Alejandra

Back for already more than a week, playing around with my pictures on photoshop, i have just put some pictures on my website so for those who want to see: www.madelza.nl

I dont know where to start writing, we loved all of it and would go back without a doubt. Rocco, you were right about my itinerary, great choice i made (thanks to your tips), it was a lot of moving but for a first time it was excellent, every lodge was wonderful, including the Royal Livingstone. If I'd go again i wouldnt know which to cut out.

Sausage Tree was beautiful to arrive at after long night and day of travelling. We got there for sundowners and and it was magical.
We were at Sausage for 2 nights and did 3 gamedrives. Mostly we were alone with the guide, once we went with another couple (German & Irish) living in Lusaka which was a good chat. We loved the canoeing trip through that "forgotthename" Channel. It was very exciting, some hippos do actually get pretty close! We never paddled ourselves, werent asked either and the guids guided us for a 4 hour trip so we could enjoy the scenery. Tigerfishing was hilarious, Bert caught one after 5 minutes 10 pounds, and i caught one after 30 minutes, 12 pound (see the pic on my site) So we were back soon again for sundowners together with the Sausage crew (Jane, Jason, Rodney and others). Food&wine at Sausage were very good, the after dinner drinks around the fire place on the deck were lovely. On the day we were to be transferred by boat to Chiawa they served lunch in the middle of the river, with 8 guests we left camp by boat to all have lunch in the river, very special i thought.
Any questions are welcome, next is Chiawa Camp

bat

Glad you had such a good time. Looking forward to the rest.

Alejandra

Arrived at Chiawa right after our river lunch at Sausage. we were met by Barbs and Craig and after refreshing towels and welcome drink were shown to our room, it was the Hippo tent. Very nice tent, nice ammenities, but it was very hot and unfortunately i felt a little nauseous. Tried to rest for an hour, put wet towels on my face and we went for a game drive with Dispenser, we liked him a lot, he seems a great & efficient guide and is a fun person the go on a drive with. After getting back from the drive (we actually returned by boat cos i wasnt feeling too well) we had a drink with a group of fisherman from Florida that had just arrived 5 minutes before. Then dispenser had found "Douglas" the local lion, so all of us in a jeep to look for Douglas, was good fun indeed, we found Douglas and I couldnt stop laughing about the fisherman who also carried the highest photography equipment but still hadnt figured the spotlight shots. Dinner was nice, we shared a table with Grant and the Rufus-group from Florida, again laughed a lot, they showed us all kinds of fish gear and were positive they were going to break soem tigerfish records. I wish we could have stayed longer cos I wonder how their week has been. That night I didnt drink wine as i still wasnt ok. Went to bed early as we had a "knock Knock" at 5 a.m for a short game drive before heading to royal airstip. Breakfast was cosy around the fire place. Game drive with Dispenser again, didnt see much that morning. He dropped us of at the river were the pontoon boat was waiting for us (this was a total surprise) On the pontoon the made us very special breakfast complete with yammie scrambled eggs and champagne (which I didnt drink). getting back to Chiawa I bought a hat and a cap at the nice shop. Grant was there when we left and i said we felt bad we couldnt stay longer but we would for sure come back. Chiawa is going to rebuilt 7 tents after november 15 when the camp closes. The tents were very good now, they could be bigger though so I bet the new ones will be fabulous. Arriving at Royal Airstrip we saw Andrew (Proflight pilot who flew us to Jeki) and i was happy we would fly with him back to Lusaka. However Andrew told us he wasnt there to pick us up, he was waiting for another couple and told us our pilot actually was waiting for us at Jeki!! It ws true cos he flies proflight and we were to return to Lusaka with Airwaves. To make it worse our airwaves pilot had gone back to Lusaka. we were fine, waiting for a solution and only a bit worried about our connection from Lusaka to Livingstone. After a lot of radio contact with Chiawa , Jenny (Grants mother) managed to get us on the flight with Andrew, and luckily Airwaves to Livingstone waited for us 45 min!! 10 people waiting there! 1 man annoyed . From Barry later on i heard Jenny really tried hard to get us on that Proflight, that we were very lucky. I've sent Jenny an email thanking her for her help.

cooncat2

Not to be greedy, but more...please?

Alejandra

What do you want to know? aks questions, thats easier for me than writing a report..

cooncat2

Sorry! Really nice photos, by the way, just looked. Did you stay at Luangwa River Lodge? I can't remember your itinerary - I'll look and maybe have more questions! Thanks!

Alejandra

Arrived at Royal Livingstone hotel around lunchtime, must say that after the heat in the Lower Zambezi we were delighted with the airconditioned room, we quickly refreshed and went for lunch on the terrasse, Bert a Burger and myself a salad, both delicious. Went for a swim in the pool, big beautiful pool with service. At 3.30 pm pick up from the hotels sundeck to go out to Livingstone Island by speedboat for a swim in the Devil's pool and drinks/sandwiches. Jason from Sausage had assured us that we must take that afternoon trip cos the swim on top of the Falls was very special. And it was...you are just there, on the rocks were all the water comes down, its hard to describe. The rock we were dropped at adjoins the very lip of Victoria Falls and separates the Main Falls from Horseshoe Falls and Rainbow Falls, the highest cataract. Here we had great views, stunning. Especially beautiful was the sight something I had never seen before a double rainbow in the mist. We took off our clothes (swimsuits underneath)and assisted by a couple of island guides, we walked out to a rocky area very close to the edge of the falls where we scrambled over slippy and sharp rocks. I hated that walk but soon the water became deep enough to make the short swim to another set of rocks. Getting over the second set of rocks, you suddenly are at the very edge of the falls. We swam to the edge of the restraining rock and looked over into the depths below. Wow. That small area is called the Devil's Pool and entering it is just a very cool experience that is only possible when the water levels arent too high. Took some great pictures and after the swim we were treated with all kinds of drinks and cakes and mmmm sandwiches. That night we couldnt bother to leave the hotel anymore so we stayed there for dinner, it's a setting, we sat outdoors, very pleasant, and had some nice red wine. slept so good that night.
Next morning picked up at 5.30 to go to Zimbabwe for a elephant ride, crossed the border without any hassle, $ 30 for a Visa in your passport. ellie ride was fun, saw a 9 days old baby ellie, which was very cute. On our way back we told the driver to show us the Victoria Falls Hotel on the zim side, and thought ours was sooo much nicer . Just before the border there is the entrance to the Victoria Falls park to see the falls from there, we decided to also do that and it was definately worth it because From Zambia you cant actually see them in front of you, whereas from Zimbabwe yes you get them there right in front of you. Although the falls were dry, it still was spectacular. That afternoon we chilled at the pool, had a foot massage and got a nice suntan. With a golf buggy we drove over to sister hotel the Zambezi Sun, wanted to have dinner there but it didnt appeal to us. Tyred as we were we decided to again stay at the hotels outdoor restaurant. The menu is kind of unusual for Zambian standards, we just felt like a filet steak with some kind of potatoe and salad, and we asked and got a very tender filet steak with gratinated potatoes, good red wine again. Good sleep again. pfffffffffffffffff South Luangwa next, but not now

Alejandra

Yes stayed at Luangwa river Lodge, last 3 nights after 2 nights Puku, had the best time with Barry and Tara. More on that, i promise.

atravelynn

Great trip so far. Thanks for the Zambia vs. Zimbabwe side of the falls comparison.

I'll check your pictures later.

Was it the Chifungulu Channel?