While in Capetown, I met with a group of tourists who suggested we do a tour group to Zimbabwe. Although I was not excited about it, I became more so when I saw the beauty of Victoria Falls in the middle of the country. We decided to fly to Harare, then drive to the tourist attractions
As we journeyed to this important location, the sun was just rising. The African bush was a monotonous place to drive through for many hours. Only the odd village or animal would break the monotony. As we neared the falls, excitement was palpable.
The sound of the rushing water grew louder as we got closer. The constant roar seemed to vibrate our bones. We finally turned the corner, and there was this mighty marvel of nature.
We parked our car and stepped outside, craning our necks to appreciate the sheer size of the falls. The falls stretched as far as the eye could see. A massive wall of cascading waters that seemed to last forever. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon and cast a warm glow on everything.
The mist of the crashing waters soaked us up to our skin as we walked along the path parallel to the water flow. After a long, dusty journey, it was refreshing to feel the mist. We walked and spotted a group of baboons in the trees above, jumping from branch to branch, humming with joy.
We finally made it to the main viewing area. We found a place right in front of the water spray. The view was amazing. The mist was so strong that it created its weather, with rainbows appearing in the haze.
While we were watching, a group on the opposite side of the platform began shouting and pointing. When we turned around to see what the tourists were looking at, we saw a huge elephant moving toward us. Although it only passed by, the elephant was a great reminder that we were still in wild Africa.
The next few hours were spent exploring the falls in different ways. We walked on the Knife-Edge Bridge that jutted into the misty depths. We were given a tour of the surrounding rainforest, where we marveled at the lush vegetation and incredible views.
We were both exhausted and exhilarated by the end. We felt fortunate to have seen one of nature's wonders. Our adventure was not over.
We saw a sign for a helicopter ride as we left the park. Although we had already spent quite a bit on other activities, we couldn't resist seeing the falls in the air.
We booked the tour, and we climbed in the helicopter nervously. As we took off, my heart was racing. I'd never been on a helicopter, and the thought of floating in mid-air was exciting and terrifying.
As we climbed higher, the views became more and more stunning. The entire length of the waterfalls stretched out in front of us like a white ribbon. We could see the chasm below as we flew above the area. The sight was dizzying, but the sensation of weightlessness was amazing.
As we touched on solid ground again, I felt a wave of satisfaction wash over my body. Each view of Victoria Falls was more spectacular than the previous one. We were able to experience the power and majesty that one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders has.
As we returned to our accommodations, I could not help but feel a feeling of melancholy. It was an amazing experience and a reminder that our planet is fragile. These falls are the result of thousands of years of natural processes. However, they are also under threat from human activity.
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