Excursions excursions excursions
Towards the end of the first leg of our trip we did a couple of cool optional excursions. This safari has quite a lot of activities/excursions included but there is the option to add additional excursions. Our first one was a helicopter ride that began in Maun and flew over the Okavango Delta.
We did the helicopter ride right after our 2 night camping stint in the delta. It was the perfect ending to our time there. The views were astonishing! The delta water levels fluctuate by season. During this time (June-August) the levels are highest. The water comes from rainfall that occurs in the Angolan highlands 750 miles away. The water travels down and fills the narrow channels land the floodplains of the Okavango. Rather than flowing in a straight line, the water spreads outward like the roots of a tree.
From above we could see the beautiful design of the delta along with some awesome animal sightings! We saw whole herds of elephants making their way through the floodplains. We saw a pack of 3 ostriches hanging out together. We found hippos not only in the water but also beached along the shore of a lagoon. We saw zebra, wildebeest, crocodiles and warthogs!
Our next excursion was easily the craziest thing we’ve ever done. Had I known all that it entailed I likely would not have done it! Nevertheless I am glad for the experience but will not be doing it again haha. Daniel and I signed up for a swing off the 420 foot high bridge at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. What I didn’t know was that to get swinging you had to jump. And fall. 230 feet. Were we crazy? Yes! Did my body fight me on taking the final step to the edge of the platform? Yes! Did my heart fly out of my chest? Yes! Did we forget to jump straight and instead let our legs fly around? Yes (Daniel looks like he was attempting to karate chop the air)! Did we survive? Yes!
Falling 230 feet feels like it will never end. But the moment the rope caught us and we began swinging was blissful. At least looking back it feels that way. In the moment I was deliriously catching my breath while Daniel was reminding me to enjoy the view! It was quite stunning! We got hoisted back up to a bottom level of the bridge where we then had to climb a narrow ladder up, make our way to the opposite side of the bridge, and then walk back across the bridge to our fellow safari travelers and jumpers. Daniel and I took 2 shots each of $2 vodka. Vodka never tasted so good!
Our last excursion before the second leg of our safari was much more calm and serene (we learned our lesson with the jump!). We enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise along the Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls. It was a very sweet dinner. This was our first escape just the 2 of us since Paris. It was a 4 course meal and unlimited drinks. The food and the views were phenomenal. We got to see the explosion of spray from the falls, which the locals call “Mosi-oa-Tunya— The smoke that thunders”. We got to see more hippos, we enjoyed the sunset, and the staff on the boat sang a sweet song. It was a perfect way to celebrate being alive and to end the first leg of our African Safari!
