Victoria Falls, ZW Day 3

Day 03 – Sunday, October 4, 2009 - Johannesburg/Fly to Victoria Falls/Walking Tour of Victoria Falls

Our morning was not rushed, even though this is a travel day, the flight was in the late morning. We woke up at 6:45 and looked out to a cool, rainy day. What a difference from the drought the previous days have seen!

Repacking our luggage is always a jigsaw puzzle. Gennie thinks that dirty clothes are heavier than clean ones – we really have not bought too many things, so it must be in organization….

We had breakfast with Beth, Phil, Ellen and Stewart and then made one more check of the room before we left for the airport at 9:00.

It was just a few minutes drive to the airport so Armand took us in the hotel van. We all thanked him for his hospitality again – this was a very nice overnight stay and an accommodation that OAT should definitely keep on their list!

Arriving at the Johannesburg Airport at 9:15, we met Adeline who assisted us in checking our luggage with British Airways. We really appreciated her help on this leg of our journey.

There was only one security check point making the departure process very easy. We had plenty of time to look around. Our first stop was a sports shop where we looked at all of the FIFA World Cup 2010 souvenirs.

Gennie found a book store and bought a book. Avoiding the many Out of Africa shops, we found our gate in this huge and very modern airport. Jo’Burg will be ready to welcome all of the Soccer Fans in June and July of 2010!

When the agents called our flight at 11:00, we boarded a shuttle bus that took us on to the tarmac to our British Airways B737-300. It was another full flight but it was only 90 minutes to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Our visas for Zimbabwe were already in our passports but we did have to wait in line a bit. There were actually two lines; one to purchase visas and another for pre-purchased. However, there was a large group from Japan who were waiting to buy visas and they were standing in both lines slowing down the process.

By the time we had our passports stamped, Stewart and Ellen had collected all of the bags and we were ready to go through the exit – no customs at all at this small airport!

Our OAT Trip Leader, Reason met us at the Arrival Gate and took us to our huge 22 passenger bus with a trailer on the back for the luggage. It was a very short ride to our hotel, the Ilala Lodge, as we passed through Zambezi National Park.

The town of Victoria Falls is very small, only 60,000 and tourism is the main occupation. However, unemployment in Zimbabwe is almost 75%. There is much poverty and many teachers, doctors, and other professionals have left the country.

We met for lunch on the patio of our hotel; a delightful location where we could see the mist from the Falls in the distance. The temperature was 80 degrees and the humidity was 68%.

The hotel has many amenities including free internet and laundry. With all of our dirty clothes, we certainly appreciate the services!

At 4:00 Reason took us on an orientation trip to the Falls. He left the bus in the parking lot and we walked around the rim of the Zimbabwe side, seeing Zambia on the other side of the gorge.

Reason started with a talk at a large map so we could see the trails and lookout points. There are five main cataracts, but because it is the dry season, the water in the Zambezi River is low.

When the Falls are full, 5,500 cubic meters of water flow over the cliffs every minute. Now it is only 500. But the good thing is when the Falls are full, there is so much mist, one cannot take photographs. We came at a great time!

By 6:15 we reached the park exit, the sun was setting and we were drenched with the humidity and the mist. Reason drove us back to the Lodge where we had time to shower and then we met for dinner at 7:30.

Eating dinner on the deck of the hotel with a full moon and seeing the mist of the Falls in the background was a spectacular ending to the day!

We came back to the room at 9:00 to write the journal and look through the photos. As tired as we were, we were very happy to have had the opportunity to get some exercise and walk today!

Accommodations: Ilala Lodge - - - Meal: B, L, D

Please see our Trip Evaluation -- Click Here -- A Complete Review of Overseas Adventure Travel's -- Post-Trip: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

If you wish to travel with OAT Click Here.

To receive $50 per person off your first reservation with OAT, mention the following information when reserving your Overseas Adventure Travel Trip: Mr. Victor Garcia Customer #673062

Nice picture of the two of you at Victoria Falls

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