Day 60: Choma – Kongola

A wild elephant! Sweet! I pull up next to the cute guy, and Natalie starts taking pics. He’s even opening up his ears! Oh, he’s opening up his ears, that means he’s going to charge...

Another, amazing, day.

We don’t know where we’re going to end up, or what’s going to happen, but we’re on the road by about seven. The roads thus far haven’t been much to write about, I’m hoping things get better for Natalie. We stop in Livingstone for fuel for Kirsty, brunch for us, and a cushion for Natalie’s bum. Fuel for K-Dog is easy, and we’re pretty easily fed at the ‘Hungry Lion’ chicken house. And then we end up buying a teddy bear (we call Weird Bear, or Weirdo for short) as a seat cushion. It’s been a good stop!

Now though, we’re heading for Vic Falls. As we pass the sign for the waterfall, I see a plastic elephant, no worries. But Natalie yelps, it’s real! A frickin wild elephant! We spin around for a closer look, and see his mates, unbelievable! Spinning around to see the first elephant again, he looks amazing. Being a bit wet behind the ears with these things, I pull up near him. He’s chilled for about two seconds, then seeing us, or hearing Kirsty, he flares his ears. It’s an amazing site, and it doesn’t seem threatening , but by the time my brain kicks in that it is a threat, the big fella has decided he’d rather run than stay. Wow, that was quite an experience, and we ain’t even in a park!

Next up, Vic Falls! Def worth the visit. It’s extremely dramatic, and we’ve come when the water level is low, but it’s still enthralling and completely devastating to see.

Anyway, waterfall box ticked, we might actually be able to cross the border into Namibia today. So we set off in search of another new country. And before you know it, we’re stamping out, and stamping in. I must say, the quickest border crossing I’ve ever experienced in Africa. Other than my small screw up, turning up with no local currency. I need to pay for road tax, but they won’t accept anything other than Namibian Dollars. OK, back to Zam, quick forex, back to Nam. We should make Kongola just before nightfall. And we do, with half an hour to spare. Looking around, we drop in to one of two lodges. They offer camping, £8pppn, but they have a lodge we can pop out to to eat on. And, the lodge, is amazing! You could come here on your honeymoon. We’re picked up in a sweet Landcruiser, and taken into the lodge. A three storey viewing platform seems perfect for watching the sunset and drinking our first beer. And, unthinkably, a hippo decides now is the perfect time to wander out of the water and stroll underneath us. My first ever hippo viewing!

OK, enough is enough, I’m not going to bore you with how brilliant the rest of the evening is, but we’re booked in for a hippo boat cruise tomorrow, so I’m off to beds!