SATURDAY 12TH - VICTORIA FALLS

I am pleased to report that our luggage arrived at Victoria Falls today on the same plane as us although it was a tense wait in that the baggage staff seemed to take forever to get all the luggage on the carousel and, given that ours was marked “Priority”, it was well down the order in which they found their way on to the carousel but it's here.

Our first example of bureaucracy Zimbabwe style was the process to get through immigration where we had to apply for and pay $60 US for two visas. Fortunately we had done our homework and had the right money ready and, even more fortunately, we were among the first off the plane so avoided the incredible queues which subsequently formed. Apparently the immigration staff had recently been sacked so a new group was handling the two plane loads that arrived at much the same time.

Apparently that's how things happen Africa style, according to our tour guide Trish.

 

Having said that, our accommodation, Bayete Lodge is great(if you ignore the 20 mm gap at the top of the front door) and the tour organisation is spot on with the next few days activities all laid out.

 

On the way to our accommodation, we did a tour of the town. We won't be walking anywhere. They have tourist police to assist tourists who are being too harassed by the numerous people on the streets trying to sell their various wares. Victoria Falls is a real tourist hot spot and we are looking forward to seeing the river and falls tomorrow both from the ground and from the air but the town itself doesn't have much going for it.