More from the Falls

Given how much we managed to do in Livingstone and the fun we had, here are few more photos including the delicious selection of desserts from high tea at the Royal Livingstone.

Treats and cruising in Livingstone

To put it mildly our time in Livingstone was busy and anything that we did I would happily do again, and hopefully Mum, Dad and Tom would say the same. It all kicked off with Mum’s birthday on 16th which was celebrated in style with all of us being soaked by the spray from Victoria Falls as we crossed the Knife Edge Bridge; fun though the pictures in wet clothes may not be too flattering! We relaxed, got fat and bloated enjoying high tea at the Royal Livingstone. For the record Dad beat us all in eating the highest number of savouries and sweets. We continued the eating by going on the Lady Livingstone boat for a cruise along the Zambezi river, which from the top deck involved minimal effort with tasty cocktails, a few courses of canapés, watching the sun go down in one direction and then turning around to see a full moon rise over the Falls. We also spotted a few animals - crocodiles and hippos. Despite a few reservations Mum (with Dad and I too) was persuaded that she should climb on board a helicopter for an aerial tour of the Falls, which was spectacular. Tom took a different flying route and went on a microlight, flying lower and closer to the water.

More time at the Falls

An opportunity to visit the Falls should never be passed up as it always seems different.  On this occasion the Falls was particularly noisy, violent almost, with the amount of water flowing over the top where a couple of months ago we walked over it and spray covering anyone who tried to get close.  A number of us volunteers travelled down to Livingstone for a goodbye party for Emily who came out to Zambia a year ago; we even sat next to each other on the plane from Heathrow.  Her placement was only for one year and suddenly that time has just disappeared.  So despite a late night of eating, drinking and playing silly, funny games we still managed to squeeze in a short trip to the Falls.  If you like the look of it as much as I do then come and see for yourself sometime.

Back to the Falls

I had not been to Livingstone for months and the contrast from my previous visit to the mighty Victoria Falls could not have been greater; much less of the might now. There was barely a trickle (I exaggerate slightly) of water flowing over the Falls, which meant that it was now possible to walk over the top of the Falls. There was little more that a few puddles of water where once was, and soon will be again, a torrent of water. The Falls still remains impressive because of the size of it but being soaked by the spray is much more enjoyable.

The Falls

The intention was to hit the road and escape Mazabuka but this proved more difficult than it should have been as I spent over four hours waiting for a bus to Livingstone and then four turned up all at once. Emily, the VSO volunteer who I was visiting in Livingstone, was kind enough to let me in when I eventually arrived in the early hours of Saturday morning. It was all worth it to catch my first glimpse of Victoria Falls and to get soaked by all the spray coming off the Falls.

The local name for the Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders) and it certainly does not disappoint. Depending on when you visit – either during the wet or dry seasons – your experience of the Falls will be very different, and also the views differ on the Zimbabwe and Zambian sides. Some quick stats on this stunning natural wonder – it is 1.7km wide, 108m high (Angel Falls in Venezuela is around 7 (!) times higher) and has an annual average flow of one million litres per second. During the rainy season (March to May) the flow can be ten times higher. I think that I will be back a few times to see how it changes and also to sample the numerous adrenaline filled activities – white water rafting to the flying fox.