A Walk to Zambia

Today I didn’t have anything planned when I woke up, so I took it easy and went down for breakfast around 9 AM. Afterward, I did a little research and found out there were some shopping areas in town I hadn’t known about, off the main drag. So I headed out for a leisurely walk and did some browsing.

I’m really glad I went, because I found an actual artisan who carves wood and bone. All the souvenirs I’d bought so far had been basically touristy things. He had made an elephant carving that caught my eye, and I purchased it. Then I walked back to the hotel to drop it off and rest for a bit.

I’d also booked an excursion in Zambia for 2:45. So after resting, I set out on foot again to walk to Zambia. The Zimbabwe/Zambia border actually runs right down the middle of the Zambezi River, so walking across the bridge takes you into Zambia. I could’ve taken a taxi, but how often do you get to walk from one country to another?

The total walk from the hotel to the Zambian immigration checkpoint was about 2½ miles. It’s interesting because the bridge sits in kind of a no man’s land. Before the bridge is the station to check out of Zimbabwe, and well on the other side is the station to enter Zambia. I’m not sure who has any authority over that stretch between the two. It was a fairly easy walk, and I passed some tourists doing the same thing. A few guys tried to sell me things, but none of them gave me too hard a time.

Just 50 yards past the Zambian immigration station is the Victoria Falls park on the Zambian side. I purchased a ticket to go in and see a part of the falls I hadn’t gotten to see on my walk the other day. I also stopped for a hamburger at the little restaurant near the entrance.

This is the river just before it goes over the falls on the left.

At 2:45 I walked back to the border station to meet the company picking me up for the excursion I’d booked that morning. I decided to go out with a bang and take a 30-minute microlight flight over the falls and the river.

After waiting at the border for a few minutes and after the designated time had passed, I still hadn’t found the driver that was supposed to pick me up. I started to get a little worried so I found one of the border agents and asked him if he could help me. His name was Danial, and he was absolutely the most helpful person of the day. He walked me all around, looking for my ride and even allowed me to connect to his hotspot to try to call them. I couldn’t believe how nice and helpful he was. I tipped him and had to take a picture with him. I should say that he is representative of most of the people in this area. I’ve actually stopped a few locals to ask directions or for information and they always gladly help me.

So after Daniel had asked around, we finally did find my driver and I was on my way. It was a short 10 minute drive to the location where I would take my flight.

Anton, a pilot for 27 years, was my pilot and guide for the flight. It was exhilarating, and the views of the falls, the river, the gorge and canyon, and the upper river were amazing. We also flew over buffalo, elephant, giraffe, and rhino, and I even spotted some birds I hadn’t seen yet, including the marabou stork.

There was a camera mounted on the wing that recorded the whole flight. They’ll email me a link within 48 hours, and I’ll definitely upload a video once I get it.

After the flight I got shuttled back to the border, and this time I took a taxi from border station to border station. I then walked back to my hotel after getting back into Zimbabwe.

While having my cocktail, Ruvimbo — my guest relations specialist at the hotel, informed me that I was to receive a small bottle of sparkling wine as a going away gift tonight. Instead of taking it, I gifted it to her. She has been helpful the whole stay.

This morning I was talking to my breakfast waiter and asking him about things that people do for fun, I mean locals. After we chatted a bit, he asked me if I would like to meet him in town this evening so he could show me around. He didn’t have to ask me twice. I was excited to get to do some things with a local — and it’s my last night in Africa. 

We met at a local restaurant that had some live music and we had some drinks and had dinner. The music was fantastic. He told me about growing up in Zimbabwe and local stuff. It was a really fantastic night. We had a good time. We met some other people and the lady in this picture was the lead singer of the band that was playing. It was a really great night to end the trip.