VICTORIA FALLS, DAY 1
Horseback safari in Zimbabwe. Check into Vic Fall Hotel which is the place to stay if you are going to visit. There are much better hotels slightly further out but none that ticks as many boxes as this one.
GUARDS AROUND THE HOTEL WITH GUNS
WHERE IS ZIMBABWE?
VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL
It’s a stunning colonial building is dramatically situated at the edge of the second gorge and beside the Victoria falls bridge. It was opened in 1904 to accommodate passengers from the Cape to Cairo railway line, a project that was delayed for decades and then effectively abandoned!
Zimbabwe Border
HORSEBACK SAFARI
As we arrived early afternoon we had signed up for a horseback safari and in hindsight was almost a waste of time. The landscape was bleak, there were no other animals and the boss lady was rude to her staff.
HISTORY
Zimbabweans haven’t had the easiest time of it in recent history. It’s tourism used to flourish and Zimbabwe was the place the go if you were looking for a safari destination. Then along came Mugabe and basically turned the either country to its knees. I have a lot of sympathy for the locals here as education is almost none existent and opportunities scarce!
THE MUGABE EFFECT
Anyway, we made the most out of it as we normally do and heading back to the hotel for a much needed rest. Considering we were within walking distance to Vic Falls I was shocked at how quiet it was and could only put that down to the lasting effects of the Mugabe regime. It wasn’t last long ago where Zimbabwe was the safari capital of the world.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In hindsight it wasn’t the thing to do but as we were arriving in the afternoon we didn’t have a lot of options which means that it was ever so slightly better than doing nothing!
NEXT UP
The most insane White Water Rafting in the world, with a broken nose, cracked rib and a saved life all in our boat. Click to read
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
123/229
This post is part of the Southern Africa Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
