Botswana & Zimbabwe

GOING FOR THE RECORD PUNCTURE NUMBER 6

Botswana Smile

We crossed into Botswana and headed for Kasane in the North east of Botswana. We did not plan to spend much time in Botswana as we had visited Botswana on our Cape to Cairo trip but we did want to entry Zimbabwe through the Kazungula border. The journey would take us 3 days to reach the border post.

We drove into Marang Campsite situated in Francistown (great campsite) and went in to register for camping. When we returned to the cruiser we heard this horrible yet familiar hissing sound and we knew we now had our 6th puncture since our arrival in Africa 24 days ago. We had done only about 2000km so we were averaging a puncture every 500km; this has to be a record for any overlander. On our Cape Town to Cairo journey of 8 months, 32,000km we had 3 punctures we are now making up for all the punctures we did not get in East Africa. Ah well, this is Africa and sh.t happens!

Victoria Falls

JOURNEY INTO ZIMBABWE - HEAVEN

Today we ventured into Zimbabwe. After lots of paperwork for visas and permits to bring in a vehicle and insurances we were at last back in Zimbabwe. It is 37 years since we first visited Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and we could not wait to witness this truly amazing world natural wonder once again. It did not disappoint it was just magnificent as ever. I had the perfect day, the thunderous roar of the falls, a mist that swallows one up, birds chattering, monkeys playing in the trees, baboons strolling down the path with us and warthogs wandering in between and a view that awes one. We left to drive to see a large baobab tree and were treated to 15 elephants on the road.

We met several Zimbabweans, we laughed and chatted with them, they wanted to know if we have “tourists in Canada” and when I told them we did they were curious as to what tourists came to see, and asked me “Do you have elephants in Canada?”

Chilly MorningI tried to explain the Rocky Mountains but trying to explain a mountain to some one who has never seen one is quite a challenge. I did not even venture to try and explain snow or even worse skiing.

In the evening we were treated to some singers and they even sang my favourite African song, they were thrilled when I bought their CD and so was I. This was truly a heavenly day. We will be back, hopefully next time with our children.

AN ELEPHANT NAMED JANET

We were driving along when I spotted several elephants just off the roadside. So we stopped and were greeted by several men who were with the elephants. We jumped out the car and walked up to the elephants. The elephants were part of a herd of elephants that are trained to take tourists for a ride into game parks. Elephants are my favourite animals I cannot get enough of them. To be able to be as close as to touch them was wonderful.

Clever but a Rascal

I had never touched an African elephant and to be able to stroke the elephant was fantastic. I actually got to feed one elephant who searched my hand for food with its trunk and then like a huge vacuum the food was sucked up. My hand covered with the moisture from the trunk had the smell of a warm puppy; an elephant even smell wonderful.

We were enjoying being amongst these truly amazing animals when Richard the owner arrived. We introduced ourselves and he invited us to come the following morning to watch them being trained.

The following morning we were met by Richard and headed to watch the elephants being trained. They were fantastic, following word commands they gently made their way around. I spotted one elephant who seemed to have a mind of her own. “Her name is Janet” Richard informed us, “she is very clever but a stubborn rascal,” Tom burst out laughing and said, “That sounds like my wife.” I finally got to meet my namesake in Africa.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We had tea and scones with jam and cream at the Victoria Falls Hotel, an old colonial hotel, bustling with rich tourists. It is filled with memories of days past and remains as it was in the days of British rule, elegant and grand. It runs at between 80-100% occupancy. But the other hotels in Victoria Falls average 20% occupancy and stand beautiful maintained waiting for the day when sanity is restored to this beautiful country. Insert Pic Victoria Falls Hotel. The locals waiting patiently for the elections next year, hoping for a change of rule and for their lives to be begin to return to some normality of living. Should tourists return to Zimbabwe now? Absolutely it is a beautiful country and the Zimbabweans friendly and helpful. To truly enjoy the magnificence of the Victoria Falls one must see if from the Zimbabwean side and stay to watch the sun dip behind the spray and turn the heavens into glorious shades of red.