Zambia

Victoria Falls in Zambia

Victoria Falls.

Us at Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

View of Victoria Falls with a swimming area on the left.

After having a wonderful time on safari, returning to civilization was a shock.  We left  Kruger and flew to Livingstone, Zambia.  Traffic, lots of people, run down dilapidated buildings, and scruffy landscape all assaulted and insulted our senses.  The main drag was designed to attract tourists with  honky tonk shops trying to sell variations of the same things.  

We were there to see Victoria Falls which is a World Heritage Site.  It was obvious that during the rainy season, or when there is no drought the Falls are magnificent.  Even without the normal flow of water we could see the beauty of the falls and how impressive they must be when they are at their peak.

There was plenty to do during our brief stay in Livingstone.  

We went for a boat ride on the Lady Livingstone where we enjoying drinks, appetizers and viewed the sunset on the Zambezi River.

Sunset on the Zambezi River

Crocodile relaxing along the Zambezi River

View from our room at the Royal Livingstone Hotel

At our hotel we were fortunate to see even more wildlife.  I love zebra.  They are such beautiful animals.  Tom wanted a picture of me with the zebras.

There were zebra grazing on the hotel grounds. We came across them just after leaving our room.

Tom kept telling me to get closer to the Zebra's

Nervously I cautiously approached the baby zebra.

Oops!  The baby didn't like my being so close.  I was lucky he missed me!  Another member of our group wasn't so lucky.

 While we were in Zambia we were invited to visit the Ebenezer Private School and Orphanage.  We did visit the school but didn't see the orphanage.

When we arrived at the Ebenezer Private School the children were there to greet us with singing and dancing.  We had the opportunity to meet with the founder Ranji Chara and visit some of the classrooms.  

Ever since I was young and my parents took me to developing countries I've had a difficult time dealing with poverty.  I was reminded again of the pain I feel in seeing poverty, hunger, and illness.

Royal Livingstone Express.  A beautifully restored train powered by coal.

The interior was very comfortable.

Next on our agenda was a chance to go back in time as we boarded the Royal Livingstone Express.  We saw some scenery, including viewing a small slice of local life, and enjoyed a delicious dinner.  Again, I found some of what we saw extremely disturbing.  There doesn't seem to be a method to properly dispose of trash.  It is simply strewn along the train tracks outside of the housing tracts.  This is where the children play, among the rubbish heaps.

Here you can see where the trash is piled up.  It seemed to go on for miles.  This is where the children play.

It is exciting for the children to have a train passing by.  Some kids try to catch the train.

 Halfway through our ride we stopped so the engine could be moved from the front to the back of the train. That's how we "turn around."  It takes a while.  A family came out to watch the show.  It looked like three sisters, each with a baby on her back.  Six other children came with them.  It appeared to be one family living outside of town.  It was very difficult getting even a smile out of the children.

A family came out to watch the train show.

One of the mothers.

A second mother.

Getting ready for dinner in the dining car.