---

The Victoria Falls Hotel

We spend our first 2 nights at the The Victoria Falls Hotel. Despite some initial reservations about staying in Zimbabwe the hotel was great.

---

The Victoria Falls Hotel

The hotel had a terrace across the front with views of the falls.

---

The Victoria Falls

After check in we took the short walk from the hotel to the falls, trying to avoid the guys selling souvenir statues and 100 trillion dollar notes.

It was a US$120 entry fee for the 4 of us to go into the park but the guard kindly offered to let us back in the following morning with the same ticket.

---

The Victoria Falls

Tammay and I had visited Victoria Falls from the Zambian side in 2007 but the views from Zimbabwe were far better.

---

The Victoria Falls

The falls generated a huge amount of spray which billowed up out of the gorge and rained down on you if you stood close to the edge.

---

The Victoria Falls

Tammay and my parents at the falls.

---

The Victoria Falls

Me with my parents at the falls.

---

The Trail

A trail ran along the falls for about 2km, passing in and out of the trees. We strolled along stopping at each viewpoint.

---

Risking Life & Limb?

Through the mist of the falls we spotted a group of people being rather daring on the other side... either that or a little stupid!

---

Tammay...

...doing her best to stay dry!

---

The Victoria Falls Bridge

We walked all the way along the trail to the road & rail bridge joining Zimbabwe and Zambia. Tammay and I had walked across this bridge in our 2007 visit.

---

Baboon

As we looked across at the Victoria Falls Bridge we spotted a troop of baboons walking along the hand rails. Once they reached the Zimbabwean side they walked through the trees to where we were standing. After looking through a bin for food this one jumped up and sat on the fence.

---

The Zambezi

A view of the Zambezi as it switches from the Second (left) to the Third (right) Gorge. This was from the grounds of the Victoria Falls Hotel.

We returned to the hotel for a light evening meal followed by a cocktail on the terrace as the sun went down.

---

The Livingstone Statue

Sat 25th Although we'd arranged to meet my parents at 7am for a walk to the falls we ended up being an hour late as I'd forgotten to update the clock on my phone!

When the guard at the falls saw us he said "Ah, you again...", jokingly followed by "...I better have my ticket back otherwise you'll come back again!".

Tammay and my parents at the Livingstone Statue.

---

The Livingstone Statue

Tammay, my dad and myself at the Livingstone Statue.

---

The Victoria Falls

A view of the Western end of the falls and Cataract Island, from near the Livingstone Statue.

---

The Victoria Falls

Tammay and my parents with the Livingstone Statue just visible in the background.

---

The Victoria Falls

My parents and I.

---

The Victoria Falls

Mum, capturing the moment.

---

The Victoria Falls

Dad, taking in the view.

---

The Victoria Falls

Mum.

---

The Victoria Falls

Tammay and my parents watching the mist rise from the falls.

---

The Victoria Falls

Tammay.

---

The Victoria Falls

My parents.

---

The Victoria Falls Hotel

We returned to the hotel for breakfast.

Tammay and I in the grounds of the Victoria Falls Hotel. In the background you can see the road & rail bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe and the mist rising from the falls.

The far end of the gorge (just beyond the bridge) is known as the 'Boiling Pot' and Tammay and I had been there on our 2007 visit.

---

The Victoria Falls

Our room at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Given the age and location of the hotel I was really impressed with the standard.

---

The Victoria Falls

The Halls of the Victoria Falls Hotel. There was plenty of history on the walls, including many visits by the Royal family.

---

Helicopter Flight over the Falls

Over breakfast my parents offered to pay for a helicopter trip over the falls as a birthday present. We booked a flight for that afternoon.

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

The helicopter gave us spectacular views of the falls.

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

The Zambezi after the falls, as it zig-zags through each gorge.

---

Helicopter Flight

---

Helicopter Flight

A view of the Zambezi up stream from the falls.

---

Helicopter Flight

Coming in to land.

---

Helicopter Flight

My parents and I after the flight.

---

Mist Rising from the Falls

Back to the hotel for an evening meal and another cocktail on the terrace. We took in the view of the mist rising from the falls for the final time and watched the sun go down.

While we were sat on the terrace chatting we happened to discuss a chap that had once stayed at my parents at their B & B. On some rather limited information I decided to try a quick Google search on the iPad to see if I could find anything. We knew his surname was Eddowes and that he had been an author of books relating to the death of JFK and the execution of a man in the UK who was later pardoned by the Queen. I soon discovered that it had been Michael Eddowes and couldn't quite get over the interesting life he had led.

---

The Flight from Kasane

Sun 26th An early breakfast and a very cold start to the day! We checked out at 07:30 and drove about an hour to the Zimbabwe / Botswana border. We walked over the border, changed vehicles and then drove a further 20 mins to Kasane airport for the 50 min flight to Lagoon which was our first safari camp in Botswana. As with quite a few of our flights we had the airplane all to ourselves.