Last few days in Zambia!!

Africa is still so amazing. We have not had to cook since we got to Livingstone so have had about 4 nights off. It is fun to go to dinner and have a 20,000 kwacha bill or 4 US dollars! We are still camping so we are up early and most of the time to bed pretty early. It is pretty hot here so does not feel like the holiday season. The shopping centers are starting to put up the Christmas decorations....just like at home.   Below is everything that I have been doing!

On November 16th, we went for high tea on Livingstone Island and got to see Victoria Falls for the first time. Victoria Falls is one of the seven wonders of the World. It also have the largest volume of water going over it during high flows. We swam across the falls to a rock (about 10 yd swim). The swim across had two ropes that I guess you grab onto if you get swept away. Once you got to the rock, we were instructed exactly were to jump into Devil's Pool. Devil's Pool is right on the edge of the falls. If you jump to far right, you would be over. I jumped first and swam right up to the edge where another guide was sitting. No ropes anymore! It was amazing and my heart was beating fast. I sat on the edge of the rock while the fish bit my toes. Once everyone jumped in, we all got to lay on the rocks and look over the edge. I looked straight down the falls while the guide held on the my ankles. It was such a rush and highly comparable to the rush you get when you go sky diving. Towards the end of our swim, the wind started to pick up and you could feel the currents going over the falls. As of today, I would say this was the most amazing thing I have done in Africa! I also have to note that I have never ever seen Jordan look so nervous in my life. She was a little freaked out.

On November 17th, we woke up and went with Jordan for her to bungee jumped off the bridge that was under rapid no. 2. She did great! I had no desire to jump off the bridge but I got a great video of her. That evening, we went on a river sunset cruise. We got to watch about 12 elephants cross the Zambezi River.  It was amazing to see them swim across. The locals were saying that only a few people get to actually see them swim across so we were all very excited about it. The sunset cruise included dinner but also was open bar (never a good thing for me!).

On November 18th, we relaxed in the morning. I have been able to skype with Gavin the past few days so that has been good. I call him when I wake up in the morning (around 6 AM) and it is evening where ever he is (around 9 PM). We took a taxi to the National Park to walk around the falls. There were some great views of the falls. Right now, it is low flow. We are lucky it is low flow because we were able to raft all the rapids and swim in Devils Pool but it must be a site to see at high flow times. Might just have to make a trip back to see them at a different time of year.  As we were walking back on the main trail, a large, male baboon was sitting next to the path.  When I say large, I mean bigger than me.  Liz walked right passed him but when I went to walk past, he stepped on to the path and started walking towards Jordan and me.  I was totally freaked out.  Jordan had grabbed a stick earlier as we had seen a few of them along the way.  I backed up and reached around to grab the stick out of Jordan's hand (she was not using right in my opinion and I was in the front...sorry Jordan!) and started waving it around at him. It worked and he stopped following us.  Thank goodness!  But he just sat on the path that we needed to walk on.  A local jumped the fence and hit the tree a few times until the baboon was scared off.  We had to pay him $4 US dollars but well worth every penny.  Now this is a funny story but at the time, I was totally scared!

We head to Botswana tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to going proper bush camping in the delta! I have been warned that if you need to go to the bathroom, they will dig you a hole! Wish me luck!!