Semester Vac: Botswana, Zambia, and Zim (Second Half)

After we left the Delta, we continued traveling to Planet Boabab, a game lodge in Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. Of course, we were forced to slow down on the way due to giraffe and elephant crossings. Hello Africa. Then, to make things even more TIA, we suddenly realized our tire was completely stripped when we lost the entire rubber cylinder on the road behind us. While we waited on the side of the road, village people appeared out of the bush asking for our shoes. It was straight out of a movie. Planet Boabab ended up having an amazing pool and, between the hours of sitting on a truck and the fact that we were finally in close proximity to proper toilets, we went mental. We had belly flopping competitions, chicken fights, and many interesting picture moments. After a shower and dinner of vegetable stew and mielie pap, a stiff corn meal mix and staple food of a South African diet, we all went to the bar and then fell deep asleep.

The next day we crossed the border into Zambia, a rather painless process that simply involved a lot of sitting in the shade talking about life. We arrived at camp with time to get lunch and take a short swim. Then we were off to a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa and at one point touches the banks of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. We waved to Namibia from our Zambian bank. Our cruise was filled with sightings of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeests, exotic birds, monkeys, and impalas and plenty of good laughs from the back of the boat. The sunset itself was breathtaking.

We took a game drive in Chobe National Park at sunrise the next morning and hopped back in the truck to head to Victoria Falls, the largest falls in the world (with a width of 5,604 feet and a height of 354 feet, and considered by some to be among the seven natural wonders of the world. David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer said to be the first European to view the falls, named them after his Queen Victoria. We visited the falls from the Zambia side that first late afternoon, and, upon sighting the water itself (you can hear it from miles away) we were surrounded by an unbelievably thick mist. At first, I was determined that it had suddenly started heavily raining, until I realized that the mist would clear in certain areas of the path farther from the falls. From Zambia, one can actually see very little of the falls themselves, but the experience of being there allows you to better comprehend the mass and power of the water that is falling and subsequently rising in the depths below. It was the most naturally powerful thing I’ve ever seen.

The next day, we all split off to tackle our own agendas, and, naturally, a good group of us decided to purchase an all-day adventure package. The first activity was a 54-meter abseil down fifth gorge. The second activity is the high-wire zip line over a 100-meter gorge. The third activity is the rap jump, a face down abseil down the 54-meter rock face. The fourth event is the gorge swing (the world’s first). It can be seen in the Amazing Race. The free fall is over 50 meters before the rope swings you at 120km per hour across the gorge. Unlike a bungee jump, which, to me, feels a bit like flying, the gorge swing literally feels as though you have simply stepped off a cliff to your death far down below. Luckily the free fall is over in a matter of a few seconds. In the case of a tandem swing, you must lean off backwards to avoid being off timing with each other. With a full day package, you can do each activity as many times as you’d like, but the catch lies in the ascent to the top after the abseils and gorge swings; It is definitely a hike. Thus, the day turned into free falling and running up hiking trails and continuing until they called it quits. I managed to complete the abseil, zip line, rap jump, and 4 gorge swings which all left me with a fine adrenaline rush and an excess of endorphins for the day. We slept well.

The next day we left early to get across the border into Zimbabwe. Because we were on foot, we were unable to really explore the area, but, luckily, the view of Victoria Falls is very close to the border. From there you can actually see the falls from afar in all of their glory. The sight is truly phenomenal and very worth the trip. Plus, it was fun to say we simply strolled across the Zimbabwean border. The guard at the gate didn’t even check that we had all received passport stamps because he said, “There are too many of you. Just go.” We visited a good’s market after the falls which was eye-opening and overwhelming. The vendors gladly accepted anything American, including hair ties, soap, bobby pins, clothing (even shirts off of our backs), shoes…anything. It was a different world and I felt somewhat like Justin Bieber in a crowd of over-crazed teenage girls. We spent the rest of the scorching day by the pool, while I tried to finish my book (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- so good!), but fell prey to sleep.

At 4:15 the entirety of our truck and the second truck we had been adventuring in parallel with boarded a sunset cruise on the river. Just to give you an idea, most have coined it the “booze cruise”. It was a jol; everything laughing and recounting the incredible week, together, at sunset, on a boat, in Zambia. When the boat docked at 7 pm, we all immediately ran to the auditorium to begin a dance party with music that was all-too familiar (think YMCA on repeat). It was certainly a site to be had. Most were in bed that night around 9 pm. The next morning we woke up, packed our things, and headed home. It was then that I realized what a home Cape Town really is. The trip left us with great memories, even better photos, and a good lot of new friends who we get to share the next two months with in Cape Town. I was grateful to shower and sleep in my own bed that night.