4 Days of Magic in Victoria Falls

by Sally-Anne
(Johannesburg)

It was my husband's 50th and as there was nothing he wanted as a gift, I decided to give him a surprise trip with his family to the Victoria Falls. It was a memory which will stay with us forever. We flew to Livingstone and caught our first view of the Falls from the air. No amount of reading can prepare one for the majesty of the falls - they brought tears to my eyes. We were then transferred across to Zimbabwe, another treat driving across the bridge and seeing the "smoke that thunders". The Kingdom Hotel was perfect for us as a family - the staff were friendly, the rooms well equipped with everything we needed, the beds comfortable and the location so convenient. It was an easy walk into the town of Victoria which has all the basics including a Spar well stocked with anything one might need. The falls are only about 500 meters from the hotel and one can hear the roar from the hotel room.

We did our own tour of the falls and found it very well marked. The falls tell their own story. The volume of water crashing over the edge and the drenching from the spray was awe-inspiring. We were literally soaked to the skin. I feel extremely privileged to have witnessed such a sight.

Boo and Tony were such a great help in recommending suitable activities for us as a family and then making the necessary arrangements for us. One of their suggestions was a 1/2 day canoeing trip. It was wonderful. We were fetched by a superb team from Shearwater and driven up the Zambezi where we launched our dinghies. My husband nearly stayed in the truck when he heard the safety talk about the threat of hippos and crocodiles, but was extremely glad afterwards he had not missed out on the magic of seeing the falls from the otherside! We saw elephants, giraffe, hippos and a fish eagle as we glided down the banks of the Zambezi. We waved to many booze cruises, but were glad to be in the canoe! To be out there on the water, with the sun setting, and the glow across the mighty expanse of water and the smoke of the falls ahead - another amazing adventure.

We also participated in a tour of the bridge - it was fascinating. To understand the difficulties that were encountered in building the bridge which has been standing, constantly wet, for over 100 years gave us all a new appreciation of the engineering excellence. Standing under the bridge, hearing the excited screams of the bungee jumpers, seeing the boiling pot frothing below us and the double rainbows which make a circle underneath the bridge - it was wonderful.

The highlight for our sons was the gorge swing. Wild Horizons have a beautiful venue up the gorge where my husband did the zipline across the gorge and the boys the gorge swing. Definitely not for the faint-hearted! But an experience not to be missed, so they tell me.