It felt funny getting out of the car in Zambia and walking the hundred yards across the border to the Zimbabwe shed. Cases were put on a rough X-ray belt in the shade which we collected from the other side, then off to the small green wooden visa office. I didn’t quite get the hang of that..it seemed you gave in your passport at one cubby hole, moved to the next for the payment and then collected your ticket at the last cubby hole…all manned by three male officials who sat side by side enjoying a chatter with each other.
A new car was waiting and what seemed only a couple of miles down the road was Victoria. Past the hut entrance to the park and on round to a sweeping lawn and the Victoria Falls Hotel.
If your not expecting it, it takes your breath away. An impressive cream semi circular colonial mansion met me, complete with huge manicured lawns and gardens. At the front, where there were columns around the entrance porch was a tall man in white safari hat and suit which was covered with every metal badge imaginable. He wore them proudly like medals and greeted me with a handshake. I felt like the wife of a Viceroy from a bygone age or something. It had a porters lodge, guest information and reception bays in dark brown wood that looked as though they had been preserved for a hundred years.
If that wasn’t impressive, you swept through Victorian drawing rooms resplendent with skins and trophies on the walls….not sure about that…..( my heart was still in the Serengeti)….out to a garden courtyard and then out onto patios of tables being served drinks etc. In front of me was a huge flagpole which marked the distance on its base from Cairo to Cape Town, but after that was the bridge.!! The bridge in new the valley ahead of me spanned the Zambezi river between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It just looked like a really unique corner of the earth.
My room didn’t disappoint either. I felt like an African princess looking out at the back to the amazing waterfalls across lawns you could have played croquet on.
I only had 36 hours here but it was worth the visit and plenty of time because the place is only small…apart from the falls that is. I had planned to perfection,a Helicpter ride, followed by a luxury 2 hour River Cruise down the Zambezi, to wake up at 6am the following morning for a 2 hour walk around the Victoria Park, have breakfast and leave for Victoria Falls airport. Good hey?….