[UPDATE 1/10/11 8:30 A.M. EST - There is a twitter account (possibly) established by Safari Par Excellence. Follow them at @SafParZambia Their name has been in the news, attached to the accident, but they book all kinds of African Tours, don't operate any of them. I think if they had a Facebook and Twitter account ahead of time, they could have minimized the press they are getting. A lesson to all companies out there - if you don't engage in social media, you'll regret it later when you need it.]
I’ve always wanted to fly in a helicopter. It’s been on my adventure list for a long time. But to shell out $130 for 15-minutes of airtime… well it better be for something spectacular. Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, has dozens of lookout points that offer breathtaking views. But to truly complete your experience, you need to see it from above.
I’ve eaten a lot. If we make some gross generalities, 3 meals/day x 365 days/year x 29 years = 31,775 meals. That’s a lot of food. Only a few of those meals really stand out in my mind.
Having lunch at the Victoria Falls Hotel in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is one of them.
The Victoria Falls Hotel was built in 1904. It’s located just over the Zambia/ Zimbabwe border – a 10 minute walk. The hotel is 5-stars and very luxurious, a rarity in the depressing Country of Zimbabwe. I was a bit hesitant to have lunch here. I assumed the prices would be ridiculous and with the devaluation of currency, who knows what I could expect.
[Update 1/8/12 - There was an accident at this Bungee Jump a few days ago. Here's my opinion on it and extreme sports in general.]
Should I Bungee Jump from Victoria Falls?
That’s the question I asked myself over and over again.
That gorge is a long way down! 111 meters to be exact (364 feet).
Bungee Jumping has always been on My Adventure List. There are lots of places one can go bungee jumping in the world. But the ONLY place you should consider doing it is Victoria Falls. Except for one thing, it’s incredibly terrifying to think about it, look at it and make the decision to sign the legal paperwork to do it.
The additional $30 Visa into Zimbabwe and the $30 Park Entrance Fee to see the falls in Zim may be enough to scare you away from spending the cash to see more of water falling down a cliff. But it would be a mistake not to. You’ve made it this far into Africa, so donate those dollars to Mugabe and tick this adventure off your adventure list. Otherwise, you’ll regret not having done so when you return home. Here’s what you can look forward to in this YouTube video.
I’ll be honest, I was hesitant to enter Zimbabwe. Let’s face it, Zimbabwe hasn’t earned any awards recently for: Best Example by a World Leader, Most Stable Currency or 365 Days With No Government Corruption. So it was with some trepidation and excitement that I decided to cross the border for the day to see Victoria Falls. I was traveling alone, knew very little about what to expect and am sure many of you may be in the same situation. So here’s some tips on what to expect when crossing the border on the Victoria Falls Bridge from Zambia to Zimbabwe.
This is a difficult question. In most of my travel experience, I always say bring little cash since credit cards are generally widely accepted. But in Zambia, U.S. Dollars seemed to be the preferred form of payment; Even over the Zambian currency, The Kwacha. I never saw the Kwacha if that tells you anything. But it’s about 5,000 Kwacha for 1 U.S. Dollar.
If you’re considering making a trip to Victoria Falls, one of the first questions you’ll need to ask yourself is, “Which side of the falls should I visit? Zambia or Zimbabwe?” Your decision will naturally impact which airport you fly into: Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
I chose to fly into Zambia. The recent instability in Zimbabwe’s political and economic fronts was enough for me to avoid spending my nights there. But no worries, taking a day-trip into the neighboring country to see the falls from the other side is easy, albeit a bit pricey.
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