What an amazing shot of the hippos going into the water! It is very rare to see them on land.
We had a close encounter with a hippo just off our cabin deck (within 3-4 feet of me when I noticed it) in Zambia - it was very scary - so much so that I didn't even snap a picture, we just turned and ran back into our cabin and called the desk for an escort to breakfast!
I miss being in Africa. It is an experience we will re-live (hopefully) every summer from now on.
Don't you love passport control there? We had our visa "expedited" because I had US cash to pay the fee. It took MUCH longer for those using a credit card.
I agree with you about the airport being a bit disconcerting at first. It had a very different feel than both Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Seeing your pictures of the Victoria Falls Hotel brings back such great memories!!
Oh I love the hotel decor. Adventurer's Club decor is right up my alley. I'm so glad you are posting about your post trip since it will likely be exactly what I wind up doing when we do visit VF after our South Africa ABD down the line. Awesome pictures as always!
"Yet, there's more!" More wonderful pictures. Eagerly waiting for more. Thanks.
Wow! Wonderful. That hotel looks like something out of a movie! Very cool! Looking forward to you actually seeing the Falls!
Sayhello
I"m so glad you're posting about the VF part of your trip too! Now I want to do ABD and VF...
I'm curious what it was like when you went. I'm sure it's significantly more touristy now which is not a bad thing yet. They've created quite a hospitality industry with lots of hotels and restaurants. It's still very 3rd world, but it has these pockets of a reasonably healthy tourist economy. VF Hotel was full. Bars and restaurants at the hotel were usually busy. I got this awesome book on the history of the hotel. I haven't made it to the end where they discuss the hotel after the year 2000, but I'm curious how everything was like when you went.
Judging from your pictures, the hotel looks very similar now to the way it looked in 2001. I can't really remember how crowded the hotel was, but my recollection is not all that crowded. 2001 was right around the time the farming disputes were becoming an issue, but we never felt unsafe. I agree it was strange to see the portraits of Mugabe everywhere.
I finally got to the Yrs 2002-2015 in my book on the history of the hotel. Sounds like everything hit the fan in 2002 and declined until about 2008 because of what was going on in the country. Things got so bad their fence was stollen for the metal, and they had a problem with large animals on the lawn which didn't help their declining guest attendance. In 2008 inflation started getting so bad they had to change the prices on the menus hourly. They staff's pay became worthless. They didn't officially stop using the Zim $ until 2015 when $1 US = $35,000,000,000,000,000 Zim.. That's 35 quadrillion dollars.
WOW!! Your photos are just amazing! What an incredible place! Sounds like you did it right! I still can't believe you did that Zip Line! I'm not sure I'd've had the nerve!
Sayhello
@Cousin Orville, I said it before and will say it again, thanks for letting me live vicariously through your experiences. Your pictures are fantastic! The zip line looks awesome!
I love this report! Thank you so much for doing it, and I'm already looking forward to your China trip report. If I ever do this trip, I will definitely be contacting you for your post trip information. I'd love to replicate!
P.S. I looked back through the posts but I could have missed it ... how many adventurers were on your ABD?
Once again, your pictures are bringing back great memories. Totally agree that a helicopter ride over the Falls is a must. I think it would be hard to get a true sense of the vast length/scale of the Falls without seeing them from above. Can't wait to share this experience with my kids at some point.
Dd REALLY REALLY wanted to do the zip line, but after hearing about the bungee cord snapping (on the bridge over the gorge) on the AU tourist a few years ago I decided there was no way I was going to do it. Now if I hadn't heard about the broken cord (and watched the YouTube video) I probably would've gone for it! Luckily the girl was a very strong swimmer and she was able to get out of the water (albeit a few miles down the river) to safety. I am not sure how many people would've survived that.
Love your pictures! Great TR.
I often thought of Zambia would be safer and more stable but sounds like you felt ok in Zimbabwe and going thru their airport.