On to the next country!

August 15, 2024

I landed in Victoria Falls and had to dig for my US dollars because they wouldn’t take card for the visa. Thankfully I had $60 left still from the cash I brought from home. I got a double visa so I can go to Zambia for the day and see their side of the falls. Through passport control I found a lady with my name on the sign (I had booked my ride through Viator). She showed me who my van driver was but also told me that the ATMs only give USD anyway so I was able to grab some extra USD for this trip.

We got to the Lulu’s Guest Lodge around noon and they let me check in right away. There were like three people who came out to help me get to my room – which was not far and unnecessary. The room was clean and large. The shower has no curtain – but I showered right away and it was perfect.

I went to the office to do paperworkd and he said I had to pay – NOPE! I used Chase travel points for this reservation so he needs to figure it out on his side, this isnt my problem.

I then ask John (the owner) what I should do while I was ehre. He said he would take me to the falls. I thought he meant to drop me off – he ended up going with me and walking the whole thing with me. I had to pay for his entrance, but it was less than 1/5th the cost of my entrance. It is $50 USD for park entrance anyone who is not a local. The locals are $7 USD. He was a bit annoying, but also it was nice to have someone local.

We finished the Zimbabwe (Zim) side and he said he knew a great place for lunch – the Lookout Cafe. He didnt realize or see the few signs that said “closed for private event.” So instead he spent all this time driving around the area seeing things I didnt really need/want to see (just meandering through town). I was exhausted from traveling all night so this driving was only making me more exhausted. He finally brought me to another lodge that had a water front restaurant (we should have just come directly here) that was on top of the falls. You couldnt hear or see the falls, but this was the river running up to them. There were warthogs, baboons and cats (like domestic) on the river front that made dinner exciting.

I had to pay for his dinner too, but thats fine, he has been driving me around all day. I asked if we could stop on the way home for me to grab a towel, because I didnt get the packing list for my 14 day overland tour until last night and it says I need a towel! I also grabbed some yogurt, cereal and milk for tomorrow morning. When I got back to the hotel I gathered all my clothes to be washed and then crashed. Tomorrow I go to Zambia to see their side of the falls.