Victoria Falls Arrival

August 24, Wednesday

Sable Antelope

Land Cruisers, the same vehicles we used in Hwange for the game drives, made the run from the Sable Sands Lodge. Along the way, a wildebeest galloped off to our left. Two male Sable Antelopes galloped by us when we stopped to watch a jackal resting under a tree. Seems like we always see something every time we go out – one just never knows when or where.

Backing up a bit, I am going to detail our trip from Buffalo Camp in Kruger National Park to the Sable Sands Lodge. Shortly after our Land Rovers turned off the bumpy, twisty and rutted road Buffalo Camp road unto the main park

Elephant Road Block

road, we abruptly halted. Elephants were nonchalantly chewing the bark of a tree they had ripped up as they stood in the road. As far as they were concerned we could wait all day! Our driver moved a forward ten feet or so but the elephants ignored us. We waited. Finally, our, driver inched forward and the elephant retreated. At the park gate we switched to a van for an 1+ hour ride to the airport.

About the airports – We have been through three: Johannesburg, Nelson and Victoria Falls. All three are ultra modern and very clean. Food and water are reasonably priced, not the rip-off price gouging we find in the United States. The luggage carts are free. They are equipped with brakes so that they can go up escalators. Finally, everyone is friendly.

We flew back to Johannesburg to transfer to another flight to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Passport control was efficient; we asked for a double entry visa and parted with $45 each. The officer did not smile. We boarded a van as the sun descended arriving at the Sable Sands Lodge well after dark. A very good pan grilled fillet awaited us.

As in Buffalo Camp, we were not allowed to walk to our dwelling after dark due to the possibility of animals being present. An elephant favored us our first night in Buffalo Camp munching trees just outside our tent. On our last night at Sable Sands, elephants ambled in to drink from the “swimming pool.”

Our hut with its thatched roof was warm at night and cool in the afternoon without air conditioning or heating.

Due to the dry season at Kruger and Hwange we never saw a mosquito. Our hotel room here in Victoria Falls is loaded with them; Joanne is busy trying to squash them. We will see how we fare.