🙂 Stunning location on the shores of the Zambezi. Great staff.
🙁 A little too large for us.
Playing it forward – share the LOVE to make a positive difference … African Bush Camps (ABC) are very proud to partner with communities that are located near to their camps to improve quality of life and achieve long-term conservation. They focus on three Pillars: Education, Community Empowerment and Conservation in collaboration with the local community and their staff who come from these communities. Please support their ABC Foundation – your donation goes a long way to supporting these goals…
Thursday, 31 August 2023
We had departed Mana Pools and the amazing Nyamutusi Camp and taken a glorious flight over the Victoria Falls thanks to the kindness of our Pilot. En route we had to stop off at Kariba (in our 4 seater plane) to refuel and bizarrely had to clear customs and the customs officer told us to go shopping while we waited for our pilot! We pointed out that he was right there! LOL. Got to love Africa! 🙂 We were amazed at how HUGE Lake Kariba is! After about 2 hours total flying time we landed at Victoria Falls where we were met by two lovely ‘Meet & Greet’ chaps … we transferred onto a mini bus which took us to the border with Zambia. We were escorted to the front of the queue (thankfully as several buses were queued up!), passports stamped and walked over the bridge and hopped into our Thorntree Lodge mini bus with our new Guide called Easy.
The lodge is a bit bigger than the other lodges that we had stayed at but is beautifully appointed on the banks of the Zambezi River. We enjoyed the usual ABC singing and dancing welcome along with a bush buck thrown in for good measure!
It is a an awesome view which welcomes you!
We enjoyed a delicious lunch on the deck with elephants all around us.
We headed to our room which was No1 at the far end …unfortunately it was right next to their workshop with lots of banging and loud talking which wasn’t very conducive to the peace and quiet which we had been anticipating. The room was however very comfortable with a lovely view it was just a shame that we didn’t have a relaxing few hours.
Paul went to Reception to ask if we could be moved … we waited outside by the plunge pool to no avail and eventually it was time for us to head back for our sunset boat trip which was supposed to leave at 16h00. At the last minute we were told that another couple would be joining us which was absolutely fine … except that the very pleasant chap arrived on time at 16h00 but his wife was nowhere to be seen…. we waited and waited and we could see that poor Easy was looking distinctly UNEasy! LOL. She eventually turned up about half an hour late so I made a comment about sunsets not tending to wait for people … which put her back up.I just ignored her and enjoyed the bliss of the Zambezi at sunset – simply spectacular.
It is rather amusing at just how little people know about the African Bush – on the other hand, it is a first for everyone … it was quite sweet as the man referred to the ‘herd of hippos’ and how a family of elephants, with the big Dad and Mom and calf had walked past their room … bless…When we got back we were told that we had been moved to No.12 which was the last unit at the opposite end of No.1 – MUCH nicer – no neighbours or buildings, very quiet and beautiful views – very happy campers! 🙂
Dinner was a taste sensation with amazing lobster!
We had an early night as we were pretty exhausted and were looking forward to the Devil’s Pools and a visit to the rhino sanctuary the next day. We awoke to the cacophony that is the beautiful dawn chorus and a stunning sunrise…
Breakfast is a lavish affair! DIVINE.
We spent some time chilling by the pool…bliss…
We were then called for our trip to the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls. On our drive we noticed people on their heavily laden bicycles transporting goods to be sold at the border. Unfortunately Paul dropped his sunglasses somewhere at the Falls 🙁
We were very excited to see the Falls from a different perspective as we have been to the Zimbabwean side many times but this was a first! It did not disappoint – spectacular!
An amazing vista – one can just imagine what Livingstone must have been thinking when he first cast his gaze over the mighty Falls!
On the way back we stopped off at the rhino sanctuary – we saw lots of elephants along the way! Luckily we did not need to walk far for the rhinos as they were asleep right next to the road. They have 24/7 armed guards who walk with them all day and night to protect them. Long may they stay safe.
We headed to camp for lunch and were surprised to be invited onto the boat to enjoy our meal – simply wonderful…
When we got back we bumped into the chap who runs Pangolin in Chobe!
We headed back to our room for a nap as we were drowsy after the wonderful food and wine on the boat.
After our nap it was time to head over to Devil’s Pool for our High Tea after swimming at this exciting spot! Cannot recommend this excursion highly enough – FANTASTIC!
What a wonderful day it had been … but it was not over yet! We stopped at the Boma to enjoy a sundowner around the fire. The American joined us and was very pleasant saying how much he had enjoyed the trip so far. Unfortunately his wife then appeared and simply talked over him and only to Paul, boating about how wealthy they were, where they lived, what schools their kids went to … then she moved on to her very expensive camera which hadn’t turned up in time for the holiday … she would ask Paula question and then not even skip a beat and talk over him without even listening to his response … quite unbearable… the husband looked sheepish and apologetic and we were very relieved when we were called to take our place at dinner …
We were invited down on to the little island decking where they had arranged a private table for the two of us … just divine… (Paul laughed as he heard the woman asking how come we got to eat there and they didn’t!) LOL!
The next morning we were up at 05h30 to go Tiger Fishing with Easy! It was another beautiful dawn. We had such fun trying all sorts of methods including trawling and casting … Paul got a strong bite and we could see where the teeth had damaged the lure! It was clearly a BIG one that had got away! 🙂 What fun!
It was the perfect end to a perfect stay …
Easy transported us to Livingstone airport along with the American couple in the mini van. The husband looked utterly mortified as his wife was shockingly rude…she completely ignored me talking only to Paul and then referred to me as ‘She’! Paul was so disgusted by her behaviour that he completely ignored her when we arrived at the airport and only said goodbye to the chap shaking his hand and walking off without acknowledging her or looking back! On the other hand, I was as polite as could be so as not to stoop so low. Ho Hum, none queerer thanfolk! … We bought some Christmas decorations before being called to our flight … we were super excited to be meeting the family in Kruger! Woo Hoo! 🙂 There were only three people on our flight including us … and the flight had just come from Skukuza and the air hostess told us that it was only our friends and family that had been on board! LOL.
Go Back to: Zambia
