The two days in Botswana were without Wi-Fi so I posted to a document and pasted to the blog when we finally got internet access here in Victoria Falls.
Monday started with a 6:00 Am game drive. Chuck felt well and we were off with Spencer our Ranger of the Day. Just as we arrived in the park, the word came that lions had been sighted. We followed the other vehicles down the road and turned off. In a distance, we could see four lions on the side of a hill. Needed binoculars to really see them. Other vehicles arrived and maneuvered around us until we were last in line. Eventually the lions got up and started up the hill, moved slowly along parallel to the road and then stopped not 10 feet from our vehicle. A foolish fellow in another vehicle stood up to get a picture and the guides all yelled at him. As long as you are sitting down, the lion perceives the vehicle and its passengers as one. When you stand up, you are moving prey. Then the lioness crossed behind us, as did the her two 2 year olds and one young male. They wrestled playfully and then headed up the hill. It was exhilarating. Drove on --saw some elephants, impalas, baboons. Stopped for coffee and tea. Also a bush break (If you have to GO, there is the bush.) Decided that we would try to find buffalo and zebra. Drove a long way on a little-used road. Finally saw a herd of sable antelope. They are beautiful animals with very long, dangerous horns. Although they are brown, their young were the color of a lion. Received more word about lions. Found them. They had just finished a kill somewhere because they had blood around their mouths. We watched the three of them for a while. The elephants on the hillside watched them, too. Started back to the lodge. Hurriedly ate breakfast, finished packing, and got on the bus for our hour plus ride to Victoria Falls. Reversed the passport stops of leaving Botswana and entering Zimbabwe.
Arrived at Victoria Falls Hotel. This is a very old historic hotel --reminds one of Mackinaw Island or the National Park Hotels built early in the 20th century. Ate lunch on the veranda and changed. Drove to Victoria Falls. We were issued ponchos, but told that we would get wet anyway (and we did). The falls were very full because this is the end of rainy season. The falls is 1000 meters wide and 100 meters high. Water falls with such force that a huge amount of mist is created (dense fog)--making it very difficult to see the falls. Of course, there is a constant roar. We were told that 500 million gallons an hour flows over the falls. Our guide lead us along the slippery wet path. At times it was like walking in a pouring rain as the wind whipped the spray to our side. At the end of the path, we saw someone Bungee jump from the bridge. Then we sloshed all the way back--wet to our skin. Had dinner at the hotel with native dancers as entertainment.
Monday started with a 6:00 Am game drive. Chuck felt well and we were off with Spencer our Ranger of the Day. Just as we arrived in the park, the word came that lions had been sighted. We followed the other vehicles down the road and turned off. In a distance, we could see four lions on the side of a hill. Needed binoculars to really see them. Other vehicles arrived and maneuvered around us until we were last in line. Eventually the lions got up and started up the hill, moved slowly along parallel to the road and then stopped not 10 feet from our vehicle. A foolish fellow in another vehicle stood up to get a picture and the guides all yelled at him. As long as you are sitting down, the lion perceives the vehicle and its passengers as one. When you stand up, you are moving prey. Then the lioness crossed behind us, as did the her two 2 year olds and one young male. They wrestled playfully and then headed up the hill. It was exhilarating. Drove on --saw some elephants, impalas, baboons. Stopped for coffee and tea. Also a bush break (If you have to GO, there is the bush.) Decided that we would try to find buffalo and zebra. Drove a long way on a little-used road. Finally saw a herd of sable antelope. They are beautiful animals with very long, dangerous horns. Although they are brown, their young were the color of a lion. Received more word about lions. Found them. They had just finished a kill somewhere because they had blood around their mouths. We watched the three of them for a while. The elephants on the hillside watched them, too. Started back to the lodge. Hurriedly ate breakfast, finished packing, and got on the bus for our hour plus ride to Victoria Falls. Reversed the passport stops of leaving Botswana and entering Zimbabwe.
Arrived at Victoria Falls Hotel. This is a very old historic hotel --reminds one of Mackinaw Island or the National Park Hotels built early in the 20th century. Ate lunch on the veranda and changed. Drove to Victoria Falls. We were issued ponchos, but told that we would get wet anyway (and we did). The falls were very full because this is the end of rainy season. The falls is 1000 meters wide and 100 meters high. Water falls with such force that a huge amount of mist is created (dense fog)--making it very difficult to see the falls. Of course, there is a constant roar. We were told that 500 million gallons an hour flows over the falls. Our guide lead us along the slippery wet path. At times it was like walking in a pouring rain as the wind whipped the spray to our side. At the end of the path, we saw someone Bungee jump from the bridge. Then we sloshed all the way back--wet to our skin. Had dinner at the hotel with native dancers as entertainment.
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