Mosi oa Tunya

While Mike and I were in Livingstone, we of course went to see Victoria Falls, known in Nyanja as Mosi oa Tunya, "The Smoke that Thunders." We actually had to go twice because the first time it poured, and when you combine rain with mist from one of the world's largest waterfalls, you end up with a miserable day. However, we did remedy this horrible day with lounging at a high-end resort near the Falls, being entertained by the antics of the ever-present monkeys (including jumping on a guy's table and stealing his sugar packets), partaking in high tea, where the monkeys made another appearance (I calmly jumped out of my seat and started yelling "MONKEY!!!!" to alert the security guards with slingshots... yes, slingshots. But don't worry, all you animal lovers, the monkey made a great escape and with handfuls of pastries at that), and getting to see the two animals that alluded us during our trip to Botswana -- zebras and giraffes. Here are some photos from that day of the amazing wildlife we did get to see (note the monkey perched on the roof, poised to wreak havoc on some unsuspecting diner).

We did make it back to Victoria Falls, two days later, and despite the ominous clouds (as seen in the pictures below), it rained very little, and we were able to enjoy the grandeur that is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. We also hiked down to the first set of rapids on the Zambezi River right after the Falls, a spot called the Boiling Pot. The hike was quite an adventure - a steep descent into a flooded area that required wading through thigh-deep, flowing water. We were led through the waters by two accommodating Zambian men, looking to make a few bucks; I was very grateful for their help, though, because we would have never made it on our own. However, this did not stop me from thinking about all the things that could be in that water or remembering the really creepy photos of disgusting worms that burrow into your skin that they showed us at training week... But in the end, I'm glad we went; it was worth the trip.
And that pretty much wraps up Mike's trip to Zambia. It was great to have him there, to finally see and experience where I was living and what I was doing and what I had been eating /drinking for the four months I spent in Zambia. And I hope he enjoyed it a little bit...