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Zim Zam last day

Yes, we did! Someone cancelled on the 7:30 am tour so we got to go to the edge of the waterfall,  via speed boat, swim across the channel with a guide, then climb over rocks down to the pool. 

Devil's Pool, checked off the bucket list!!

Goodbye Africa! And hippoes!

Zim Zam day 2

A walk with the Elephants was on our itinerary this morning, actually a 45 minute ride followed by bush breakfast(for us and them as well). The was a slight delay in starting since the wild elephants were in the same area as the ones trained to carry people, they all live together on the reserve. So once they cleared out it was safe to go. Really fun and got to chat with my elephant driver who works in Zam but travels several hours to his family in Zim, just once a month. 

Then after cooling in the pool we had a fun dinner cruise with our friends,  with all the staff singing a farewell. Such struggling countries but they asked us to post this hashtag and let everyone know it's a good place to visit!

Zimbabwe Zambia day 1

After an uneventful travel day, we made it to our last stop in Africa, Victoria Falls. Just love the setting of our lodge on the Zambezi river, which is the home of crocs and hippos. It is also in a national game park so there was an elephant at the gate to greet us. A very hot day, but we enjoyed the morning walk to see the different water falls, all at their lowest point of the year. About half of the full length is dry in October, but is great time to go out to death defying devils pool.

We spent the hottest hours in the lodge pool and were so happy to be entertained by 6 elephants swimming across the river from us.  Great surprise! 

Cape Town Day 6

Our last full day in Cape Town and we got to see the postcard view of Table mtn that I have been waiting for, as well as some other interesting city sights. A botanical garden of indigenous plants that is in the top 7 of the world - did you know your geraniums and gladiolus all started here in the wild? Lots of other stunning gardens and more Cape Dutch estates!

Cape Town day 5 I think

definitely wasn't the perfect weather to explore the cape but we felt so fortunate to have the sun breaks at all the right times. We enjoyed the west side first with the rocky shore and white sand beaches, then watched the baboon brawl and ostrich family during a little shower. But it stopped just in time for us to hike to the top of Cape Point. Then more rain but again a break in time to see the famous African penguins. Making our way back along False Bay we ended with a coffee stop in a white sand village. Or last garden stop was a total washout, but then we have seen alot of gardens

So so very glad the rain departed, at least for this one day, so the ferries were able to take us out to Robben Island, just 4 miles out from the city. It had a beautiful view today back towards Table mtn and the city. 

It is not only the place where Mandela was held for most of his imprisonment, but also has been a dumping ground for the unwanted since the early days of the Portugese, Dutch and English settlers. It has been used to isolate lepers, the insane, chiefs and warriors,  criminals and unpopular political leaders. 

We were toured around by a man who spent 7 years imprisoned here for being involved in a demonstration at age 18,  where he was part of a group that set fire to an officer's quarters. He showed us the barracks, the floor mats they slept on,  the courtyard and lime quarry where prisoners were forced to hard labor. We also saw the cell of Nelson Mandela. Quite a well given perspective and we learned alot. 

Back at the waterfront we enjoyed a perfect weather lunch.