Christmar Hotel in Lusaka was a good stop over that ensured that I did not have a repeat of the previous night having to ride through the late afternoon thunderstorms. The hotel had safe parking for the bike which was a top priority and the food seemed ok until the next morning. Whilst loading the bike up to head for Livingstone, I had that sudden urge to run to the toilet....not again. If there is one thing I will look forward to when returning home it will be to eat something without suffering the consequences the next morning.
After the slight delay to my departure, I finally managed to get on the road to complete the 300 miles to Livingstone, home of the Victoria Falls. I was pleased that the roads where well maintained, wide and free from traffic, which meant that I could cover the miles relatively quickly. The ride was pretty uneventful as the landscape was miles and miles of bushland with the occasional town and by town I mean a place with supermarkets, petrol stations and houses, rather than small communities of mud huts or half brick built structures with corrugated iron roofs.
After 5 hrs of riding I arrived into the bustling town of Livingstone and quickly found my booked accommodation for the next 5 days, Jollyboys Backpackers.
The complex had tight security, so again would be safe for the bike. As I walked into the main area of Jollyboys I was pleasantly surprised, the bar and pool area very well kept, with a great atmosphere. Even though it was low season the place was still very busy.
And the pool area...
I don’t think I will have a problem relaxing here for the next 5 days. After checking in you are presented with an activity booklet that outlines all the trips, so have booked the river cruise with BBQ and the White Water Rafting....can’t wait.
In the mean time as I have transport there are also some activities that I can organise myself which include a visit to the Crocodile and Reptile Park and the Victoria Falls
Day 1 was the visit to the Victoria Falls.
Standing near the edge of the falls....
The view as you first approach the falls....
The bridge over the gorge where the bungee jumping station is located....
To see the falls standing on the bridge was such an amazing experience. The force of the water hitting the base of the falls below the bridge was so immense that there was a backdraft of water spray that shot up and over the bridge, creating a water haze and soaking anyone standing on the bridge.
After a great day out it was back to Jollyboys where a beer was calling. Arriving at the bar, I joined Marius, the Jollyboys Manager and his local mates and after 4 buckets of beer and several shots later, we beckoned the rest of the guests over to our table for more drinks.....needless to say It wasn’t much longer before I slid off and crashed out!