Series 5 : EP19 : Mosi-oa-Tunya, Lunch, Seen Off - Victoria Falls

Today is Botswana Independance Day, the 30th of September, 202. It's a national holiday but we're not spending it in Botswana. While we are in this area of the world we are going to hop across to neighbouring Zimbabwe to see one of the natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls. This is a bucket list item for us. A trip to Iguazu Falls in Argentia earlier in the year fell through so we are not going to miss Victoria Falls. It's less than 100km away from Kasane so how could you not do it. Rather than drive ourselves complete with the complication of needed paperwork to take the car across the border, we have booked a small group tour to take us there. There will only be four people so it's almost as good as if it was just us. So first thing for the day will be to cross the Zimbabwe border which is at the outskirts of Kasane, then do the 90km trip to the town of Victoria Falls. We have plenty of time to indulge in some side activities (sorry, no white water rafting) before luch and the return trip. They day is going to be very hot and dry. Who would have thought in this part of Africa at this time of year with Summer approaching. We get the option of a helicopter flight before we go to the falls proper. No way we are going to miss that! It's a bit of an expensive indulgence but we have saved our pennies just in case it was an opportunity. Then the Falls proper. What a sight and what a sound! The thunder of the water cascading into the gorge is huge and also a technical problem. It's so deep and loud is cases problems with the sound recordings on the camera. I have fixed it the best I can but it's not a patch on being there. Even though it was the dry season and only half of the falls was going over, it was an impressive sight. In the wet season when the whole width of the falls is running there can be so much spray it's hard to see anything at all. Just have to go back and check I suppose. Yeah right.... We had two hours at the falls which is one disadvantage of a day tour. Even though they are less that 2km wide we didn't see the whole thing. Even the 'smaller' cataracts towards the eastern end are impressive at 100m high. We saw some people on the Zambia side doing the thing of cooling off in the river literally right on the edge. I don't know if I would have done that or not. Maybe I would. Penance for not doing the Plunge in Antarctica. After the falls we head off to one of the best locations I have ever had lunch at. Perched at the top of the Zambezi Gorge the restaurant had good food, good wine, a great viw and good prices. Perfecto! After lunch we avoid the souvenir market and start to head back to Kasane. We do a little scenic drive along the Zambezi River then head off. Halfway back, we have a bit of an adventure. You'll have to watch the video for that. Tomorrow we have some things to do. First up, try to fix the broken side mirror on the car. It's really needed in the traffic in places like Kasane and Maun. The traffic is busy and you need your withs about you. Then a self drive game drive in the Chobe National Park. We hope to see Painted Dogs again. And to finish the day, a 300km drive to our next accommodation at a place called Elephant Sands. Given the state of Botswanas roads, that should occupy the afternoon. #travel #africa #zimbabwe #victoriafalls