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| Yours truly driving the riverboat |
Yesterday
evening we arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa after a 16-hour plane ride. It
seemed surreal as we touched ground on the landing strip and saw the famous
“velt” that was detrimental to British forces in colonial times.
“That’s
the reason British started wearing khaki,” the passenger in the seat next to me
said, gesturing toward the tall brown grass. “The redcoats were too easy to
pick out.”
After
a short layover, we boarded a much smaller plane and landed in Victoria Falls,
Zimbabwe before lunch. I use the timestamp “before lunch” specifically, because
I learned as soon as I went to pay for my visa and pick up my luggage we were
now on Africa time. Nothing seems slow, but the sunrise, sunset and meal times
direct the activities of the people who live and subsequently the large numbers
of tourists who visit every year.
Although
most of the eight counters at the immigration station were manned, nobody was
in a hurry. They causally asked you questions, looked over every inch of your
passport and customs declaration before stamping a page. Even the receipts
print on Africa time.
The
sunset cruise was on the Zambezi, the fourth longest river on the continent,
but without a doubt one the most gorgeous. We saw crocodiles, hippopotamuses,
multiple birds I could not remember the name of and other animals. I even got
to drive the riverboat. (Raymond be proud of me).
Afterwards,
we had dinner at the Ilala Lodge. The menu and the company were fabulous. We
tried lamb, ostrich steak, warthog pork chops and kudu Wellington with South
African wines. I also tried amarulla, a coffee liqueur that is wonderful.
Our
class website will be up and running soon with stories from the trip, so I will
be sure and let everyone know when it is uploaded.
Until
next time,
Lyndle
