Waterfalls, White Water and Wildlife in Zambia
Trip Start
Mar 30, 2008
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135
144
Trip End
Mar 31, 2009
Livingstone,
Zambia
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday 24th February - Day 6 Zambia, Livingstone, Waterfront, Zambezi River (80km)
The plan today was to get across the border as quickly as possible to allow as much time in Livingstone as possible to relax and plan our activities. Therefore we all decided to skip breakfast and get on the road at 6am, which we all managed to do. We left Botswana easily and managed to beat the other Acacia truck to the border crossing. There though we had to wait as it was a ferry that takes us across the Chobe River and into Zambia. While waiting for the ferry to come across the river first the other Acacia truck and then a huge coach pushed their way to the front. When the ferry finally arrived we were lucky and Blessed only just squeezed our truck on. We were determined not to be last to the entry point to Zambia after being so wronged so when the rickety ferry docked we all legged it to the visa office
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. Unfortunately Fiona did not so again the other truck beat us and we had to wait for all of their visas to be issued before ours.After this shenanigans we simply had to drive the 80kms to Livingstone and on route some of the girls prepared breakfast for us. Before we knew it we had passed through Livingstone and stopped to get some money out before pulling up on a huge camping complex on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. It was a beautiful place to stay and after a short time to settle in we went to our activities briefing. With a DVD the lady wet our appetites for microlighting, helicopter flights, bungee jumping, gorge swinging, and of course our favourite white water rafting which we signed up there and then for. It came with a discounted evening boat cruise.
We spent the remainder of the day chatting and relaxing by the pool.
Wednesday 25th February - Day 7 Waterfront, White Water Rafting & Sunset Cruise on Zambezi
This morning we all gathered in the meeting house for our very comprehensive briefing about the white water rafting
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. The guide covered what to do if we were tossed from the raft like dolls and found ourselves alone in the rapids as a 'long swimmer'. He also covered the worst case scenario of an upturned raft with all 8 occupants in the water. "There are three rules" he said. "Rule 1, Dont Panic, Rule 2 Dont Panic and Rule 3 Dont Panic!" Easier said than done. We were then kitted up with lifejackets, helmets and paddles and loaded into the busses and pick ups. We passed through two traditional villages on the way and could see the steam in the distance from Victoria Falls. Arriving at the entry point we met our guide for the day. Marvyn was the first aid expert and would be looking after the six of us. We were really happy that we were in a boat with our special little gang: Francesca and Chris, Sarah C and Sarah R and the two of us. We had a group photo and made our way down the steep hillside to the river assisted by hand made wooden ladders, it took a while.
After being introduced to our raft we all clambered aboard and were greeted by a trainee called Monde who was coming along with Marvyn. Our raft was different to most as it had a spinal board strapped onto the back and it was clear that Marvyn was highly prepared and trained to assist with any medical emergency on the river, we were in safe hands and had picked a good boat
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. So confidently we left the shore and entered the rapids. We were to do rapids 10 - 25 as 1 - 10 were closed due to dangerously high water levels.Each rapid had its own name and varied from grade 2 to grade 5, grade 6 being a waterfall! The first few warmed us up nicely and the scenery of steep sided gorges was beautiful, very green with the occasional waterfall trickling down. Then we hit rapid 16 the first grade 5, it was immense. We ploughed into a steep rolling wave on our side the boat lurched over to above 90 degrees to the vertical. We were sure it going to be our first capsize, but amazing it flipped back the right way up, less one person. Sarah R was in the water and we were in the middle of tumultuous waters. I rushed across and Marvyn and I dragged her back in by her lifejacket, she looked very pleased to be back in the boat with us.
All the way down the rapids I was filming clips with the waterproof camera and Monde and Marvyn were keeping our team spirits up with chants of our team name, Lakke Matakaya, Lovely Tigerfish! At the end of the rapids there was a cable car to take us back up the steep sided gorge, it took 7 minutes to do this. Marvyn and I opted to run up the gorge side on a path carved into it. The record for this is 6 ½ minutes by Marvyn
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. I set off running behind him and for 2/3 of the route I was just behind although we had slowed to a fast walking pace. Feeling my chest and lungs burning in the midday heat I could only watch as Marvyn pulled away. However as i neared the top I saw that I had beaten the first cable car up. In the old days, before cable car tourists have been known to take over an hour, I was at the top in 7 ½ minutes and greeted the others with a cold beer in hand.The rafting was an expensive activity, but for sure was worth every second we had a great day and cant wait to feel how sore our legs will be tomorrow!
In the evening we jumped on a tour boat that took us upstream from the Waterfront with a drink all you can bar on board. We had the most devine evening with great friends, great food and free wine. Life doesnt get much better. As it was Jacinta's birthday we had all chipped in to buy her a birthday cake. After the boat ride we all had a few more drinks in the bar together, wishing that tomorrow we didnt have to part company.
Thursday 26th February - Day 8 Waterfront, Admin day
Today was another admin day, until at 6pm we met our new travelling companions for the next 21 days and our new truck, 'Songwe' driven by Zack with Amy being our guide
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. It seems to be nice group and we are relieved that Zack and Amy seem both professional and easy to get on with. We felt for our friends we said goodbye to who may now be on the road with 'Schultz' one of Hitlers generals.Friday 27th February - Day 9 Waterfront, Raining under Victoria Falls
After a short run I found myself at the microlighting school so watched a few take off and landings. Would have been nice to have flown over the falls, but way above our budget as we are eeking out our remaining funds now. So I ran back to the Waterfront to meet Clare for breakfast.
Fed and watered we jumped onto Songwe, also known now as the Devastator by our new group who are convinced it is a Transformer! We were heading for Mosi-oa-Tunya 'The Smoke that Thunders' or more commonly known as Victoria Falls. David Livingstone when he first saw it in 1855 wrote of it 'on sights as beautiful as this, angels in their flight must have gazed'.
We were not disappointed, the sheer power of 550,000 cubic metres per minute of Zambezi River pouring over the edge and down between 90 and 107 metres was spectacular
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. We walked along the path opposite the falls and over a bridge onto Livingstone island. The falls are 1708 metres wide and plunge into Batoka Gorge, which also forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. There were plenty of times when the mist and rain from the huge falls was so strong you could barely see the waterfall and sometimes the updraft was even carrying this water to the sky like upside down rain.After drenching ourselves for about and hour and taking photos with the waterproof camera we went back to the car park to meet the truck. Before leaving we bartered for a wooden bowl from the many stalls there. They are all saying that there is not enough tourists to buy their goods and keep their families fed, but unfortunately we cant buy much as we are the wrong end of the buying scale.
After this we headed back to the Waterfront to prep for our departure tomorrow.
Comments
Water and wildlife in Zambia
So glad you are both having another fantastic section to your global adventure.
Sounds absolutely wonderful.
Don't forget to take care out there.
lol
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