Victoria Falls
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As we made our way to Victoria Falls, I thought of my experience in visiting Iguazu Falls in South America. The falls were quite beautiful, but we basically walked around, took some photos, and left, and I expected my experience at Victoria Falls to be similar. Although impressive enough as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls is also an adventure haven for young people. As soon as we arrived, we were taken to the Drifters Inn and shown a video of adventure activities we might want to attempt. Some of the options were canoe trips, elephant rides, and microlights over the falls, but by far, the two most popular choices were bungi jumping from the Zambezi Bridge and white water rafting on the Zambezi River. Most of the group planned to do the white water rafting, the most dangerous commercial run in the world, and a few signed up for the bungi jump, one of the highest commercial jumps in the world. As for myself, I never professed to be an athlete or even particularly adventurous, but I wanted to do something. I had caught the spirit, that "I'll probably never be here again in my life so I better do it while I have the opportunity" spirit. But as much as I wanted to partake in an activity, I needed reassurance, so I turned to Chris, the guide and said, "Now you know me, the one who was afraid of a domestic cat. Do you think I should do it?" Obviously, he had serious doubts, but he said, "Look, if you fall in, I'll make sure you get back in the boat," and with that, I paid my seventy dollars and, in my mind, put my life in his hands. |
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That night, we took what is advertised as a "Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi," but has been fondly labeled the "Booze Cruise" by its previous participants. At sunset, we boarded a flat-bottomed, covered boat, where we were served champagne, beer, or cocktails and hors d'oeuvres as we floated among the hippo on the Zambezi River. Afterward, we were taken to a Mongolian stir-fry restaurant to enjoy, amongst other meats, ostrich in a very spicy peri-peri sauce. The thirty-five and up crowd really enjoyed this optional excursion while the younger crowd enjoyed the bungi jump and then a sojourn to one of the Vic Fall night clubs. After dinner, I decided to turn in early since I knew I would need all the strength that I could muster for my white water rafting adventure.
Photos from Shearwater Home Page: http://africanadrenalin.co.za/shearwater/she_main.htm Bungi Jumping From Zambezi Bridge
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