We bunked off school on Friday and got the bus to Livingstone. It's only 350k but it took us 6.5 hrs, which apparantly was quicker than normal. On arrival we made our way to Jane's flat, another VSO volunteer who lives in Livingstone and after a quick refresh, off to the falls.I'm not sure of the value in trying to describe them as I'm not sure I have the words, but I guess to borrow from our American cousins "Awesome" gets you part of the way there. I'll content myself with a few geeky facts: The drop is over 100m, it's 1.8 km long and this is the 8th iteration of the falls. It's starting to get full as it gathers water from the rainy season, hence the enourmas amount of spray, by Easter the spray's so great you can't see the falls.
Jane ever the perfect hostess did us dinner in the evening and then off to "Jolly Boys" Backpackers (I know, what a name!!) for a few cheeky beers before the main event.
Saturday we do the Livingstone Island tour. A speedboat takes you to Livingstone Island, in the middle of the falls and right on the edge (as the picture shows) where you have a swanky lunch and live it up. The highlight is a trip to Devil's pool. This consists of swimming & walking through the Zambezi approximately 30m from the precipice against pretty significant currents until you get to said Pool. The pool is right ont he edge of the falls and has a torrent of water running over it, which on the face of looks like you will simply be swpt over if you jump in, nonetheless that's what we did. Fortunately you don't get swept over the edge and you don't die but suffice to say the adrenaline was pumping as you sit in a pool less than 3ft from the dge of Victoria Falls with the mighty Zambezi gushing over you.
Saturday we do the Livingstone Island tour. A speedboat takes you to Livingstone Island, in the middle of the falls and right on the edge (as the picture shows) where you have a swanky lunch and live it up. The highlight is a trip to Devil's pool. This consists of swimming & walking through the Zambezi approximately 30m from the precipice against pretty significant currents until you get to said Pool. The pool is right ont he edge of the falls and has a torrent of water running over it, which on the face of looks like you will simply be swpt over if you jump in, nonetheless that's what we did. Fortunately you don't get swept over the edge and you don't die but suffice to say the adrenaline was pumping as you sit in a pool less than 3ft from the dge of Victoria Falls with the mighty Zambezi gushing over you.
Then it's back to the Royal Livingstone for Tea & Cake, sundowners etc.
A big night followed in Livingstone culminating in a 5am finish in Chez nTembe a dodgy dance club. Up at 7am because of next door singing Gospel?!?! and then 7hrs back to Lusaka, what a weekend. Gotta go I'm late for my first ever yoga class.
2 comments:
Very envious of Tom's excellent adventure. Have happy memories of time spent along the Zambezi. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Best Madalene (Whitson)
Yoga?
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