Total Sensory Overload!

Mist rising from the Falls seen from our hotel.

Wow! Wow! I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting from my five day inland excursion, but what I experienced was simply beyond my wildest dreams! The Insignia arrived in Cape Town, South Africa the morning of April 4th. The city is strikingly beautiful positioned as it is between the sea and solid rock mountains. It is clean, well maintained, lots of parks, beautiful people. flowers, trees, no liter or homelessness evident, with affluent business and residential areas. Unfortunately I was not able to explore the city or do all the touristy things it offers. I had planned to attend a high tea at Nelson Mountain and a sunset dinner atop Table Mountain, Unfortunately neither of these excursions came to pass for me. Really a big disappointment, initially. Oceania had scheduled a trip into the countryside to a notable winery where we ate, drank, and made merry with local music and dance for most of the day. Beautiful scenery along the drive, equally beautiful setting in a lush valley surrounded by black rock mountains. Stunning is the best description I can come up with.

The welcoming committee

The event was strictly for the ATW's (Around The World) so I chose to attend it. After all we were scheduled to arrive back at the ship in time to go to Table Mountain and that we did. Exactly ten minutes before the group left. Unfortunately, this body of mine can only do so much and I am slowly learning its limits. You see my trip to Victoria Falls and Chobe Game Lodge had a very early morning call on the 5th for our flight and I was not yet packed. I was not about to miss that trip! My apologies to Cape Town, I really did not do you justice. That night I pouted more than a little bit. Not that the winery visit was not enjoyable, but it is unlikely that I will come this way again and I really wanted to experience Cape Town and its wonders. My decision, gotta live with it.

Predawn the next morning found me and fifteen of my shipmates, accompanied by a representative of the ship, aboard a nice comfy bus headed to the airport to catch a 9:45 am flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Yes, I know that in the States we all must arrive at least two hours in advance of an international flight, but we did much better than that. Victoria, the ship representative, whisked us through security, check-in, etc. in the blink of an eye. Upon arrival at the gate, I took a seat and soon fell fast asleep. After a long snooze I awoke enough to realize that the gate was at ground level. Hmm? Only passengers around, no airport employees. Again, hmm? Finally about 9:30 a beautiful young woman swept into the gate area and quietly stated that we should commence boarding. What? No plane was in sight but board we did - a small vehicle which sat outside the door with a young driver literally asleep at the wheel. This vehicle had few seats but many, many straps from which to hang. Once the young lady had shaken the driver awake and decided we were all aboard, we sped away. At least half a mile from the "gate" I spied a small plane sitting out on the tarmac far from anything else. This was our plane. I immediately thought of the old Tree Top Airline (really Trans Texas Airline) pre-Southwest days. Only thing this was a jet, not a propeller but SMALL. Three seats to a row: A on one side with B and C across the aisle. Like I said, small. Folks, I'm here to tell you that looks can be deceiving and this pitiful looking plane not only delivered us safely and on time to Victoria Falls, but pampered us in the process. The ship had provided us with room service breakfast of our choice at something like 4:00 am so I really didn't expect food on this flight. Wrong. Not only was there food, but it was the first airline food I thought was good! Really good for airline food. Okay, so it was served in a box, no worries. I enjoyed it so much that that which I could not eat on board, I packed in my carry-on to take with me. Now when have any of you done that? Once I decided that this was not my day and way to die, I began to take in the landscape below: barren red rock/land? with no sign of habitation stretched as far as the eye could see for a good portion of our two plus hour flight. After at least an hour of flight, I was relieved to see a few roads, straight as an arrow, below. Still little to no sign of vegetation or habitation. Then out my window, miles and miles away I saw this magnificent mist rising to the sky. Victoria Falls!! A collective gasp was heard throughout the plane. My first glimpse of Victoria Falls. Unbelievably beautiful!

The Stable Wing, Victoria Falls Hotel

My room.

Upon clearance at customs, the seventeen of us loaded aboard another bus to be taken thru the small town of Victoria Falls to our hotel. The Victoria Falls Hotel was built in 1915 and named as was the town for Queen Victoria. I thought I understood our driver to say that she, Queen Victoria, had stayed there. True or not I will not swear. You can Google it to determine its possibility. I prefer to think it to be true. I've never before stayed anywhere a queen has slept. The hotel remains a stately lady fit for a queen. I was, however, a little taken aback when I noted my room was in the "Stable Wing". Again, no worries, it was at least a four star. Before showing us to our rooms, we were served lunch. After all we had only eaten twice this day. Lunch was delicious albeit leisurely. At 4:00 we were transported to the nearby Zambezi River for a sunset cruise complete with drinks, appetizers and wildlife the likes of which one does not see outside of zoos or Africa. There were all sorts of birds, hippos, baboons and elephants along our route as well as a shot of the mist rising from the falls. My vocabulary is inadequate to describe this experience. Not only was there all this amazing wildlife, we also had a beautiful sunset to the west and a perfect full moon rising in the east. Awesome!!!!

Mama Hippo did not like us near her children!

Upon arrival back to our hotel, I chose to forego dinner and get some rest to be ready for the

adventure of the following day. As much weight as I have gained on this trip it would not have hurt me to consume only four meals this day. But instead, I had my leftover airplane food which was as good that night as in the morning. The next morning I learned I had missed an entertaining dance performance after dinner. Sorry, but again, one can only do so much in a single day.

Thursday, April 6th was our first chance to view the falls up close and personal. While the mist rising high into the sky above the Falls was visible from the hotel, the river and all around the town, we had not actually seen the Falls up close and personal. In 2020 before the plug was pulled on our trip, we had visited Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil. Definitely one of God's wonders as is Victoria Falls. Upon arrival we learned that while Iguazu Falls were wider, Victoria Falls were taller leaving Niagara Falls a distant third in ranking. My thought in 2020 was that I need look no further, this was the best that God had done in waterfalls. Not so, Victoria Falls is equally spectacular if not more so. Pure luck on my part but as it turns out, this was the perfect time to visit for the full effect. Have you not visited them but choose to do so, I urge you to come at the conclusion of rainy season. I've been assured by the guides, it is the best time to visit. One must be prepared to get soaked through and through! We were warned to wear shoes which we would not mind getting wet. That was an understatement. By the end of our walk along the lower edge of the Falls my slicker was soaked as was each layer underneath and my shoes each had several ounces of water inside. Took them a week to dry. Amongst the eying and awing over the splendor of the massive spectacle itself, there were baboons playing in the trees, lush foliage and the crashing of the water far below to assault ones senses. Perfectly wonderful day and it was only noon.

From the helicopter.

Back to the hotel for yet another scrumptious meal after which a few of us chose to take a helicopter ride above the Falls. I chose not to do this in 2020, so I was positively not going to miss out this time. Awesome! Spectacular! Magnificent! Enchanting! So so wonderful!

Outside the helicopter facility was a family of warthogs grazing - my first warthog sighting! The younger warthogs must get down on their front knees in order to graze as their necks will not bend. I found that interesting but my knees started hurting just watching them. Once the second helicopter load had returned, we were rushed back to the hotel to join the remainder of the group for an afternoon game drive on the Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve some distance out of town. This is a 1,500 acre reserve (if I remember correctly) surrounded by an electric fence the height of which Nixon (our 4X4 driver and guide) did not disclose. First sighting was an Impala, in my opinion the most regal of all those we encountered. Nixon explained that the Impala is the most fastidious of all the animals, constantly grooming themselves. Their sleek coat is a perfect camouflage blending completely with their environment. As are their markings, both front and back. Guess God knew where He was putting them. Then we came upon zebras grazing, a family of Greater Kudo out for an evening stroll, a giraffe standing perfectly still taking us in as we were him, an African Buffalo having a drink with his friend the Steenbok, a huge Rhino who charged the 4X4 in which Victoria was riding giving her a little excitement, and lastly as we were leaving the Reserve long after sunset, some in the group spotted a lion on the prowl for his/her dinner. Though Nixon shined his spot light in that direction, I was unable to catch even a fleeting glimpse of the creature. This Reserve, we were told does not feed or offer any kind of veterinary assistance to the inhabitants. They are strictly on their own as they would be were it not for the electric fence. Nature at its purest.

At dusk we drove us to a large clearing on a plateau to stretch our legs and boy did my legs need stretching. The other vehicle soon joined us for happy hour! Happy hour in the middle of the African jungle, how good does it get!

Back at our hotel I handed Nixon his tip before attempting the dismount, just in case I fell and killed myself I wanted to make sure he got the money he so well deserved. As it happened I successfully dismounted then asked him if I could give him a hug. While I was hugging him, I thanked him again for giving me such a wonderful day and told him if I died that night, it would be okay because I would die a very happy old woman! He smiled and wished me many more such days.

Two Days of Pure Joy! Thank You God!

Today Is Someday! Go on that Safari!