We take a coach to the nearby border feeling quite smug that we already have our visa from the Zimbabwe embassy in London...but, of course, it saves no time really as we have to wait for everyone else. At least we don't have to fill in that form....
...after which we have one hour on another straight road to Victorial Falls (the town) in the hands of a competent guide..she gives us a list of possible activities for the following day...which are pretty expensive and all in US dollars, which Zimbabwe needs pretty badly. In two minds about this really. Don't really fancy bungee jumping and the like but spot a cultural tour.
The hotel turns out to be a really nice Moorish styled place and the falls themselves are a fantastic sight, even though this is the dry season.
We take the cultural tour the next morning...to a local village and school. Just six of us, including two ex school Heads and a Principal.....!
The chief of the village gives us an utterly fascinating talk on his village, beliefs, customs and the problematic aid situation; he has lectured in the UK. His village is essentially self sufficient..no electricity ....cooking on wood gathered from the land and generating food from crops, selling surpluses in town.
Our visit to a local school is, as usual for us in these situations, very moving. The children are great and Sue is in her element, of course. When we talk to groups, Sue asks meaningful questions and ends up writing on the blackboard while I play 'lets make a silly movie' games on my phone. Great fun though. The school is badly in need of money and, although we stopped off to buy pencils and paper on the way, we are dragooned onto making a contribution..although we keep it small. Feel slightly odd about this, given it's where it is.
Then it's back to the hotel ...lunch ....coach ...border...and here we are back at our super luxury lodge (!) sweltering in the Botswanian heat.
Great mini holiday experience with memories to carry with us.
Namibia tomorrow....another day, another border crossing....
No comments:
Post a Comment