Day 9/10- Zimbabwe

Day 9

Yesterday we learned about massive changes in our itinerary.  We should have canoed today then hiked tomorrow, but it got switched so that we hiked this morning and headed out to our canoeing overnight at 4 to canoe the next day.  The details were unclear, so we also squeezed in Victoria Falls today.

We started off with a hike in the Batoka gorge with a 6:20 AM pickup.  We got bagged breakfasts from the hotel with very good biscuits.  Bizarrely, we were in a safari style truck, as we raced down a highway.  It was so cold that our guide huddled under two fleece ponchos.

Eventually we made it to our hike, which was more of a nature walk.  We learned about different trees and their traditional uses- considering I was ready for a legitimate hike I was somewhat underwhelmed.

After our hike we had a tour of a traditional hut.  As our guide said, most people in Zimbabwe live this more rural lifestyle.  The South Africans had nothing good to say about this, as it means many people from Zimbabwe have fled to South Africa looking for work and money.

We had the guides drop us off at the falls, since we were trying to squeeze them in.  Entry is $30 for internationals- just another example of how Zimbabwe fleeces foreigners.  There are 16 different view points for the falls- we visited them all.  We had invested the $3 for the ponchos, and by the last viewpoints it became apparent that this was needed.  

It was very wet.  Look at the photo of me with the rainbow for evidence.

Conveniently, after we handed off our ponchos to unsuspecting people (who were probably very grateful later), the bus for our hotel rolled up.  We went back, dried off, and headed down into town to see the scene.

Not much of a scene but this helicopter was cool.

From town, after dodging many persistent street vendors, we headed back to the hotel to pack our bags for the camp out at the canoe site.  Once again, our pickup arrived late.  Once again, they asked for a voucher we do not have.  Once again, we were in a safari truck.  Sigh.

Anyway we made it to the campsite in short order.  This campsite has near permanent tents, a shower, a flush toilet, and a dining table.  We sat around for a while before a group of 7 brits rolled up on their canoes.  We proceeded to eat, and then do some stargazing.  As always on camp outs, an early night.

The Brits were highly entertaining.  Especially funny was their description of one cricket play by play man, who apparently is more exciting than the game.  Between that and the revered rugby ref, we are quickly learning the oddities of British entertainment.

Day 10

Off to the (not) races on our canoes at 9:30.  Downright leisurely.  While most of this was frustrating sitting on a canoe bored and wanting to paddle, there were some exciting rapids, and a sprint away from a hippo!  I got absolutely soaked, and fear of my phone being soaked meant that I did not take many photos.  I made dad take a photo.  

The canoe ended much earlier than anticipated- we actually could have done the falls today.  Anyway, we decided to just chill at the hotel.  I overindulged in high tea and we are just sitting around watching the tour.  Also, when I sent dad back to get the camera so I could write this, he sniped this beauty.