Victoria no Falls

Saturday 7/10
Today we leave Johannesburg to go to Victoria falls in Zambia. Our trip to Johannesburg airport is fine as is our long wait for the international flight to Zambia.

I am still a little traumatized by my first bad experience at this airport. (See earlier blog) .  This time we have mum ( tour leader Christel) looking after us and I feel much safer.  Paul ensures I have the right departure/boarding times and I am allowed one last supervised toilet visit before the flight.  (For god's sake!&$@&$$)

Uneventful...

On our arrival in Zambia, Christel has organized passports and visas and we sail through customs etc.

We drive through the city of Livingstone to get to our hotel, the Avani.  When we arrive, we are greeted by singing and dancing which is pretty special and also by heat.  It is hot.


We relax until our walking tour starts at 3.30pm.  This is a tour to the falls with our local guide, Abel who gives us a history of the falls, their discovery by Livingstone (I presume, fame)   As well as the significance to the local people.  All very interesting as we stand in the hot and steamy unshaded outdoors.

He tells us the bad news, which Christel had already told us, that there is very little water in the falls  due to drought etc.  and the Zambian government insists on using the Zambezi river for power and sanitation rather than leaving it for the tourists. Selfish.

It is a little disappointing but we get an amazing view of the cliffs and rocks sans cascading water.



the river in the distance with some water and spray








me at the 'falls'

waterless
and a statue  of David Livingstone,  hero in these parts:

When we get back, there are impala and zebras roaming our resort. While a little over photographing more impala, I liked this shot of mum and baby zebras.


WE need a swim as the walk has been hot,  damn hot.  The pool is great as is the beer we have immediately after.

Dinner is an amazing buffet at the resort.  Fitting we should end today's account with food.

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