One last adventure in Zimbabwe...from Kariba to Victoria falls

We couldn't possibly leave Zimbabwe without visiting Victoria falls: 

A) because Brad is there, and 

B) because it is spectacular (and pumping after an amazing rainy season)

So we set off on, what turned out to be, a rather eventful road trip. Some awesomely generous friends offered for us to use their minivan that they were about to sell... so we ended up having the full 'Zimbabwean road trip experience'...which wouldn't be complete without car trouble!

I mean there are worse places in the world to be stranded, that's for sure! We made it to Antelope Park in Gweru on day 1, and when we tried to start the car after checking in there was no response. In true Zimbo style, they called in a local mechanic to come and check it out. While we were waiting for him to fix the alternator we went to feed the elephants, paddled on the river and the kids went for horse rides. We decided to push on to Bulawayo so that if we had any more issues we could get help there.

We made it in once piece and had a lovely afternoon with my primary school bestie Kim, and then spent the evening with my cousin Scott and (Emmy and baby Nora) which was also awesome.

The next morning we set off for Hwange...after an hour or so we smelt burning so we pulled over and my handy engineer found the source - the back right shock had rusted off completely and was rubbing against the tyre. He phoned the friend who's car it was and he told us to just pull it off and carry on.

My nerves were rather shot by this stage. I mean I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but this was not so much fun! Every time we hit a bump (which, in Zim, is roughly every 2,35 seconds) the whole car did a Mexican wave. And that's not even the potholes. We had to stop before entering the unavoidable potholes.

We made it to Iganyana safely which was a huge relief. The staff there was so incredibly friendly and hospitable and we were about the only ones there. The food was amazing, and so fancy and delicious. It was a very welcome relief after the stress of the day! 

We had planned to carry on to the falls the next day, but my blood pressure was still coming down...so we decided to stay for an extra night and explore the national park that brought back so many childhood memories for me. We also had intel that Jess and Mitch would be coming to Iganyana that night so figured it would be fun to see them, and for the kids to see each other too.

These little cousins had an absolute blast together and played sweet games until it was bedtime. I cant believe we are the adult generation now, it feels like just the other day that I was playing endless games with my cousins.

The drive to Vic falls was uneventful which was a relief. It was lovely to finally see Brad. He has a very special place in my heart and has brought me so much joy in my life. I may be biased, but this guy is an absolute gem of a human and since the day he was born he has radiated kindness. 

It was an absolute treat to spend some time with him at his lodge...and I was blown away by what he has achieved since he finished school. He stayed with us for a few months while he was trying to figure out what he wanted to study and then everything just came together for him when he discovered Stenden University. He knew it was where he wanted to be.

He finished his degree at the top of his class and graduated Cum Laude.

He did an internship on the Zambian side of the falls and while he was doing that he made a few contacts on the Zim side. Just before lockdown he moved over to Zim to help manage a lodge there. The guy who got him the job saw how competent he is and handed it over to him to run on his own.

He worked tirelessly to improve things and made incredible changes to the place. He fixed up the garden himself and made it into a beautiful jungle paradise. He had the bar area made out of repurposed materials to conserve the budget. He knew just what to do to make it feel comfortable and smart. The rooms were neat and clean with lovely crisp bedding and new beds. He managed to make the lodge profitable even through covid!

He has grown into such a capable and confident young man with very special qualities. He is a natural leader and entrepreneur and is going to be hugely successful because he is so driven and passionate.  

We had such fun exploring the falls with our own personal tour guide! It was very special to experience this with my husband and kids in the way that I remember experiencing it when I was a kid. 

The beautiful falls doesn't need words to describe its magnificence. It should be on everyone's bucket list for sure!

Brad had arranged massages for us at his lodge, and after Tim had been for his massage Louie disappeared. I walked around to find him and heard voices coming from the treatment room...only to find him getting a foot massage!

Lily followed suit!

The buffalo.

Since we visited Zim in 2012 and Tim saw a buffalo carving that friends of ours had, he has been looking for his perfect buffalo. He finally found it and was beaming like a kid on Christmas day for weeks.

We went to visit the croc farm and watched the vulture feeding. There is a vulture feeding program to keep the vultures in a safe area. The poachers have started to poison vultures because they give away their location so the aim of the feeding scheme is to monitor them. They don't feed them much at all but it is a measure of conserving them and great to see.

The crystal clear pool was too tempting and the boys loved jumping off the cliff into the stunning water.

Would a visit to the falls be complete without some kind of adrenaline activity? I think not. Tim and I did the gorge swing together and I don't know which was worse: watching my daughter standing on her chair to watch us from the other side of the cliff, while big cousin Brad was focusing on getting the perfect shot!!! Or walking the plank over the cliff myself! NERVES SHOT! I also didn't expect the downwards plunge, I thought it was a SWING. 

Needless to say Tim has decided that he never wants to ever do any crazy activity with me ever again. Oh well. Lily said she wanted a turn next so I'll just have to wait a few years.