Which way to Zimbabwe?

We purchase double entry visas at the border crossing into Zimbabwe. We need one now for Zimbabwe and will need another in a few days to get into Botswana as well. With visa's in hand and passports stamped, we have crossed the border into Zimbabwe and the welcoming committee is here to greet us!

It feels like a different Africa in this country. The sands are richer, the landscape... flatter, the air..dryer....more "in the bush" feel.

We also receive a big welcome at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. It looks like a beautiful place, thatched roof, large treehouse design overlooking a watering hole where the animals come to drink. Not that all of our accommodations weren't beautiful ... but... I'm loving this!

A sundowner cruise on the Zambezi River is just what the Dr. ordered....with wine and hors d oeuvers, of course:

We are here to see the falls...which side? The Zim side or the Zam side? Well, we understand the Zim side is beautiful and to get to Zambia takes a bit of doing...so, the Zim side it is. "Vic Falls" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The falls are over a mile wide and 351 feet high. This makes them one-and-a-half times as wide and twice as high as Niagara Falls. It is said that you can see Victoria Falls from space....(I'll let you know, a trip to outer space is on my bucket list too!) We are provided with rain gear..."you'll need it"...they say, and with my shower-capped camera, I am ready!

We are soaked, even with the rain gear.

The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge is part of a conservation program called "Vulture Culture". At 1:00 everyday, the restaurant at the lodge puts meat out to feed the vultures in order to maintain the balance of the cycle of life in the area and beyond..if possible. Between poaching (which is a huge problem in Africa) and poisoning of the vultures and other "varments", one thing affects the other and disrupts the natural balance. Restaurants, hotels and other conservation groups are trying to aid in the fight for conservation. It's a wonderful thing. Through an experience such as this, people can be educated and once that spreads....well, hopefully, only good can become of that. Take a look:

The death of Cecil, the lion, made headline news. We are going to a lion encounter to walk with lions at the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust. This is the area where Cecil lived and was killed by a person on a hunting expedition. Hunting and poaching is an ongoing problem in the bush and animals are hunted and killed for sport with no thought to wildlife conservation at all. Efforts are being made now and with the growing tourism, education and funding is key in helping these animals survive. Would recommend this experience to everyone...amazing.....

Off to Boma tonight for an African BBQ and some drumming lessons! I'm ready to go!

It's been a fun-filled day...and the good news is...we get to sleep in a little tomorrow...7:00 a.m. wakeup...and, it's not over yet! Elephant riding tomorrow and then onto Chobe in Botswana for a few more safari's!

www.lionalert.org
www.africanlionand environmentalresearchtrust.org