The Victoria Falls, which straddles both Zimbabwe and Zambia, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also happens to be an African destination that combines brilliantly with so many others in Southern Africa that you were likely already considering, namely Cape Town, Kruger or even Botswana.

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Die Victoriafälle, die sich über Simbabwe und Sambia erstrecken, sind eines der sieben Naturwunder der Welt und ein UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe. Es ist auch ein afrikanisches Reiseziel, das sich hervorragend mit so vielen anderen im südlichen Afrika kombinieren lässt, die Reisende wahrscheinlich bereits in Betracht gezogen haben, nämlich Kapstadt, Krüger oder sogar Botswana.

It has been awesome and troublesome of late. After making the decision to relocate from the river to Lusaka in pursuit of the project with Munda Wanga, a place I hold dear, yet I find retuning can be so heartbreaking. The level of respect people in general have for fellow sentients and the way in which the rescue facility has been treated. With litter and plastic strewn across the grass and empty cartons and bottles tossed on top of enclosures, it's not what you would expect from a facility that is meant to be promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. Cultural norms are different, mortality and priorities are different. Why would a four legged animal be important when you're struggling to feed your children? There are many arguments for and against the sprawling population of africa and the way wildlife is perceived. They're universal problems when you break them down, not so isolated to a specific country or continent. Few seem to have woken up to the idea that we all need each other and that it is humans that impose suffering on one another, rather than be accountable for that, we choose to point the finger at another who cannot answer back and carry on entrenched in an overly uncomfortable comfort zone. History has proven that a species is rarely incapable of controlling it's numbers, unless there is unnatural intervention. I always return to the question, who was here first? Evolution is natural, it is good and healthy, but abuse is not and essentially as more "highly evolved species", we have abused that. We have made a mockery of our earth and almost forgotten how to tune in. It seems to be about being better than the next, rather than living harmoniously. Still, who am I to comment, but a little lady who cares deeply about life?

My trips here have left me without illusions about these human traits. I've met rich people, I've met poor people, broken people, egocentrics, peaceful souls and a whole variety more; some are more switched on to the extent their lifestyles are based on consumables and wants over needs. Assumptions are made on the colour of your skin, unless people make the effort to engage in conversation. I'm not seen firstly for my independence, my creativity, or my compassionate nature. I try to break that with a smile, a genuine and warm one, a proper conversation. If I'm going to leave someone with something, I don't want it to be as expendable as money for nothing. What appreciation will come from that? Would that breed positivity or inspire you, it's not even sustainable? I'm not saying I haven't given money to people in need, but throwing money at things rarely works, change the mind set and inspiration, you're more likely to set an impetus. Like the rains feeding the falls. We all go, we feel inspired and together we all get wet 😏

I feel blessed that I took that initial inspiration and turned it into a reality. The fact that I'm sat here in Livingstone drinking coffee and writing this. Seeing those beautiful white rhinos thrive in their tiny pocket of national park. The guards work day and night to protect them. Seeing those glorious falls again and feel alive. They're special, to be amidst all of that energy and force is just awe inspiring. It's been a little lonely from time to time, but the most important thing of all is that I'm Iiving my life. I'm doing it with conviction and with meaning. Living in a system that tries to define you, rather than nurture the true you, gives me a headache. I have dreams and aspirations far bigger than my quiet little voice could convey and you will always get someone trying to talk you down. It's up to you what you take on board.

Again, I've written several blog posts that haven't quite made the grade, there's a reason I guess. I hope this one will in someway resonate more.

Till next time ciao ciao for now now...

In 1855, the British Africa explorer, missionary and adventurer David Livingstone "discovered" the Victoria Falls and was so taken by their beauty that he named them after the British Queen at the time. With the construction of the railway line from Cape Town to Cairo - which was never completed - and the completion of the bridge over the Zambezi in 1905, the first tourists arrived. The following year the legendary Victoria Falls Hotel was built. UNESCO declared the falls a World Heritage Site in 1989.

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1855 „entdeckte“ der britische Afrikaforscher, Missionar und Abenteurer David Livingstone die Victoria Fälle und war von deren Schönheit so eingenommen, dass er sie gleich nach der damaligen britischen Königin benannte. Mit dem Bau der Eisenbahnlinie von Kapstadt nach Kairo – die nie fertig gestellt wurde – und der Fertigstellung der Brücke über den Sambesi im Jahr 1905 kamen die ersten Touristen. Im Jahr darauf entstand dann auch das legendäre Victoria Falls Hotel. Die UNESCO erklärte die Wasserfälle 1989 zum Welterbe.

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife, much of it within parks, reserves and safari areas. On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls make a thundering 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge, where there’s white-water rafting and bungee-jumping. Downstream are Matusadona and Mana Pools national parks, home to hippos, rhinos and birdlife.

Simbabwe ist ein Binnenland im Süden von Afrika, das für seine beeindruckende Landschaft und vielfältige Fauna in Parks, Reservaten und Safarigebieten bekannt ist. Am Sambesi donnern die Victoriafälle über 108 m hinab in die schmale Batoka-Schlucht, wo Rafting und Bungee-Jumping angeboten werden. Flussabwärts liegen die Nationalparks Matusadona und Mana-Pools, wo Nilpferde, Nashörner und verschiedene Vogelarten leben.

Yes! Here are 19 of the Best Victoria Falls Safari Tours for budget travellers. 

These affordable Victoria Falls Safaris all combine Victoria Falls with wildlife safaris in top African national parks in the region.

The Victoria Falls Hotel breathes history: portraits of the historical figures from the founding period and famous guests adorn the walls of the corridors of the "Grand Old Lady of the Falls", as the hotel is affectionately called. Built in 1904, at the time of Edward VII, it offers all the amenities you would expect from a hotel of this category, combined with a unique location directly above the Victoria Falls.

Das Victoria Falls Hotel atmet Geschichte: Porträts der historischen Persönlichkeiten aus der Gründungszeit und berühmter Gäste schmücken die Wände der Korridore der "Grand Old Lady of the Falls", wie das Hotel liebevoll genannt wird. Es wurde 1904 zur Zeit von Edward VII. Erbaut und bietet alle Annehmlichkeiten, die man von einem Hotel dieser Kategorie erwarten würde, kombiniert mit einer einzigartigen Lage direkt über den Victoriafällen.