2015/2016 Three Continent Tour: April 18 Happy Independence Day Zimbabwe

It was also an early start today, but I had a delightful breakfast with my friends from Minnesota- a married couple also on our tour. Then after leaving the tent ( thank goodness!) I stored my things at reception at the campground, and was picked up by Wild Horizons and taken to the Lookout Cafe. Sounds blah but the view was totally stunning. I have never seen the Falls from this location and this place was not in Zim when I was there. Close by I could see the Gorge swing ( very expensive) where you swing out over the gorge and they pull you back up to the top. I took pics of people doing the flying fox, a kind of zip line where you fly out into space over the gorge. My activity was the canopy tour. The guides helped me put on all the equipment, and I went out with two other folk from Zim. There were 9 zip lines across the canopy of the gorge. I have lots of pics that the guides took for me. It was excellent to see the gorge from a different and closer perspective. Much of the time we were against the cliff face on stairs to zip to the opposite face into the trees and lianas. At one point we crawled on the boardwalk through the treetops. One more look at the stunning view looking back at the Falls and the bridge, I left. The African lawnmowers were still at it. Although I have seen many warthogs in the wild, and yes, they ARE dangerous so don't get too close, I have never been this close. They were munching the lawn, many were on their knees...about 8 or so of them, quite happy to be close to us. What a treat!! The guy drove me to the Zim border, and I walked for a while to the bridge and then walked across. More fantastic pics. The Falls are in full spate right now, and it was lovely to see. The curio vendors attach themselves to you as you go, constantly trying to see you wooden animals. The curios are lovely. At the other side of the bridge( no man's land) I was in Zambia but did not officially enter at the border post but walked back to Zim. I passed the bungy jumping place on the bridge and back to the Zim border where the guide was waiting for me. He took me back to the campground where I visited with the Minnesota couple by the pool. The campground was full of monkeys( vervet) and many many mongeese. I took pics of the mongoose, who scampered around, happy to be with the monkeys. I have a pic of a monkey hiding under the pool recliners, and one eating fries that he must have stolen!!

At that point I said goodbye to Richard ( our guide) who brought his little daughter and teenage son with him. He was a great guide and fellow Zimbabwean. I also said goodbye to Gibson who was the lead guide and just a super guy. Then I walked with all my luggage to N1 the hotel nearby to enjoy some luxury of clean sheets, air con. I got sidelined on the way by a marimba group playing and singing and dancing. I joined them, put down my luggage and danced. They shouted MUKIWA which means a white boy in Zimbabwe. Great pics. Then settled into the hotel to freshen up, relax and get the blog up to date....takes time!! I went out for supper, and found it quite safe, chatting to the locals with whom I am very comfortable, as I can speak some Shona, and they love to hear you speak their language. I have more than the hello goodbye but it is still basic. They tell me that elephants actually come into the town of Vic Falls, about September. Thanks for checking in. I leave for Harare tomorrow. Although it was a public holiday there were no celebrations for Independence day but I did see a guy walk by draped in the Zim flag.