Mini trip to Victoria Falls

[lovetravellingoz]

Stayed at the Livingstone a few years ago and just loved it. We really enjoyed sundowners on the deck jutting out over the river.

I am very much looking forward to that

 

[Flying mermaid]

Stayed at the Livingstone a few years ago and just loved it. We really enjoyed sundowners on the deck jutting out over the river.

We were going to do that last night but it rained - the view of the smoke from the falls is amazing. We are having a wonderful time - I need to wait for Mr FM to give me his laptop so I have access to his photos, but so far we have viewed the Falls on the Zambian side and done a trip out to Livingstone Island and a swim in the Angel's pool (OK that is not honest - cowered at the side of the Angel's pool as far away from the edge as we could!).

 

[kpc]

.....trip out to Livingstone Island and a swim in the Angel's pool (OK that is not honest - cowered at the side of the Angel's pool as far away from the edge as we could!).

Devil's pool...I have a picture of me peering over the edge of the Falls...ok, my eyes were closed!! Get on a helicopter ASAP...you get to appreciate how the Falls were created, and every place / thing is put into perspective. ..2.5 years later, I'm feeling very jealous. ..

 

[Flying mermaid]

Devil's pool...I have a picture of me peering over the edge of the Falls...ok, my eyes were closed!! Get on a helicopter ASAP...you get to appreciate how the Falls were created, and every place / thing is put into perspective. ..2.5 years later, I'm feeling very jealous. ..

Devil' pool is closed at this time of year and we were assured Angel's pool was a snap in comparison - with the current running full bore we turned into cowards.......Helicopter booked for tomorrow morning

 

[Flying mermaid]

After checking in we went to the desk to book various activities. Livingstone Island this morning, Cruise this afternoon, Helicopter tomorrow and dinner on the train on Wednesday. Somewhere in there we figured we would have time to walk over to Zimbabwe across the bridge. Prices were quoted in Kwacha and we had no idea of the exchange rate but we figured we could probably afford it so handed over the CC - once again it took numerous attempts to work, but fortunately did in the end.

It was 4pm but we thought we had enough time for a first visit to the falls so walked down. Walked passed the other Sun hotel - it is done in a very African village look and cute metal statues of animals that I am sure kids would like. Didn't actually go into the hotel, but it looked fine, if budget is a bit constrained. We really like the ambience at the Royal Livingstone, particularly all rooms having views of the river. The other hotel didn't look as though it would, but that could be wrong.

We decided not to bother with hiring a poncho as at Niagara we found we got wet anyway. Not sure if that was a mistake or not - we certainly ended up soaked to the skin, but not totally convinced the poncho would have made a difference. The falls are awesome!! and so long - we have only seen a tiny stretch so far and we walked a long way. We walked across the Knife Edge Bridge and some of the teenagers were having fun barefoot surfing back down it. It runs slightly downhill and with a reasonably slippery surface and covered in water they could run a bit and then slide the rest of the way down - with a minimal barrier, a very narrow bridge and a long way down they were scary to watch. At this time of year the water is in full flood and running very fast.

We saw so many rainbows - just beautiful. Apart from the spray it rains sporadically - the spray shoots up, condenses and comes back as rain.

Walking back to our room, we ran into 3 zebra grazing just outside and 2 giraffe and some impala.

Dinner was very pleasant - I had a traditional oxtail which was quite scrumptious.

I now have access to photos but the internet is not cooperating - soon I promise (or maybe not )

 

[Steady]

The falls are awesome!!

Yes, I second that. The chopper ride is amazing - enjoy. My avatar photo is one I took on a sunset cruise that left from where you are staying - very good memories.

 

[Flying mermaid]

This morning was an early start for our Livingstone Island trip. They run all through the day and include a very nice meal afterwards. This is one of the best things we have done. Our guide worked so hard to coax us to the edge, but respected us when we really couldn't. I fully intended to, but the current was so strong and our hand grip is not great these days (one of the negatives of getting old!), and I could just imagine losing a grip on the rope and being swept over. He had no problems running along the edge (literally - it was like watching a horror movie) and taking photos for and of us.

Part of the profit from the trip goes towards building decent accommodation for teachers in rural areas to entice them from the city.

 

[Flying mermaid]

So two days later we are still on a high from our Livingstone Island trip! I would really recommend Reef sandals though. The rocks on the Island can be hard on the feet and generally for the falls are a good idea. My runners are still trying to dry out from our first day.

Later in the morning we followed a sign to a Barclays Bank. It is just outside the hotel on the Zambezi Sun side and there was an ATM that worked so cash was replenished. The ATM fee was 5K which is a bit under a $1.

On our way back we walked through the Zambezi Sun. Would be great if you had young children as it has a terrific pool with a shallow end. Generally Royal Livingstone has a much quieter more peaceful ambience. The animals roam freely and can be found at either hotel. There are 15 zebra and 4 giraffe as well as impala and monkeys.

The rooms at Royal Livingstone are in blocks of 10, 4 upstairs, 4 downstairs and 2 corner rooms. The corner rooms don't have better view just more space. Each block comes with a butler, who will take care of things for you. e.g. when we came back from breakfast he asked what time we wanted our room done. Everyone is very friendly and keen to see you enjoying yourself.

Photos

Pool at Zambezi Sun

one of the inner courtyards at Royal Livingstone

Zebras outside ou room.

 

[sergeyvzn]

So two days later we are still on a high from our Livingstone Island trip! I would really recommend Reef sandals though. The rocks on the Island can be hard on the feet and generally for the falls are a good idea. My runners are still trying to dry out from our first day.

Later in the morning we followed a sign to a Barclays Bank. It is just outside the hotel on the Zambezi Sun side and there was an ATM that worked so cash was replenished. The ATM fee was 5K which is a bit under a $1.

On our way back we walked through the Zambezi Sun. Would be great if you had young children as it has a terrific pool with a shallow end. Generally Royal Livingstone has a much quieter more peaceful ambience. The animals roam freely and can be found at either hotel. There are 15 zebra and 4 giraffe as well as impala and monkeys.

Photos

Pool at Zambezi Sun

one of the inner courtyards at Royal Livingstone

I've got most wonderful memories of the Zambezi sun pool - the 4 giraffes are residents, there's a fence around the park so they are pretty much trapped there. We also did a Zambezi sunset cruise and it was the highlight of the trip! Enjoy!

 

[LadyC]

Enjoying the TR - definitely on the bucket list

 

[Flying mermaid]

Monday night we had booked a sunset cruise on the African Queen. After our exertions on Livingstone Island it was rather nice to sit in some comfy chairs, drink wine, have a few snacks and look at the beautiful Zambezi. We saw plenty of Hippopotami and birds. The sunset was quite disappointing as the cloud cover was quite heavy. We made friends with an interesting couple from Adelaide who were doing some volunteer work. There were a large number of boats on the river, all pretty much doing what we were

 

[Flying mermaid]

Tuesday morning was supposed to be our helicopter trip, but the weather was pretty awful and it was moved to the afternoon. We decided to fill the time by walking over to Zimbabwe. Given how wet we got the first time we decided to wear swimmers and sandals and take a plastic bag to safeguard the passports. The border crossing was pretty easy, but bring a pen as no pens to use at the Zimbabwe post and a form to fill in. Fortunately I managed to scrounge one off an official sitting at a desk.

The view from the bridge was beautiful Bungee jumping takes place here as well. Young men sell curios all the way from a bit before the Zambian post to the curio market on the Zimbabwe side. I think the all attend a fa_in training school as they all have the same spiel. Generally offer a helpful hint of some sort, then where are you from. Then you get Aussie, Aussie Oi Oi, usually followed by a conversation on kangaroos, then what do you do? which allows them to tell you they are an artist and show you whatever is it that they are selling. One guy, Paddy, was a little more interesting - he had memorised all the Aus Prime Ministers going back to Barton. I am a bit of a soft touch and bought a few things. Everyone was very pleasant, although pushy. One guy when I told him I had already bought a beaded elephant, pretty much told me I was lying - I promptly produced it from my plastic bag, which really disappointed him. He asked how much I had paid and then said hopefully that he could sell me one much cheaper We avoided the curio market, given the feedback on here.

Zimbabwe is a lot more run down looking than Zambia. Even the bridge is nicely painted until you get to Zimbabwe then it is brown and rusted looking,

Saw lots of baboons around the border point on the Zimbabwe side - raiding the bins for food.

The Devil's cataract was great - so much power as the water poured down it and into the gorge. Some of the falls were hard to see as there was so much spray - we were glad of our swimmers. I think at this time of year no real need to come over to the Zimbabwe side, although we were glad we did as the Devil's cataract was interesting.

Photos

Top of Devil's Cataract

Baboons around the Zimbabwe border post

Bottom of Devil's cataract going into the gorge

 

[Flying mermaid]

In the afternoon the weather cleared enough for the helicopter ride to happen. There were four of us in a small helicopter. One sit next to the pilot and then 3 behind. The other couple noticed I didn't have a camera and asked if minded sitting in the middle as it had a more restricted view for photography. I was fine for that and in fact I saw perfectly. I thought Mr FM would grab the seat next to the pilot but he let the other guy have it and told me later that he thought it would be nicer to sit next to me. So I now know I am more important than his camera.

We really enjoyed the trip - as others have said it really enables you to put the falls in context. We took the long flight which goes down the gorge on the Zambian side where the white water rafting happens. The helicopter goes really low and it was fun. The short trip would give you everything you need in terms of seeing the falls themselves. We finished with a quick sweep over the national park to try and pick up some animals and saw about 12 elephants.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Im doing the microlight flight over the falls next Saturday. Not sure how ill go cause the is no business class..... Im staying on the Zimbabwe side. Be aware that if you go into Zambia then you may not get back into South Africa unless you have a yellow fever certificate. I had to get the shot just to cross over to Zambia for the microflight or i wouldn't have been allowed back into South Africa for the remainder of my holiday.

​

Definitely do not need a yellow fever certificate at the moment.....

 

[amaroo]

Enjoying the TR - excellent photos.

Must make time and visit this continent!

 

[Flying mermaid]

Enjoying the TR - excellent photos.

Must make time and visit this continent!

It is quite seductive - the people in all the countries we have visited have been really friendly and of course the animals are beautiful. We are back in September to go to a wedding and have booked 6 nights in Botswana. There are more photos to come but Mr FM is hogging his laptop......

 

[Flying mermaid]

We finally had an evening where we could sit on the sunset deck and enjoy the view. Afterwards we had dinner at the hotel. Beautifully presented food, but enjoyable rather than fine dining. Not expensive though.

 

[Flying mermaid]

For our final day we decided to go back to the falls on the Zambian side. When you enter if you turn right you get really close to the falls and go across the knife edge bridge. Turning left takes you along a trail which gets very close to the bridge going over to Zimbabwe. Some excellent distance views of the falls and the gorge which takes the river downstream.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We also came across a troop of baboons who live in the National Park - we stepped off the path and let them have it. The babies were particularly cute.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We then took the path to Boiling Pot - you climb down into the gorge. It was a reasonably steep descent, but a good path and a railing most of the way. It is still very quiet at that time of year. April and May is more the season when the river is full. We were able to sit on the rocks at the bottom and enjoy the water and rain forrest all on our own. You can book an activity which takes you on inflatable rafts from that point to the bottom of the falls but we didn't know about it until too late to book.

On leaving the park we drew some more money (I think I got my conversion a bit wrong previously - the ATM fee was $4.5 which is more normal) and then went tot the curio market to buy a wooden elephant. We went to shop 33 where we were told how to bargain (he obviously felt tourists needed education in this art). The guy from the shop next door hassled us a bit to come in and look at his shop too, but after we said firmly that we had bought all we wanted, he left us alone.

Photo of shop 33 and the sellers.

View from Boiling Pot