Victoria Falls!

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.” ~ Ernest Livingston

Africa. What do you think when you hear that word? Maybe you think of safaris and the Lion King. Maybe you think of starving children and unclean water. Maybe you think of the abundance of mineral wealth and poor economies. Maybe you think of Kony 2012, bombings in Somalia, conflict over oil-rich lands and political turmoil. But maybe, just maybe, if you have been reading my blogs long enough, you think of friendly people, tremendous beauty, storied histories and happy adventures.

My most recent adventure to Victoria Falls reinforced all the positive thoughts I have of Africa. After an uneventful flight from Joburg to Livingston, Zambia, my travel companions (Trevor, Katie from Joburg, Bilas from Lusaka, Jess and Jimmy from Port Elizabeth) and I were picked up airport and taken to Jolly Boys Backpackers. On the way, our friendly driver played some lively Zam Pop (music) and gave us a brief tour of Livingston. He pointed out the kilometer-long strip where we could exchange US dollars for Kwache on the black market (and warned us to be careful of counterfeit bills). He showed us the good nightlife spots. And he gave us some safety and bargaining tips. 

The Chill Zone at our backpackers.

No sooner had we reached Jolly Boys than Katie, Trevor and I set out for the Falls. They were breath taking!

Our first view of the Falls.

The bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Panoramic of part of the Falls.

Rainbow!

Walking down to the Boiling Point - where the Falls spill.

The Boiling Point

Back to the top to watch the sunset.

Top of the Falls at sunset.

Check out all the mist that forms as the Falls billow over the top!

T, Katie and I at the top!

We spent a couple of hours getting soaked as we explored the different pathways around the top of the falls. We made some new friends – two Zambian locals who followed us where ever we went – and probably only saw about a quarter of the falls. They really are that massive! 

While at the Falls we also had the chance to stop at a local market. After eight months in Africa I feel pretty comfortable in these markets in which nothing has a set price and where every vendor “just wants to show” me something. But talking to these vendors is always cool; I like hearing where they are from, where they got their goods, how they made them and stories about their families. The most interesting thing about this market was that I found I could trade my own belongings for some of their goods. I got offers to trade my bag for “anything you want,” my sunglasses for two head statues and even my hair tie for “some very nice coppers - any piece you want.”

The group at dinner.

After exploring the Falls and the market it was time to head back to town. We met up with the rest of our group, had dinner at a Mexican restaurant (we were all amazed to find a Mexican restaurant in Africa) and hung out at Jolly Boys.  It was a perfect first day of vacation and as I went to sleep that night I couldn’t help but agree with Mr. Livingston – it’s hard to imagine a morning in Africa where I will not wake up happy.