Day 5: July 24, 2011

Written by: Melissa

Today we woke up very early again so we could visit Victoria Falls and have time to shop at the markets. We all climbed into the repaired van, full of anticipation for the day ahead. As we arrived at Victoria Falls, we could hear the roar of the cascading water from the entrance. Several of us agreed that the roar sounded similar to Atlanta highway traffic. We all zipped our raincoats up to our chins and readied our cameras for our first view of one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

Our first glimpse of the Falls was just foggy spray, but it was a glorious sight. We quickly made our way through the viewpoints the map provided. We ohhed and awed over the rushing water, the rocks, pointed out rainbows, and got soaked by the spray. Pictures were our top priority, so you can see for yourself, although it’s not the same!

We stopped for lunch at the Hwange Game Lodge, the largest protected game park in Zimbabwe. Lunch was lovely as we sat out on their lawn, which overlooked the game preserve. Baboons kept us laughing and entertained as they played and drank from the pool a few feet away. After lunch we continued an uneventful journey back to Morning Star. (we may have sung part of the way to entertain ourselves!) We did make a small stop and bought some fruit (cream of tarter) that grows on the Baobab tree, from two small boys off the road. The fruit was 4 for one U.S. dollar. I wanted to give more, so we gave the boys an extra dollar. They were so confused, but when they understood the smiles on their faces was priceless! We drove away to see them dancing in the street, waving their dollar bills! Wow, what a lesson in giving and appreciating the small things.

Once we arrived at Morning Star and ate our dinner, we hurried off to bed, anticipating our first day in the schools. What would we see? What would the children be like? Will they like us? Will they understand us?