Out of Africa : You can't get there from here!

We've covered a lot of the African continent and are now enjoying the heat and humidity of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The three flights required for the trip included a stop in Zanzibar for a few minutes, allowing us a view of the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean. The colour of the water below us as we arrived and departed was so beautiful that it is easy to see why so many Europeans choose to vacation there.

Overnighting in Dar es Salaam was another story. It is the business and financial centre of Tanzania but in spite of the new building...some of it very impressive...there is a tremendous amount of poverty. On the way from the airport to our hotel, a distance of 10 km, we were constantly harassed by street sales people. This was made possible because of the fact that it took us over an hour and a half to travel the distance. Our driver told us that there was likely a polititian wanting to go to the airport so they just stopped all the traffic and cleared him an escorted path. The area is notorious for bad traffic and the locals take advantage of the opportunity to offer everything you can imagine for purchase. Walking between the traffic-jammed cars were people selling things as diverse as computer chargers and pillows, to taro root and cashews and ice cream.

After seeing amazing wildlife the previous week, the only wild animal we saw in Dar was a rat - a rather appropriate sighting.

Victoria Falls is a treat. Our hotel is on the banks of the Zambezi River, 4km upstream from the falls. We have walked the trails overlooking these impressive falls, browsed the markets of town and relaxed by the hotel pool. The signs here warn us of the danger of the wild animals. In fact, about once a week large crocs visit the area where I am presently sitting. Don' t worry though;l ast night I enjoyed a dinner of croc tail. It was quite delicious and as they said, it's better to bite the croc first!!

This morning we also spent some time at the beautiful Victoria Falls Hotel, enjoying a mid morning coffee served in traditional colonial splenor. The setting was so historical, the service impeccable and we felt like we were rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous who have spent time there in the past. At the markets we were escorted but tourist police making sure we were not taken advantage of. The sales people were extremely aggressive, even offering to trade some of their goods for our shirts or in Peter's case his socks. The carvings were very inexpensive, beautifully crafted and impossible to carry for the weeks ahead...in spite of our desire to purchase.

We have met most of our group as well as our tour leader and and have already started forming friendships. Tomorrow we leave for Botswana and the Chobe River. Who knows what exciting things await us over the next three weeks.