Tuesday was another CRAZY day in Vic Falls! Since we had an open ticket for the Big Air Combo (bungy, swing, zipline), we could show up whenever we liked that day but after we had had breakfast, I was already eager to go! I wanted to get the most out of the day so if we did bungy in the morning, then we’d have time in the afternoon for something else ^^
So we walked down to the border crossing and then to the bridge where we entered Zambia half way across (there is a line separating the bridge) and got a chance to look down the gorge which we would be falling into soon..
This was the view in the other direction 😀
Immediately on the other side of the bridge was the bungy establishment. We paid and signed our lives away and then we got harnessed up. With the tight harness in awkward places, we waddled down to where the zipline was. You slide from the Zambian side to Vic Falls Bridge where you are towed in and can walk on the bridge structure to get up again. 🙂 We waited there for a while until they finally called me over, and before I knew it, I was flying over the gorge.
This one wasn’t very wild, you’re just sliding over the beautiful landscape and you can appreciate the gorge opening giving a view of the falls and the spray. It was a joy wide with a nice view, I’d say.
After that, we walked up on the bridge again where they took off our harnesses and we had to wait a while before they put on the new ones for bungy (plus a lifewest, just in case…) The house on the middle was our bungy site:
Kristoffer went first this time and I had to wait a few people until it was my turn. When they finally called my name and started tying up my legs, I couldn’t believe that I was doing it again! And once it was all done, I had to take those tiny baby steps to get out on the ledge and then they gave me some tips: I had to dive out as far as possible and spread my arms and look up (because once you are standing there, gosh there’s a long way down!) I still had to look down, though, just for the view and I barely had time to think before they were counting down from 5, and in no time, the moment I’ve been waiting for for 4 years finally arrived! I jumped and had that awesome sensation of the free fall pulling me down 111 fantastic (but way too quick) meters! 😀
For the first bunce up, I could really feel the pull in my knees but it was nothing to think about when I had that gorgeous view all around me! The smokes from the falls, the river, the rainforest covering the gorge – everything! And omo, there was such a beautiful rainbow right beneath me! 🙂 I was completely taken with it and it was also the first thing I said to the guy hanging in the air, ready to help me up. At this point, I was also starting to get a little dizzy because my head had been hanging upside down for a while so all the blood rushed to my head.
When I got to the bridge structure, the guy there said that mine was one of the best jumps of the day and I thought he just said that to everyone but apparently he meant it. Yay, feeling very accomplished!
After that, we had to wait for a long time again before it was finally time to do the bridge swing. We got harnessed up (Kristoffer went first again) and then I went to the ledge where they tied the straps to my middle. And since it was a swing, the ropes actually pulled me further out towards the ledge because they were so heavy. For this jump, I had to hold on to the rope with both hands and keep my feet together as I jumped.
And this time, I tried to appreciate the 70 meter free fall as much as possible because I know it will be a long time until my next bungy.. The swing was just as awesome as bungy, though! This experience might have been even better than bungy, actually, because the swing gave me time to really appreciate the surroundings and the wonderful rainbow below me since my head was the right side up.
I really didn’t want to get pulled back onto the bridge with this prime vista! Especially knowing that this was the last adrenaline activity of the day!
Afterwards, we considered going to Livingstone town but we were both kind of energy drained so we decided to go back to the border control so we could get real permission to enter Zambia and Victoria Falls Park on that side. Before the entrance, I bought a much needed water and some peanuts for the salt. I was happily munching on my peanuts while walking through the park pathway until we came upon some really big baboons who wanted my peanuts. Two of them grabbed for them and they were so close to me! A guy said to just give them my nuts but I didn’t want to so instead he suggested to put them away in my bag because they could smell them. I actually got a fright because one of them almost touched me and wheezed at me, showing his teeth when I didn’t hand them over. The guy from before came over and helped with the situation so we could leave in a damn hurry! After that experience, we walked comfortably along the pathway to see the gorge and spray close to Vic Falls bridge.
We could also see over to the footbridge covered in mist which we would be walking on soon enough.
And then we went back to see the boiling pot. Now the boiling pot was interesting because there was a “15 min walk down and 25 min walk up” some stone steps and through a gorgeous area of rainforest.
Just that was pretty in itself but the boiling pot was worth it as well ^^ Lots of swirling and moving water.
The walk up was hard, though. We took one break at a bench half way up because I needed water and air (sweating like a pig!) But afterwards, my legs felt like lead and were even heavier and harder to move >.<
I made it up and we continued to that footbridge where there’s tons of spray and rain!
And apparently, I had hit a magical moment because just then, the mist was less thick and a rainbow showed right next to the falls so I could take a picture (fast, because the rain was getting heavier!)
On the other side of the footbridge, I had some dry time but also got a LOT of rain/spray so it was all a game of luck and waiting for those brief moments of time when the spray and rain would retreat for long enough to take out my camera and snap a few photos!
I also got tons of rainbow/falls pics – I was so happy! And wet.
When we crossed the bridge again, the most beautiful rainbow went over it from one side to the other but it was impossible to get photos of it because it was raining so much from the falls that I was getting soaked despite wearing a poncho. Walking through the trees to the last point, we came upon some really good windows which made perfect frames for photos:
The last view we had of the falls was from the side overlooking the drop and I actually had my feet in the water there. We stayed there for a while, just enjoying the gorgeous view and the sun slowly setting.
We wanted to get home before dark though so we started the long walk over the borders and the bridge, exhaused from a day full of experiences and impressions! As we were walking down the path from Vic Falls to town, we suddenly had to stop because a herd of elephants were crossing the road right in front of us!
We met elephants on foot! I slowly inched closer when they seemed to have crossed but they were still really close to the road so we so we didn’t dare pass them. Hell, they were only 10-15 meters away! I thought it was super cool, I really thanked our lucky stars! Eventually, we slowly walked past them and were filming this encounter simultaneously when we found out that there were two more elephants still on the other side! Meaning we were surrounded! We eventually got home and after having missed out on lunch, we ordered dinner ASAP and ate with Anna who came home from Chobe at approximately the same time..
Guidelife 