Travels of Bob & Sharon: Part 8 - Livingstone/Victoria Falls

We had read that if you want to experience the 'real' Africa, Zambia is that diamond in the rough, boasting some of the continent's best wildlife parks and shares Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe. Crossing from the border from Botswana to Zambia was an adventure in itself, as you will see by the photo's. It was here at the border that we saw armed soldiers for the first and only time in public places, in our 48 days of travel in Africa. The Chobe River joins the mighty Zambezi at Kazangula, at the border of Zimbabwe and crossing the river by a very short ferry ride into Zambia, we could see four countries at once, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. No doubt in our minds that this was the reason we saw the armed soldiers. Crossing all borders on our trip was made so simple with our guides taking charge with customs and immigration.

As we approached the ferry terminal and customs and immigration to leave Botswana, we passed what seemed like hundreds of transport trucks, lined up on the side of the road. Adam drove past them then asked us to leave the truck and follow him to clear customs. We asked why there were so many trucks lined up and he told us that two of the ferries were currently out of service. The only ferry was so tiny that it would only accommodate one large transport truck and maybe a couple of small cars plus walk-on traffic. Some of the truckers had been waiting for two weeks. Because tourism is important to all of the bordering countries, tourists get to go first. We can't imagine what people were thinking as we swanned on the ferry ahead of all of those who were attempting to keep the economies going, however we did see one trucker lose his temper and threaten to drive onto the ferry anyway. He relented finally when told he would be on the next one.

One of the more interesting loads

Yes, this is a ferry!

Adam, bravely driving onto the dodgy
ramp

He just keeps smiling

Fellow travellers

The Zambian side

Yikes!

The ramps aren't what you'd
call sophisticated.

Sign at the border

Uncertain whether this tire
shredded or the driver was so
frustrated that he chewed it

Waiting and waiting....

Entering Livingstone, Bob grabbed this fun shot.

Not a lot to write about in Livingstone
Markets, markets and more markets

The bridge from Zambia to Zimbabwe. Robert
Mugabe imposed a hefty entrance
fee on Canadians, due to Harper's
sanctions. This is the bridge where
the young female bungee jumper fell to the
river below and survived a couple
of weeks ago

Small part of Victoria Falls

In the wet season, this entire canyon
is overflowing

The best views of the falls are seen
from the Zimbabwe side or....

...from a helicopter

Spectacular, even when at their lowest
levels

Zambezi River and the falls

The mighty Zambezi

Our helicopter

Our pilot

Many prefer to see the falls this way.
Stephan was one of them, however low
clouds prevented him from experiencing
the views from this vantage point

Meanwhile....Adam and Sekesai grabbed
a bit of shade and waited for our return

Along the path to the canyon, baboons
wait and sometimes grab purses

The next day, almost all of us signed up to visit ALERT, the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust park. ALERT was set up in 2006 because it was discovered that lions were not surviving in the bush. This program is among the most successful with the intention of taking small cubs and teaching them (using humans) how to live and survive in a pride. They are led by volunteers and lion specialists, out into the bush. We had a briefing on the organization and how to behave when with these 6 month old cubs and learned that for a few hours, we would become part of the pride as well. An armed scout stayed in the background and it wouldn't surprise me if I learned that he was there to shoot us before he'd ever shoot a lion. After 18 months of age, the lions have no further human contact but are observed, protected and bred. Once they are between two to three years old, have their own pride (cubs) and strong survival skills, they are taken to their very own 10,000 hectares (lions are territorial) where there are no other lion prides, and where, hopefully, they will live long and healthy lives. It was one of the highlights of our trip.