If you like the idea of going to Zambia or reading about my trip there, then you can see the article in the Real Travel Magazine, out now (November 2009) although I have added the scanned images of it on this page.
Have you ever….. Canoed the Zambezi – 449 words
“Would you like to come with me to Zambia in a couple of weeks?” my boyfriend asked. I didn’t have to think twice and we embarked on a discovery of this wonderful South African Country. It was utterly fantastic!
Staying in the National Park, on the banks of the Zambezi, the Victoria Falls
Zambia 2007 Zambezi river Hippos
were just metres away. We found ourselves alone and suspended on the knife edge bridge, right in the middle of the thundering falls – encompassed in its mist and spray. Being the rainy season, the falls were magnificent and we got very wet!
Ready for some action, we chose to canoe down the Zambezi. Greeted by our really laid back guide we set off in our two man canoes, with another couple. Canoeing was challenging – the river was so flooded, rapids had formed and only the tops of some trees were visible, along with the beady eyes and dinky ears of Hippo’s heads. “Many Hippo’s have just given birth” our guide advised us “So, we must be careful – they will be very protective of their babies. If they get angry or under our canoes, they would have us tipped into the water in a flash”
Have you ever Real Travel Nov 2009
Within minutes, he started shouting and waving his hands frantically “paddle, paddle, quick!” I had leisurely been taking photos and as I turned round, I caught sight of a Hippo’s head, right behind our canoes – she was hot on our tails and angry as we were in her territory! I threw down my camera and frantically paddled. The next couple of minutes were an adrenalin pumped blur of splashing water, but the hippo realised we were not out to harm her, so stopped the chase eventually. The guide said that we had done really well and our canoe trip would be the last for a few months, due to the flooding and dangers of the Hippo’s!
As we slowed our pace (and hearts) down, we could really enjoy the serene beauty of the Zambezi with the lush land of Zambia on one side and Zimbabwe on the other – where we sighted a large bull Elephant. The skies, the heat of the African sun, the noise of wildlife in the background were amazing.
Zambia our canoe copyright Sandra M Dean
A ‘flying fox’ experience across the gorge, a micro light trip over the falls, horse riding and a truck safari in the national park filled the rest of our 5 days on the Zambezi, and for wildlife, we were spoilt with sightings of Elephant, Hippo’s, Giraffe, Zebra, Antelope and the last two White Rhino in Zambia. Unfortunately they have been shot by poachers so they are now extinct in Zambia, but I will never forget that canoe trip!
- Zambia hippos and rapids of the Zambezi
In addition to the writing above that featured in the magazine, I would recommend anyone going to Zambia to spend a little time in Lusaka – a City that will surprise, sadden and interest the hardy traveller!
