Natural Beauty of Victoria Falls

After buffet breakfast on the open-air deck with view of the Zam-bezi River， our tour guide picked us up and off we headed to view the world famous falls. We first stopped at the biggest Baobab tree Ive seen. If we think that our 400 year old redwood cedars are， special， they are nothing compared to this giant with over 1000 years to its credit.

Our guide parked near the falls entrance and I immediately noticed the beautiful carved handrail on the steps. It reminded me of the herd we had seen at the waterhole， in Hwange. Although the park sign said domestic animals not allowed， I wonder if they count the fellow grazing on the fenced lawn. I took a number of photos of their signs showing the history of the indigenous peoples， the history of the falls before proceeding along the paved footpath towards the Livingstone statue：

The falls were created by a fault line and as such are very long. In the Zimbabwe winter the entire rock face is totally covered with water. At the time we visited one could see the face between the falls， however it was still impressive. So hard did the water pound that the heavy mist feltlike rain as we proceeded along the path.

Devils Canyon： We were high enough up that we could see the water before it cascaded down the precipice.

They had an interesting display of skulls of different animals. With the elephant skull outside the case one could stand behind it to get an idea of how truly large it was. We proceeded along the path taking photos at every opportunity. Park attendants kept the paths clean by using twigs bound to branch with duct tape.

I found the trees very interesting including this limb that remind-ed me of a rhino hom. The falls photo is not blurry or out of focus. Its just the mist！

A friend at table tennis told me about a pool at the top of the falls. One needs an entry and exit visa to cross a bndge to Zambia where one can be escorted into the pool. People photograph swimmers on the other side. We werent that daring and didnt want to bother to get a visa. Here the falls peter out and we headed back to the exit. African" Arts and Crafts

Although we or rather I， did most of the purchasing， I restrained myseif although there were some beautiful chairs but they just wouldnt fit in my carry-on and we have no room for them at home. Did the next best thing and took a photo！ I did however buy a bracelet of the big five for granddaughter Victoria in the Victoria Falls gift shop. It seemed the appropriate place to do that. We were taken to another market with a wide variety of things “African”. I bought two small wooden bowls. Next stop Victoria Falls Hotel for a view of the bridge， the only way in and out of Zambia. My table-tennis playing friend has actually bungee jumped from it！ Not me： Remember we didnt want to bother getting a visa. Ha Ha.

The vintage hotel was one Dr. Livingston and Stanley frequent-ed. Here I am relaxing with guide John， in front of Stanleys Room. The curved stairways were beautiful.

We went to Mama Africa for lunch. John ordered kudu. I tried a piece. It tasted like beef， was tender and not at all gamey

After lunch John took us to an interesting market with all manner of crafts from Big Five4 carvings， single giraffes， wooden bowls， jew- ellery and clothing. I bought two small bowls and couldnt resist takinga photo of the huge rhino made entirely of flattened beer cans！

Close Contact with Lions

John asked if there was anything else we would like to do for the aftemoon. We mentioned that we had wanted to go on the Lion Walk but the hotel had told us that there were no spots left for either the aftemoon or even the next day. He made a phone call and to our delight managed to get us the tour.

Lion Encounter is an active conservation program that is passionate about ensuring a secure future for the African Lion， Pan-ther Leo. In partnership with ALERT， Lion Encounter operates the African Lion Rehabilitation & Release into the Wild Program. If you want to know more just google： www.lionencounter.com. It is a very important program as in the last 30 years the African Lion population has declined a shocking 80% ～ 90%. Their facility only takes twenty-four visitors at one time， dividing them into two groups. They have 4 cubs which they have rescued， one pair going with each group.

Our female twins were 18 months old and were considerably larger than the 6-month-old male twins that we patted in New Zea-land last March. Soon they would be released into a controlled area with other lions who would teach them how to hunt. Without the human impnnt， their offspring would then be released into the wild， a National Park for instance where they are free to roam and hunt thus building up the lion population again. It is similar to the World Wildlife Federation. It was such an amazing privilege to be able to participate in this program. We are so indebted to John for finding space for us. limagine that he may have asked another couple if they were staying in the Victoria Falls area longer than we were to give up their seats and go another day. Had we known about this amazing opportunity before leaving Canada we certainly would have asked Safari Partners to prebook it for us！

Just like the four rangers， everyone was required to have a walking stick which they supplied. I imagine that the cubs associate it with an Alpha trainer. There is a photo at Miombo with Brad relaxing on the sofa where a black and white cat lies beside him. Now he is patting a real cat！

We have so many beautiful keepsake photos， because the guides have everyones camera and one guide takes the photo while another takes video. When the group returns from the walk， they have already made it up including a lot about their wonderful program. The $30 DVD and the $120 per person are used to support it. When I patted Giant Pandas at The Panda Research Station in Chengdu， China， the funds were used to support the World Wildlife program. Similarly participating in and supporting the African Program was so much more meaningful than simply writing a donation cheque！

维多利亚瀑布的自然美景

在露天甲板上，我们一边观看赞比西河的风景，一边享用自助早餐，之后，导游接上我们，直奔世界著名的瀑布。我们先驻足在一棵猴面包树下，这是我见过的最大的猴面包树。如果有着400年树龄的红木雪松已经够特别的话，那比起这个据载有着1000年树龄的“巨人”简直不值一提。

导游把车子停在瀑布入口附近，我立刻注意到台阶两旁漂亮的雕花扶手。它让我想起在万基国家公园的某处水潭看到的牛群。公园标示着家畜不得入内，我不知道。他们能否指望这“家伙”在有围栏的草地上放牧。我给讲述土著人和瀑布历史的展牌拍了许多照片，然后继续沿着铺设的小径，朝利文斯通石像走去。

瀑布由一条断层裂痕形成，因此很长。在津巴布韦的冬天，整个岩石表面都会完全被水覆盖。而我们参观的时候，水量没有那么充足，因此瀑布下的部分石面裸露了出来;尽管如此，它仍让人叹为观止。我们踏着小径继续前行，身旁的急流倾泻而下，腾起阵阵水雾，竟有烟雨朦胧的感觉。

魔鬼峡谷：我们站到高处，可以看到水飞泻悬崖前的情况。

当地人对不同动物的头骨的展示方式很有趣。他们把大象的头骨放在屋外，这样人们就能站在它后面，真切地了解它究竟有多大。我们继续沿着小径走，不放过每个拍照的机会。公园管理员们用强力防水胶带把树枝绑成扫把，用来打扫小径。

我发现这里的树很有意思，这个枝杈让我想起犀牛角。……