After leaving Malawi we arrived in Zambia ready to see Victoria Falls and do some extreme sports.
We arrived in Livingstone at our stop just up the river from Victoria Falls. I remember seeing my first locust here, easily mistaken for a large green leaf. The camouflage on this insect was incredible, not to mention the size of it. There were also plenty of Vervet monkeys that could regularly be seen unzipping tents and pinching the contents. A small group of them were using one tent as a trampoline. Very funny to watch although I felt sorry for the owners of the tent.
The next morning we headed down the road to Victoria Falls. It looks like its on fire as you approach it as the mist thrown from the falls rises quite a way up into the sky. It's also incredibly loud and powerful. I was not expecting to get as wet as we did from the spray.
We headed down into the falls where the power of it could really be felt. It shocked me just how deep the falls went, we couldn't really see the bottom through all the spray being kicked up.
Around the other side of the falls, on top it seems like the exact opposite. Its quite tranquil and you can even paddle your feet just meters from the edge. It quickly gets more powerful though as you look across the edge of the falls.
The next day it was time for some extreme activities. We started by white water rafting down the Zambezi River below the falls. This was fun but we also did the extra where you free float down the river at the mercy of the rapids. This was an incredible rush. You quickly learn to accept you have no control and going under the high rapids is easier and safer than trying to stay on top of them. The guide called us 'crocodile bisquits'.
The day after we did the famous Zambezi gorge swing. This is like a bungee jump however you don't bounce back up, you merely get whipped along the tree-line to the other side until you lose momentum and can be lowered into the valley. The first time we went off the edge backwards which I thought would've been scarier, but the second time facing forward on your own is at lot more terrifying. You have to look into the gorge and take the step by yourself, I get vertigo thinking about it now as I write this. I remember free falling and flailing my legs about like I was riding an invisible bike as I fell.
There was also abseiling and the flying fox which was incredible fun. On this one you merely glide across the gorge like an eagle without the agonising whip sensation down your spine of the gorge swing.
Leaving Zambia with nothing but great stories and fondness we crossed the border into Botswana to see the mighty Okavango Delta.