Victoria Falls; adventure center of Zambia

April 14Th/2008

Today riders are enjoying the last of 2 days rest at Victoria Falls.
The Falls are an amazing sight, both from the air, and from the ground.

Quick facts;
Victoria Falls is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. The entire area is both a national park, and a world heritage site. The falls are 1.7 kilometers long. The scope and size can only fully be seen and appreciated from the air. Cubic feet per second of water actually pouring over the 333foot/100meter drop is staggering, especially during the recent rainy period. It is simply a jaw dropping spectacle from both the ground and in the air. I was fortunate to take a helicopter flight through the gorge, and over the falls, then got completely drenched by the falls spray when walking out onto a knife edged ridge near the eastern cataract.

It was a thrill to be at such a world renowned location.
Viewing the falls , however, is only a small part of the activities available here.

fellow TDA riders went bungee jumping (3rd highest drop in the world), abseiling, river rafting, river cruising, on microlight flights,canoeing, jogging, and a host of other activities. Many of us availed ourselves to the all you can eat breakfast and dinner buffets at some very swanky local hotels, knowing full well that we will burn of the calories quickly in the upcoming long stages in Botswana...

Tomorrow the tour resumes. It will be our last day in Zambia. This country has proven to be very beautiful, challenging (long stages, day after day), warm and hospitable. It has also proven to be a land of contrasts with basic grass & mud huts and subsistence farming in the countrysides, to the land of plenty and excess in such places as Lusaka and Livingstone/Victoria Falls.

The 2 days off was very necessary. Most riders are relatively weak, have somewhat compromised immune systems, and have lost quite a bit of weight over the course of the tour.
Personally I am thankful to be healthy, happy, strong, and ready for the next section of the tour, called "Elephant Highway".

I am also thankful to be in 3rd place in the race overall, and also 3rd in the last section entitled "the Zambezi Zone".

27 days/22 riding days and we will be in Cape Town (May 10Th)

It's been an awesome adventure.........

Stay tuned for more posts when time and working computers can be found....

Meanwhile it's back on the road again...

Chris Wille in Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Zambia.