Let the fun begin

We went to Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls one of the Seven Wonders of the World but conquering the mighty Zambezi River was the highlight of our three day stay. After strapping into our life vest and buckling up the helmet we jumped into the eight-person zodiac and started heading for the white water. Colgate was our guide and he took his job of training us very seriously, once we learned we were going into stage 5 rapids (toughest you can do without being a professional) the groups’ ears perked up.

This is where the term white Water comes from, Linda second on left of boat, greg holding on third on right side

Our job was simple; paddle left, paddle right, stop and Get DOWN that is basically a crouch into the boat and hope the river doesn’t spit you out into the unforgiving rapids filled with rocks and other debris. Linda and I were tossed out three times and the entire boat flipped once. The first time we were just scared and bailed out a little early.  However the second and third time we were hanging on like spider man clinging to the side of a 100-story skyscraper.  That means it was serious rapids, turns out the Zambezi has some of the best rapids in the world. The adventure took us 20 miles down river and although we didn’t walk back we did have to walk out of the valley that the Zambezi has cut through the rocks over the last few thousand years. Think mini Grand Canyon.  Hiking up gave us small flashbacks of Kilimanjaro, which whipped us back into shape, not to mention that lunch was being served at the top of the hill that gave us for the extra needed motivation.

Boat flipping, Greg going upside down while Linda already in the water

If find it Interesting how mental physical challenges become. I was exhausted after white water rafting and didn’t feel like making the hike, then I talked myself into this hike being no big deal since it was only an hour up where as kili was typically 8 hours up in altitude daily. Before I knew it I had all the energy necessary to make the climb without it feeling miserable.

We stayed at an old colonial style hotel within walking distance to the Falls, every morning on the way to breakfast we were greeted by a family of warthogs and small monkeys running around the grounds. After viewing the falls, which was beautiful but maybe not as nice as Iguazu Falls in Argentina it was time to compare natural wonders. There are three major waterfalls in the world that get compared and Victoria and Iguazu are voted as two of the seven natural wonders of the world. In short, Victoria is the tallest; Iguazu the widest and lonely Niagara has the most volume.

All are worth a view but plan other activities while you are there since you can only stare at water for so long:).

The late afternoon sun sent us to the pool where we met a few couples from Johannesburg. An innocent chance encounter led to dinner, drinks and a late nightcap from our friends private stash of Amarila and whiskey. Great conversations on the similarities and differences of our lives in the US v South Africa gave us a good understanding of the present struggles South Africa is still facing 20 years after Mandela and the ANC where voted into power. The economy hasn’t grown much, unemployment is at 30% but people are happier today then they have been in the past. Hmmmmmm….what does this tell us about what’s important in life?? Freedom from oppression? Don’t take it for granted.

The same realities apply to Zimbabwe, 60% of the population lives in rural villages! I’m talking dirt roads, no electricity, no running water and a few cattle to their name yet they are extremely happy. There is something to be said for leading a simple life; it leads to minimal responsibilities, which probably equals less stress. Of course there is no debt in these situations so maybe this frees up your time to do what you enjoy, instead of doing what pays your bills.  I just read an article on happiness after experiencing these scenarios first hand in Zimbabwe. In summary, if money makes you happy does 2 billionaire dollars make someone twice as happy as someone else who ONLY has 1 billion? So then if money doesn’t make us happy then beyond having enough money for the necessities why do we all keep trying to make more money? (us included).

I really need to keep busy touring and climbing things, when I get free time I start to sound like a bi-polar maniac trying to make sense in a world that doesn’t make sense.  Since I have thoroughly confused myself on this topic it’s time to wrap up as we move onto South Africa where we are meeting parents and lil sisters family back in the motherland.

BTW, we have been traveling almost four months and we have logged less than one hour of TV, I don’t miss it and all I can say is…weird very weird since I used to sit in front of the TV for hours.

Zimbabwe Pictures https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A65VaUrzZcuPA