A more accurate name for this post might be Lazy and Boring. After we reached the Zambian border and turned in our Land Cruiser, mostly what we did was luxuriate in a glorious setting. Great for us but not much to read about. Still, we did get wet and saw a couple of wild marvels.

One of the great natural wonders of the world lies at the far northwest corner of where Zimbabwe meets Zambia, so the first thing we did upon driving there from Hwange National Park was to go to Victoria Falls National Park (on the Zimbabwe side). I’d been worrying for months that only a trickle of water might be pouring over the escarpment. The end of the dry season is an excellent time for seeing animals but six months off from when the water levels are highest.

I had nothing to worry about. A poster near the park entrance makes it clear that high and low season at the falls offer very different experiences.

At the peak-flow times, the mist is so dense it’s hard to see much. Instead we watched a breathtaking amount of water plunge over the cliff in some places…

…but also got clear views of the rocky geology. It was spectacular, and seeing it in person fulfilled a long-held dream.

Friday night we ate crocodile croquettes and good pizza at the Vic Falls branch of The Three Monkeys then slept at the B&B where we dropped off the Land Cruiser. The next morning a local guy transported us to the Zambia border, where the passport-stamping formalities took only 20 minutes. A second driver drove us across the 118-year-old bridge financed by Cecil Rhodes…

and then on to our splurge for the trip — a beautiful lodge on the banks of the Zambezi.

Both of us were tired, so it was pure pleasure to enjoy the river views, nap, and swim in the riverside pool.

In the late afternoon of our full day at the lodge, we boarded a sunset cruise on the river.

Along with drinks and hot hors d’oeuvres, it served up views of animals strolling or snoozing on the banks:

…as well as our first hippo of the trip…

…and some startling views of an elephant orgy featuring both sex…

…and snuggles.

Then it was time to pack up, say goodbye to ZImbabwe and Zambia and head off on the last phase of this trip: South Africa, Lesotho, and eSwatini.