We started out our safari vacation by flying to Livingstone, Zambia (1,332 kms away overland) to visit Victoria Falls and the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Wildlife Park. Flying there involves two layovers and over nine hours traveling. When you go, ask for the visa that allows you to visit both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of the Falls, since the Zambezi River makes up part of the border between the two countries and your visit to the Falls involves talking with immigration officers in both countries both ways.

The guards who protect the rhinos at Mosi-Oa-Tunya allow you to get fairly close to the rhinos. The rhinos don’t seem to care and napped throughout our visit.

Christmas Eve at Victoria Falls. The water level was improved since my prior visit in October and the falls on the Zambian side had more flow. Much of the water from the Zambezi river on the Zambian side is diverted for hydroelectric power and so low or no flow is common during the dry months.

Warthogs on the park path at Victoria Falls.

Sunset above Victoria Falls, Christmas night. The rising mist from the Falls was the reason that the original local name for Victoria Falls translates to “smoke that thunders.” The mist / “smoke” can be seem from miles away.

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