Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side)

  Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Thursday, January 12, 2006

Deciding to go to Zimbabwe was a VERY last minute decision - we didn't want to support Mr Mugabe or his policies by giving him our tourist (and visa) dollars, but at the same time we had heard that the view of Victoria Falls from the Zim side was NOT to be missed. So we compromised - we decided to go for one day only and to spend the minimum amount of money.

Off across the border we headed, as usual walking and hitching where we could.


We arrived late afternoon, negotiated a discount on our hostel, and headed down to the falls. We arrived to find, shock and horror, that the entrance fee was a lofty US$20 each. It was only $10 from the Zambia side so we put up a fight and cajouled and flirted with the guards to no affect. I had already seen the falls from the microflight earlier that morning so decided that I didn't need to see the falls again for $20. So I stayed outside chatting to the guards while Kirsty went in. Apparantely our cajouling did work, because 10 minutes later the guards called me over to tell me that they had decided to let me in for free! (see, with a bit of hard work EVERY price in Africa is negotiable!)

Literally jumping with joy I set off down the path at a run in search of Kirsty. It didn't take long to find her - the wet Ozzie stood out in her wet t-shirt (gasp!) at the edge of the falls. We celebrated our victory against bureacracy together and walked the kilometre or so along the path around the falls, getting wetter and wetter. The view was spectacular - it WAS much better from the Zim side!


We went back to the hostel, changed US$30... and got a handful of notes to the value of Zim$2.6 million!! Inflation is something ridiculous like 10,000% at the moment. The rumours are that the devaluation of the zim dollar have made Mr Mugabe's personal fortune increase by 60,000% and he is now the 3rd richest man in the world. Not sure of the truth of the rumours, but one thing is sure - the Zim economy is screwed!


Politics aside, the Zimbabwean people we met were some of the nicest people we have encounted in our African journey - laid back and just...cool! Loads of rasta types, and the men are utterly GORGEOUS.

That night we chatted to the guys at the hostel and watched a local group performing. I am glad we made it to Zim!