Visit to Victoria Falls

Doug & I standing before the Falls

Victoria Falls or “The Smoke that Thunders” as named by the local tribesman. Missionary David Livingstone made the Falls known and named them after Queen Victoria. As we walked through the rain forest I couldn’t help but wonder what is was like for him to walk upon this magnificent display of God’s creation.

Statue of David Livingstone at the Falls

On Monday we traveled to the Martin’s Drift border post of Botswana. It took two hours on each side of the border before we could finally begin the long drive through Botswana. We overnighted outside of Francistown at The Woodlands. The next day we continued to the top of Botswana going through another border post into Zimbabwe. After an hour’s drive we arrived at the town of Victoria Falls. Our hotel, The Kingdom, was beautiful and only a short distance from the Falls.

Morning Breakfast with the Raley's

After a good night’s sleep the next day we walked through the historic Victoria Falls Hotel. Then off to our tram ride to the Victoria Falls Bridge. We were introduced through a presentation to M. Georges Imbault the chief construction engineer of the bridge. Next we were harnessed up for our tour of the bridge. The tour consisted of us going under the bridge on a catwalk to stroll the length of the bridge while enjoying the view of the Falls. We would walk along the rope line and attach and undo our harness hooks as we progressed 450 feet above the Zambezi River.

A monologue of Mr. Imbault sharing about the construction of the bridge

Dad getting harnessed for the bridge walk

Next Mom

Then Doug & I

On the catwalk

View from the catwalk

Exiting the catwalk-Mom was excited to be done!

While the Raley’s did a zip line and Julia zipped, swung and bungee jumped off the bridge, we returned to town to do some shopping at the craft villages.

Before we left the next morning, we walked the trail through a rain forest along the expanse of the Falls. Rainbows would pop up and then disappear just as quickly. We were drenched with water from the massive spray of the Falls.

First rainbow above the gorge

Mom & Dad walking through the rainforest

Best view of the Falls

We left mid-morning traveling again through Botswana and returning another night to The Woodlands to sleep. On Friday we arrived back in Polokwane around 3PM.

Lord, thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity to view the splendor of your majesty with my parents and good friends. Thank you for keeping us safe as we traveled. We are so undeserving of your goodness to us. Amen.