August 19

August 19 – Happy Birthday Katie!

At breakfast we surprised Colleen by all standing and singing Happy Birthday.  Fred and Linda were even more surprised to hear Happy Anniversary sung boisterously to them. We left our camp at 7:30 for the short drive to the unnamed airstrip where we were split into two groups again.  Bud and Kay and Lia went in the small plane and the rest of us ducked our way into our seats for the hour flight back to Livingston. 

We had just a few minutes there to check the internet so most of us waited for the next stop.  In Livingston our bags were loaded into a trailer behind the van and we set out for the Zambian boarder.  We showed our passports and exited.  Driving a few hundred feet we again exited the bus and joined the long line into the Zimbabwe Border Station.  

While we did this, Vitalis and our Zambian bus driver, Dave, unloaded bags and carried them across the border to the Zimbabwean bus.  We exited the checkpoint and went through the search station where people with large bags were having them x-rayed.  We teetered along the wooden slats over the pit, much like an oil change pit, where trucks could be stopped and searched.

After re-boarding our bus we slowly made our way through the town of Victoria Falls.  We cross the historic bridge and caught our closest look at the cataract yet.  We had to keep moving as the bridge accommodates a vehicle one way and then the other.  Lots of people were standing on the bridge.  I noticed quite a few back-packers making their way into the park.

The town did not look like what I thought it might but rather like a South Georgia town in the fifties.  We made a stop at the whitewashed Sprayview Hotel.   If you ordered a tee shirt you were able to talk to the provider about your individual design and check sizes. Then while Vitalis went to the home offices to check on details we enjoyed an hour of free time.  Everyone pulled out their e-device of choice and checked email.  I posted several pre-written musings to this site. Linda saw pictures of the new grandbaby.   Fred found the bar and got me a Coke Zero.  He is excited about the beautiful pool we will have here in just a few days when we conclude the main trip at Victoria Falls.  I didn’t bring a suit because I thought it would be too cold. 

Our next stop was at the Vic falls airport so Vitalis could confirm arrangements for the next leg of our trip after our stay in Hwange National Park.  We opened our packed lunches and munched and chatter to pass the time.  We rode about two hours but luckily were not stopped at any road blocks.  We passed through an open pit coal mine that has been opened and is operated by a Chinese corporation.  We saw their lovely homes high above us on the ridge.  The scenery reminded me very much of Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle, Illinois.  Except there was little or no greenery.  Then we reached the park.

Here we transferred to the open Safari vehicles and proceeded for about 45 dusty minutes to the main camp of Kashawe.  Another beautiful camp site, high on a ridge overlooking the dust bowl that is dry season Hwange.  We had a second lunch. Then forty-five minutes later we left on our first game drive.

Many of the drives have been bumpy or rough or a little scary when the car leans far to the side.  But this time, perched in the top row, Susie and I hung on for dear life.  This park has dry, deeply rutted, dusty roads broken up only by steep hills and rocky ravines.  I really flew out of my seat several times.  Our driver, Victor, was not going fast but I was so very ready to be done with it.  And to top it off, we saw a lot of dung and footprints and birds!  We did see a couple of Elephants and a few Impalas, but nothing that made the drive worthwhile.

Back at the camp we had our Sundowner drinks and compared experiences.  Linda and Fred in the other back row shared our feelings.  Linda said that once she completely bounced out over the side rail!

Dinner was very nice, as always with a very good, not too spicy, beef stew.  Vitalis had arranged for a chocolate birthday cake for Colleen and the staff marched in with it singing Happy Birthday. Then they presented a big bottle of champagne to Fred and Linda who celebrated their 41^st anniversary yesterday.

Then Vitalis announced the ‘prrrrogram’ for tomorrow (which is today as I write to you.)  It was to be the usual two game drives as hiking is not permitted here anymore since poachers have returned to the park.  I brought up the absolutely miserable conditions of the drive.  Some discussion ensued where Fred brought up that we could get no exercise.  The pool was closed at the last park and this was supposed to be hikes and watching from ‘hides.’ We eat, we ride, we eat, we sleep, we eat, we ride, we eat and go to bed!  Totally unhealthy.  Fred said that at least prisoners have an exercise yard!

Of course some who had complained about the drive now hedged their bets.  But Vitalis came up with a better solution for today.  More about that later.  

After dinner, we were escorted back to our cabins and Susie and I showered in the very hot solar heated water and crashed.  I read only about a half hour and then it was lights out!