So, on my way home, I decided to make a pitstop to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Let’s get into it.

Day 1

I was dropped from N/aan Ku Se to the airport before hopping on a little jet plane to Zimbabwe. I was collected from the airport and brought to my cute little hotel, which had the most stunning room for me. It was a far cry from the tents I’ve been sleeping in so it felt like a nice little treat after the month. 

On my first night, I booked a sunset cruise on the Zambezi river, which separates Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It was stunning, with all inclusive drinks and canapés. I sat back and relaxed for the two hour journey, regularly seeing elephants and hippos enjoying the water. Hippos are suspiciously cute with their little ears, considering they kill the most humans among all animals in Africa. The whole evening was so easy and relaxing and just the right thing to do on my first evening. It was a stunning sunset as well, before the clouds rolled in…

We docked the boat just in time as a big thunderstorm rolled in. The thunderstorms in Harnas were pretty bad, but the thunder and lightning here was genuinely terrifying. I made it to the hotel, but we were delayed at the boats and the hotel restaurant was now closed, and nowhere was doing delivery, so I tried to just sleep as quickly `as I could to avoid thinking of the hunger. However, I was woken several times from loud claps of thunder.

Day 2

I woke up to light rain and finally a bit of silence, but I wasn’t hopeful for the day ahead as it was giving more thunderstorms. Nevertheless, I got up early to devour as much breakfast as I could (I was worried I wouldn’t get to eat again today) and got myself ready for my VF tour. I was picked up by my guide and joined by two couples also doing the tour, both of whom were celebrating their honeymoon. Safe to say I was an odd one out. But they were both lovely. We set out on our walking tour through the VF Rainforest park, which runs directly across from the falls and very much has a jungle feel to it. We were convinced it was pouring rain but it really was just the spray coming off from the falls. We walked the length of the cliff, though half of the falls are currently dried up. However, last night marked the first rain of the season so it’s expected that these falls will fill right up and run for the whole length of the cliff. Regardless of it being dry season, it was still so mad to see the falls. The sheer sound and volume of water tumbling down that narrow gorge is so impressive and hard to describe. How people willingly go to the Devil’s Pool (a little pool just at the edge of the falls where people can ‘swim’ – but someone has to hold your legs to make sure you don’t go over) blows my mind. The speed and rockiness of the falls also seem very violent, and it makes sense why it claims so many elephants each year.

After our tour, we grabbed lunch at a lovely restaurant along the Zambezi river. It then became evident that our helicopter ride would not be taking place as the weather was showing no signs of clearing up. We were offered either a refund or a rescheduling. I took the rescheduled option as I had a tiny bit of time in the morning before my flight departed. Phew! The short remainder of my rainy afternoon was spent packing in order to avoid it the following morning. And yes, I did also have dinner that night, so regardless of the changed plans, I still had a pretty good day.

Day 3

I woke up early, stuffed myself with breakfast again, and prepared for my helicopter ride, and it did not disappoint. 

Firstly, a helicopter is so nice to fly in. It was so much smoother than I had expected and because we each had a window seat, the views were completely uninterrupted and constant. As the Falls fall down a very narrow gorge, the helicopter ride offered far better of a view of the scale of the falls than the walking tour did as we got a much better sense of the scale of them. I can’t imagine what it’s like during high water season, but I am determined to go back.

I was then dropped to the airport, and here I am a couple of hours later in JoBurg, waiting for my connecting flight home.

I have been so soppy this past week because of two reasons: 1) I am so sad to be going home. 2) I can’t believe how much I got to experience and see. The first three weeks felt so ‘normal’. Because we were on quite a regimented schedule, I felt like my brain immediately switched into the ‘everyday, get on with it’ mode of working, and so seeing all these animals just felt so regular for some bizarre reason. It’s really only in the past week that it’s hit me. That I’m here, Southern Africa, seeing animals I’ve only seen on a screen, surrounded by amazing people, all in the most beautiful landscape. Again, sorry for the soppiness, but I just can’t believe it! There is so much more I want to see, and I am already making plans for my next trip to Africa…

I must sign off now, my flight is boarding.

Until next time Africa, you’ve been a hoot.

Rawr