Monday, May 4, 2009

Drenched - and delighted

Two things on our MUST SEE list in Africa - Victoria Falls and a game park.

In three days we did them both - and experienced a robbery as well.

We left Chikankata early in the morning and arrived at Livingstone early afternoon. Our place to stay "WILLMA GUEST HOUSE - Haven of Peace". Beth had thoughts of childhood, I wondered if they had misnamed the place. How can place that carries your mother-in-law's name be a haven of peace? (Sorry Wilma!)

For about 3 hours that afternoon we wandered around Victoria Falls - absolutely amazing and spectacular. Paul and Sarah had visited in a September, and were a little disappointed with the amount of water flowing over the falls. We visited just after the wet, and could not see the falls from Knife Edge Bridge, less that 50 metres in front of the falls. There was too much spray coming up from the bottom - 108 metres below us. Two ponchos were needed to keep you sort of dry as you crossed the bridge. We ended up very wet, but it was worth it.

Later that day we sat for an hour in the police station at Livingstone reporting a theft. Pictures of the falls at dusk are great and we stopped on our way back to town for a different view. These snaps were expensive as four bags were very quickly stolen from an unattended car. How long did it take? We reckon that less that two minutes from stepping out of the car to spotting the thieves at far side of the vehicle. We would have been within about 10-15 metres at the time. The chase was on, but age and local knowledge were on their side.
We should have known better, but it was a brief stop for some picture taking, and we were not as careful as was needed. At the police station the first comment was "That is a bad area for thieves!". We know!

As for the pics, there are lots....but when I can get a few more to upload they will appear.

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