the Zimbabwe side you can conveniently walk to the falls and then across the bridge to Zambia. Most hotels on the Zambia side are further from the falls although there are a couple in walking distance.
5. You see much more of the falls from the Zimbabwe side but recommend you take in the views from Zambia too so you get both perspective as well. The experience varies on each side depending on the time of year you visit.
6. When visiting the falls be prepared to get wet! Mist, mist and more mist will thoroughly soak you so pack a rain jacket or just be ready to get wet.
7. Some opinions vary as to which side of the falls you should stay on. Some refuse to stay on the Zimbabwe side as a protest against the Mugabe government who has destroyed what was once one of the most prosperous countries in Africa. From what I saw, the Zimbabwe side is more beautiful and although do not support at all the Mugabe government, know that staying there is giving some of the innocent locals jobs to support their families.
8. Inflation has spiralled so far out of control that prices change almost daily for local goods. Make sure you don't exchange too much money at once and you do not want to have any left over when you leave Zimbabwe as you are sure to get a very poor rate, if anything at all, trying to exchange it back to another currency.
9. The historic Victoria Falls hotel has great views of the gorge, mist from the falls, bridge and into Zambia. If you don't stay there, at the very least head to the restaurant and sit on the patio for a meal or drinks and take in the views.
10. Due to the poor economy often petrol for vehicles is very hard to find. If you plan on renting a car this may be a challenge you will face and clarify the situation with the rental company in advance. Alternatively you can take organized tours anywhere you would like to go.
www.carlhenderson.ca
www.imagestoframe.com
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