The Rebublic of Zimbabwe is located in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe is south of Zambia, northwest of Botswana, west of Mozambique, north of South African; and joins Namibia at its western most tip. It is the 59th biggest country in the world in spite of the fact that it had a below average area in terms of Africa. It is bigger than Montana or Japan but smaller than Paraguay. Zimbabwe is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, essentially on a high plateau (in tropical latitude) but with a cool climate because of the altitude. Zimbabwe is one of Southern Africa’s best big game safari destination.
We stayed at The Kingdom in Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, South Africa. This facility had great domes,pillars and bridges over various water features. It was built to resemble the style of ‘Great Zimbabwe” the once mighty capital of the ancient Shona Kingdom. We were located a two minute walk to The Victoria Falls rainforest. There were monkeys running and walking around everywhere. Our suite was complimented a large fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts and jam basket; and 4 bottles of delicious South African wines. The wines from South Africa are extremely smooth and tasty.
Zimbabwe is home to a world-class abundance of wild life. We went on a day-time and also a night-time safari in the Pilanesburgs park. This Park is set within the crater of an ancient volcano, formed 1.2 billion years ago by over flowing magna. Pilanesburg National Park is the most assigned Southern Africa’s fascinating game reserves. It is located in the ecologically rich transition zone between the dryness of the Kalahri and the wet Louveld vegetation. This vast area priovided thrilling big game viewing in the malaria free environment. Virtually all of the animal species native to Southern Africa can be found here, including The Big 5’ wild dog, Roan, Tsessebe, Sable Antelope and more than 360 bird species. This park has the flora and fauna living side by side.
We also went on a safari in Zimbabwe’s reserve in Hwange National Park. This Park is located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. We saw lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, antipope, giraffes and zebra. Hwange is the largest and most famous of Zimbabwe’s national parks. They have more than 30,000 elephants and a massive number of buffalo. It was an incredible experience!
We toured the thundering Victoria Falls, the country’s most iconic feature, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall on the planet. The spectacular Victoria Falls’s is known as ‘The Smoke that Thunders”. It is located at the western end of the waterfall and is a major tourism hub for all of the great activities in this region of Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is a waterfall that spans the entire width of the mighty Zambezi River at one of its widest points before it plunges into a deep basalt gorge. It was described in the 1800’s as ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, now known as the greatest curtain of falling water in the world! It it truly a magnificent beauty! Columns of spray an be seen from miles away as, in the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge, over a width of nearly two kilometers, into a gorge over one hundred meters below. The wide basalt cliff over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a placid River into a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. Facing the fall is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height, and capped by mist-soaked rain forest. Victoria Falls is truly a majestic waterfall!
We visited the Makasa Sun Casino, located in the Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia, on the Zabezi River Falls. We won a lot of money and had a ball! We were quadrillionaires! One US dollar = Z $35 quadrillion. It was Fantastic!
We explored Zambezi on a Sunset Cruise on Zambezi Reflection Dinner Cruise. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The fabulous appetitizers, snacks, dinner, and desserts were spectacular; and the wines were superb. As we cruised down the Zambezi River, hippos and crocodiles swan along side the boat. We saw hippos, crocodiles and water bucks. We watched a group of elephants appear from the beneath the water and walked onto the shore, and bath in the sunset. Then watched them rest under a large tree. We passed a nearby island that had beautiful zebras and elephants watched as they walked around grazing the land. We saw the most glorious sunset, as the food and drinks continued to flow. We learned the wonderful background music being played on the boat was called Brazillian Lounge Music. This was a fantastic experience!