Zipping over to Zimbabwe

On my third day in Livingston I took myself down to the border bridge in the hope I might conquer my nerves regarding the bungee. In fact I was more scared looking over the railing than I was even thinking about it. Add to that that they tie your feet with a towel and a piece of rope, and that my body isn't exactly ergonomically built for bouncing, and I backed away easily with no regrets. I decided to instead head across the bridge to Zimbabwe for the day.

Aside from being the front-on view of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe is also the birthplace and childhood playground of my dad. I just couldn't come this far and not cross the border.

So, from the bridge we decided to travel by rickshaw to the border. I knew it was going to be a great day when I received a warthog welcome just inside the gate. As you know these cheeky creatures are my favourite and this time it was a mother and baby that gatekept the entrance.

As it was midday we headed straight for lunch at the spectacular Victoria Falls hotel and sat on the terrace overlooking the Zambezi gorge (and the bridge I couldn't fling myself off). I ordered a delicious crispy salmon fillet salad but had to try my dining companion's ostrich salad too. Turns out ostriche is delicious!

After lunch we headed to the curio market as Zimbabwe has the most incredible carvings I've seen in Africa. Many are life size and carved of Zambezi stone and range from the big 5 animals, to abstracts fluid pieces. there are huge yards filled with these stunning carvings. I would have loved to buy up big but unfortunately postage and luggage weight restrictions to come said otherwise. But I did buy a stone necklace of the Zimbabwe bird to remind me of dad.

I'll refrain from oversharing but readers should know my stomach of steel finally gave up halfway through perusing the markets. It was a very tense, unexpected, and urgent moment. There was a whisper to my shopping buddy, a handing back to a seller the things I'd been looking at, and a mad dash into a nearby shop with a desperate cry that I'd pay to use their bathroom. Cue a pitch black room and some awkward fumblings, only to realise this was the fanciest bathroom I'd "seen" in Africa yet. Relief.

The best of My fly by visit to "Zim" was yet to come... The majestic falls.

Kisses to the bear xxx