Early breakfast followed by an informative walk through the woods with a local guide.
No animals but plenty of medicinal uses for various plants and trees. How [the heck] do you find out that
heating then squeezing the juice out of Mother-in-law's tongue into your ear cures ear-ache?
Back through Namibia (in transit) and Botswana (in transit) via the lodge company to pay for the beers. It seems I drank eleven beers last night! Some accounting error, surely? Back out from Botswana ("Toyota Country") and into Zimbabwe, Helen and I without a hitch. A final food-in-the-bin run through the borders. Fell asleep for most of the 70km to "Vic Falls."
Vic Falls is a two road town but we were given a stern warning not to travel on foot at night -- not because of crime but because the Drifters Inn is on the edge of a national park and elephant, buffalo and leopard roam the streets at night!
We put our bags away and watched a presentation by Shearwater[s] who do adventure activities in the Falls. Helen and I have chosen a full day white water rafting tomorrow and a morning elephant ride on Monday. We skip the 9th rapid [on the Zambezi] as it is not only a "[grade] 6" but commercial suicide. Being sensible with money stops me bungee jumping 111m.
We get into town to get money. 55 is the official dollar exchange rate but you can exchange at a bureau for 650! Food and drink seem to be roughly one fifth that of England [at the 650 exchange rate]. A walk down to the curio market and a lot of "special prices" later we return to the Inn for a shower, swim and off for a night on the town. We were met [at the Inn] by Billy the warthog running around.
To the Kingdom Hotel for dinner. The Kingdom is like and oasis of Western luxury amidst the poverty of Africa. Well, you'd think you were at a decent pizza or steak house with a casino in the middle. The gents urinals were curiously filled with ice. I assume they didn't use it to restock the bar. ZA$2000 (USD90) for 18 people to stuff their faces -- seems OK. A couple of the guys had a quick gamble before we retired early to be ready for rafting.
Drifters Inn, Vic Falls S17.92211 E25.83084 Elev. 934m.
Copyright 2002 Ian Fitchet. All rights reserved.