Falls, Falls, Falls

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Very busy day.  Started off with breakfast and then Brillan, our driver, at 9am to be taken over to Zimbabwe to see the Falls from the other side.  A lot of bureaucracy leaving one country and entering another.  When we got into Zimbabwe, we were passed over to Edmore, our guide for the morning.

Edmore was very personable and led through the trail with lots of stories and facts.

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to view Victoria Falls on 16 November 1855, from what is now known as Livingstone Island, one of two land masses in the middle of the river, immediately upstream from the falls near the Zambian shore. Livingstone named his discovery in honour of Queen Victoria of Britain, but the indigenous Lozi language name, Mosi-oa-Tunya—"The Smoke That Thunders"—continues in common usage as well. The World Heritage List officially recognizes both names. Livingstone also cites an older name, Seongo or Chongwe, which means "The Place of the Rainbow" as a result of the constant spray.

The walk took us through the various look-out spots.  The Devil's Cataract is a very impressive sight. Here the water falls all year.  The main falls are a sheet of water flowing over the basalt rock.  There are two falls that are large enough to divide the curtain of water even at full flood - Cataract Island and Livingstone Island, where Livingstone first saw the falls. After he named the falls after the queen, she in turn named the island after Livingstone. We were
able to spot the natural pool where they take tourists to swim at the edge of the falls.  We looked into doing this Danger Zone - aptly named.  One bad slip and adios!  This overlooks the Boiling Pot which is reached from the Zambia side.

We seemed to be fairly lucky today with the sprays.  We didn't get nearly as wet as we did yesterday - and we were armed with ponchos, umbrellas, booties and who knows what else. Edmore also said that we were pretty lucky to see those rainbows yesterday.  It doesn't always happen.  Of course, the odds are better at Rainbow Falls than anywhere else but it still is not a regular thing. Plus the fact that not only was it not dry but sometimes it can be too much water and all you see is mist.  I'm really glad we decided to go when we did.

Back in the car and back through customs. Brillan was on the other side waiting for us.  She let us off before the Victoria Falls bridge so that we could walk across.  More photos.  You really can't stop shooting.  The train came while we were on the bridge to add another little thrill.  Not sure why - but seeing trains pass is always exciting.  We got back in the car drove back to the resort. 

As we entered the resort, a pair of giraffes were on the road to  greet us.  Geoff and I got out of the car and walked along with them.  So cool. It was getting hot, so we fixed a picnic lunch from last night's leftovers and headed for the pool.  Had about two hours rest before it was time for the next activity. The helicopter.

Brillan picked us up at 2:45 to take us to the chopper folks.  What a to-do with the "boarding passes".  We were the only ones going on the flight which only held three passengers.  We gave our passes to at least four people until the pilot finally got them.  Why couldn't we just hand it to him?  Oh well, we had a private flight which lasted exactly 22 minutes.  WOW!! We did three trips around the falls.  But even better than that was when he aimed for the gorge.  We were flying right down into it the white water, banking around the turns -- very exhilarating. The pilot explained the history of the gorges and the falls.

The recent geological history of Victoria Falls can be seen in the form of the gorge below the falls. The basalt plateau over which the Zambezi River flows has many large cracks filled with weaker sandstone. The largest cracks run roughly east to west, with smaller north-south cracks connecting them. The falls have been receding up stream over the last 100 000 years, eroding the sandstone-filled cracks to form the zig-zag chasms which are called the Batoka gorges. The present river’s course in the vicinity of the falls is north to south, and therefore opens up the large east-west crack across its full width, then cuts back through a short north-south crack to the next east-west one.

Past sites of the falls are the Second to Fifth and the Songwe Gorge representing where they fell into one long straight chasm as they do now. Their sizes indicate that the waterfall will one day be wider than the present day waterfall.

The waterfall has already started cutting back the next one, at the one side of the Devil’s Cataract. This a large east-north-east line of weakness across the river, and that is where the next full width falls will form.

Another shutter happy moment on this trip of awesome wonders.   I have tried my best to edit the photos down but it is so incredibly hard.  They are all so remarkably beautiful. So put on your ponchos and enjoy the show.

Brillan was on the ground to meet us and take us back to the hotel.  Clive will be picking us up for dinner tonight.  Going to try some local African establishment.  If the menu doesn't suit, Ocean Basket is across the street!

Clive showed up in bus towing a trailer.  Apparently, he was on his way back from some adventure and picked us up on the way. He dropped us at Cafe Zambezi.  There were enough vegetarian options that we decided to stay.  The front of the place looks like a real dive but when you further back, it is has a lot of atmosphere.  There was a local group playing music that added to the atmosphere.  Not only were the portions huge but they were extremely cheap.  Far too much food and again tonight we walked through reception with take away bags.  Lunch tomorrow.  Along the drive to the restaurant, I spotted a Jewish Museum.  Clive promises to stop there tomorrow after our morning activity.  He dropped us off and will pick us up tomorrow morning.  Nighty, night

CLICK HERE: TODAY'S PHOTO ALBUM

Next time.... Game Drive/Rhino Walk