Day 10 South Africa Adventures

Thursday, September 20th

Today we visited Victoria Falls early in the morning because the high today was going to be 100 degrees!  It was warm even leaving at 7:30 AM.  Our hotel was located close to the falls so it didn’t take long to get there. IMG_1397

Victoria Falls is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.  David Livingstone didn’t discover the falls but he spread the word to others in the Western world and he named the falls Victoria after Queen Victoria.

IMG_3139
David Livingstone

The picture below shows the orange path we walked as we viewed the falls.  Our walk around the various gorges and stops was over 2 miles.

IMG_1402

The “thunder” of the falls was incredible and the spray reached us in many places from across the gorge.  The power was incredible.

IMG_1408
It looks like fog but it’s the spray from the falls!
IMG_1425
The “thunder” of the water as it spills over the rocks and a vertical drop of about 325 feet!

IMG_1432IMG_1461

IMG_1478
One of the rainbows that we saw as we explored the falls.
IMG_1486
A view of the falls from the path.

IMG_1501IMG_1502IMG_1509IMG_1518img_1521.jpgIMG_1524IMG_1526

IMG_1565
A double rainbow.

IMG_1567IMG_3137

IMG_3140
The water was really moving quickly.

IMG_3150IMG_3154IMG_3158IMG_3159

IMG_3164
Look at how the water is converging!

IMG_3182IMG_3186

Employees were using these tree branch brooms to sweep the walkways.

IMG_1429

Below is the Victoria Falls Bridge that crosses over the Zambezi River and is built over the second gorge of the falls.  The border of Zambia and Zimbabwe is on the bridge.

IMG_1533

IMG_1541
The sign on the Victoria Falls Bridge that lets you know that you are leaving Zimbabwe and entering Zambia!

When we were looking at the bridge these Vervet monkeys were playing!

Warthogs were wondering around the area.

img_3180.jpg

When we left Victoria Falls we stopped to see “The Big Tree”.  It is a Baobab tree that is thought to be between 1,000- 1,500 years old.  It is believed to be the largest in Zimbabwe.

The Big Tree is about 75 feet tall and its circumference about 59 feet.  Duncan, our guide, opened a fruit from the baobab.  We could try the fruit.  It tasted chalky and was dry.

After our stop here to see the Big Tree, we were dropped back at our hotel.  We had a few hours of free time and some people went to visit the market in town.

Later this afternoon and into the early evening, we went on a game drive with Stanley & Livingstone Safaris and Experiences.  We were really hoping to see the black rhino because we missed them in Kruger National Park.  Below is our driver and the jeep we were riding in as we explored the area!

The first animals we saw were giraffes eating.IMG_1620IMG_1624

We saw many impalas here.

IMG_1629

We finally got a view of our first black rhinoceros!  Our jeep was very excited!

IMG_1637
This lone rhino was busy eating.

Quite a few baboons were hanging out by a water hole.

IMG_3220
The youngsters are having a good time playing!

A couple of water bucks were nearby.img_1650.jpg

IMG_3226

Look closely below and you can see a sable antelope.IMG_1651

As the sun was getting close to setting we came upon a 2 1/2 year old female rhino and as we were observing her, up walked her mother with her 2 week old male!  They were fun to watch and photograph!

IMG_1654
The 2 1/2 year old female.
IMG_3243
Up walks Mom and her 2 week old son following her.
IMG_1656
Older sister watches her mom with the young rhino.

IMG_1655IMG_1657IMG_1663IMG_1669IMG_1665

We watched a hippo go from the land into the river.

We stopped by the water to have a sunset toast and hor d’oeuvres!

IMG_1693
Our jeep became a cocktail bar!

It was a beautiful sunset!

IMG_1685IMG_1700

After our cocktails, it was dark as we traveled back to the entrance.  Our driver drove with a red light which was the only light around!  You can see below how dark it was as we spotted some water buffalo.  No other lights were around.

IMG_1708

IMG_1715

It was quite an experience!

Day 9 South Africa Adventures

Wednesday, September 19th

Today we were up at 2:30 AM!  It was our earliest start of the trip because we needed to have our luggage on the bus and heading to Cape Town’s airport by 4:00 AM.  We checked in at the airport for about a 2 hour flight to Johannesburg.  Then we had another flight from Johannesburg to Livingstone, Zambia.  When we landed at the airport in Zambia it was a long line to get our entrance visa which cost $50.00 per person.  Once we were through the line and had claimed our luggage we met one of our guides, Duncan.  We boarded smaller buses that took us from the airport, stopped at the Zambia border checkpoint, then drove to the Zimbabwe checkpoint and had to collect our passports a second time.

IMG_1223
Children walking home from school. (Zambia)
IMG_1230
After school hanging with friends on the street corner.
IMG_1225
Villagers walking down the street.
IMG_1240
It’s quite interesting to see a sign earlier that said to watch out for elephants and then a sign leaving the area where elephants cross. We see deer crossing signs in Ohio!

The border crossings were quite interesting to see and experience.

IMG_1248
Our driver said these trucks wait at the borders for up to 3 days to get their papers to cross from Zambia into Zimbabwe and vice versa.
IMG_1252
The first time we needed to worry about mosquitoes!
IMG_1262
Our second border crossing.
IMG_1266
As we were waiting to take our bus through one of the border checkpoints, we saw baboons around!

By the time we arrived at our hotel, The Kingdom, we didn’t have much time before our scheduled sunset cruise.

IMG_1276
Our hotel, The Kingdom, at Victoria Falls.
IMG_1277
The entrance to The Kingdom
IMG_1280
The view from our room.
IMG_1279
The first time we’ve experienced a mosquito net for sleeping.

We had a great time on our sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.  We didn’t realize that we would see wildlife as we cruised down the river.  We saw elephants,

crocodiles,

hippos,

and birds.

It was a relaxing way to end our long day!IMG_1313

IMG_3103

IMG_1335

IMG_1384

Tomorrow we will visit Victoria Falls!