Over/Under

Decided to spend my tent refund on a helicopter flight. Enroute to the heliiport, while picking up guests at a chichi hotel, saw a mama wart hog with 3 babies who were zooming around like puppies.

Helicopters are 5 seaters + pilot and weight determines where you sit - I got a rear facing back seat, passenger side. They fly from 3 pads at a steady rate. I splurged for the 25 minute flight.

Even at low water it’s pretty impressive. Looking at a map you can’t understand how the water flows but from the air you can see the river spread out into a delta and then “falls” into a slotted gorge. The water exits mid gorge so it’s sort of a flattened t-shape. The river continues on in a zig zaggy canyon beyond the horizon.

You can see my resort in the foreground- the grid of white squares is my little tent city. During wetter season you can hear the roar of the falls.

Worth every penny.

I ask my driver on the way back to my resort if he had ever done the flight. Yes, he said, new employees get one freebie. It was his first time flying - he said he was so nervous he couldn’t look down. I felt so bad for him! I asked if had had flown since - “why would I?” was the reply, “I already live in Victoria Falls.”

This morning I opted for the “Historic Bridge Tour.” (I was the only one on the tour.) It sounded a little cheesy but it included a walk under the road bed of the bridge. First we drove over to Zambia- there is a neutral zone on each side so I didn’t get my passport stamped - had a little presentation and walked back to Zimbabwe. (Had to wear a full body harness similar to Sydney bridge walk.) It turned out the be quite entering and engaging. The guide was the “139 year old French engineer” who oversaw the construction - he conveniently explained his black skin as have been baked by the sun after being in Victoria Falls for so many years. Out of character, I was surprised to learn that he had no formal theatre training. He had been in sales before - I’m sure that helped.

Great views and cooler in the shade. The dry heat of 39 is easy to take but NOT the radiant heat gain from the more direct sun. 

Meeting my group in a couple of hours. May be a while between posts after that!

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Met the group and went for a test spin to Vic Falls park proper. Interesting that hiking through the park at eye level you only see snippets of the falls. Very happy I did the helicopter!