I was researching other activities we can partake in while in Livingstone. Here is link to Sun International site. Look under "activities." We really would like to see falls from Zimbabwe side; is anyone up for the trip to the other side? Maybe Saturday afternoon? Is anyone interested in Livingstone Island Luncheon (we could only go if time after Four Corners)? How about a helicopter or micrflight into the falls?

It seems that we have lots of free time in Livingstone to partake of these and other activities.

Any thoughts?

Marc, when my brother and SIL were there, they had a canoe thing from the hotel with a guy named Colin... booked him through the hotel and loved it. Colin is a Zimbabwe native now in Zambia. It is a canoe thing, and quite scary to me, as Rhinos can go underwater for so many minutes and then surface. But I plan to do it. I think Joe has his website, but I don't think this guy is an e-mail sort of person. I'll ask Robin if she can pass along pictures from their time with him.

It is the hippos that go under water and surface under the canoe. They are also very aggressive and have been known to charge canoes. More people are killed by Hippos than any other animal in Africa. Sorry, wont get me in a canoe or a moroko.

Re flights over the Falls - IMO, helicopter is much better than fixed wing. Keep in mind that microflights don't permit cameras.

Ngaire, I may just mark that canoe thing off my list.

Ngaire:

Do you know what time we return from Four Corners tour?

Is this something that has to be decided now?? I don't think I could make a coherent decision about anything else until I get to Capetown :hyper:

Is anyone interested in Livingstone Island Luncheon (we could only go if time after Four Corners)? (marc)

I couldn't find that particular tour listed, Marc, but we are interested. Cost? Timing?

Thanks for doing the legwork. Cheers, Anne

We'd be interested in anything except the helicopter (just don't like them)...also, eek, no bungee jumping!!!

I asked Tiffany and she said it depended on so many things, traffic, time spent out on the lake how long the guide takes, how long you take, rush through or take your time etc. Expect to be gone between 4 - 5 hours. So if you leave at 7.30 am you will be gone until 11.30 to 12.30. This could run over of course or you could get back earlier.

You need to be back from any excursions to go on the sunset cruise at 4.30 pm.

Just remember it will be hot and you will be doing quite a long trip that morning for four corners. Just dont book yourselves into exhaustion.

These things can all be booked at the hotel when you arrive. There is a big group there but I would imagine that they are used to that as it is a big convention type place with all kinds of conventions taking place here. There are many tour operators offering these type of excursions so I would imagine (BUT CANNOT PROMISE) that there would be availability to book once you get there.

The Livingstone Island Lunch is listed under "personalised tours."

In addition to timing, tour availability depends on how high the water is. Does anyone know of a link to find current river/falls status? I think we are on the cusp between high and low water.

Here is a good map of the falls including location of our hotel. Click on map to zoom in.

We'd be interested in the Livingstone Island Lunch. We are not signed up for the Four Corners excursion - Jim is very eager to take some kind of plane ride over the falls. I would do a helicopter but no way would I go in one of the microlights. The president of our company actually witnessed a hippo attack during one of his trips - his advice was to stay out of small boats where there are likely to be hippos.

Mary Ellen

Hippos are my favorite African animal. It probably goes back to my frequent trips to Disneyland and the hippos in the Jungle Cruise. When I saw hippos the first time in Africa, they were dreadfully boring; doing nothing. It would be great if we can get some volunteers into the canoes so I might be able to get some pictures of rampaging hippos. :D

:D :D I hope we see some hippo's on the sunset cruise....or rhino's...hope it's a big boat :eek:

I thought, though I think I have posted these before, my SIL's photo's of VF might be a nice teaser. As you remember they were visiting my niece, who was in the Peace Corps posted in Zambia and her boyfriend met them there. He was just out of law school and had taken the bar. The youngsters continued on to climb Mt. Kilamanjarro (sp?). I can't remember how, but somehow they cut each other's hair/dreds, eventually, and we have seen the home movies! The boyfriend is now working at a large law firm in Atlanta (is that the name on his polo shirt, last picture?), and Carrie is to enter Emory Law school in the fall....after she has satisfied her dream of roughing it through India, certainly not the way Ngaire did! I think the pictures of the canoe ride start on gallery 3 at the end. Not an event with rampaging hippos!
http://chillie.smugmug.com/gallery/238428

SIL Robin just e-mailed me this:
You can walk over the Zimbabwe side. Joe did - and got some great pictures. Also, if the water is high they don't have the lunch on the island. At the hotel there are also massages, etc. set up in tents that overlook the river. Save time to have cocktails on the deck at sunset! And to sit on your porch and watch all the monkey. Really did like the canoe trip and Colin is a great guide. I don't think you will find it frightening after having been on safari. It will seem quite tame.

Great pictures, Olivia. When were your brother and SIL in Africa--it looks very warm. I was thinking it would be on the cooler side when we're there (70's or so and low 60's at night).

GREAT pictures Olivia. Some of those sunset shots were magnificent.

Cool in the mornings but warming up to very warm in the afternoons and then calling down again at sunset. There is a big temperature variance. In the winter months July, August it can actually get to freezing in the mornings but in the 80's in the afternoon. A light jacket will do for us and if it is a cool snap when we are on game drives they provide blankets.

WOW Olivia! I can't wait. I could stay there for a week. My adrenalin just peaked!

Doing more research, looks like we will be in Vic Falls at the very peak of high water. No white water rafting and I imagine Livingstone Island lunch not going either. :( What that does mean is that we will be getting wet! Not from rain, but from the smoke that thunders. :D

I just found this description:

Olvia, looks like your brother was there during low water season.

Peggy, they were there in August. My brother estimated that when we are there, it will be at end of wet season, therefore more water over the falls. They were there during a more dry season than we will be. My SIL really loves photography. She even e-mailed Linda L's husband Ron when choosing her latest camera!

Glad you all enjoyed the shots. Once you send this stuff, it's not always about sharing scenery, but family as well. This was a great reunion with my niece and her parents, who had not seen each other in many months!

Editing to say, yes, Marc, they were there in dry season, and Carrie and Matt did the rafting thing, but it required, getting off the craft and making a huge climb up a ladder at the end. Joe cautioned me that during the wet season, they told him spray is pretty constant. So maybe we will just enjoy the special moment, or maybe buy a throwawy underwater camera for this event. Might not be a bad idea to add this to your shopping list!

I wish Robin would post to give a first hand report!

Hi Olivia - here I am. Marc, when Joe walked to Zambabwe they did not stamp his passport.

P.S. The hotel supplies rain gear.

Now watch, Robin, they'll all go to bed!

We have a few underwater cameras left over from tahiti...I will throw a couple in the suitcase.

Glad to know you can just walk across the bridge without paying for visa; will definitely do that.

I think helo might win out as afternoon excursion; as long as you can get some decent photos.

Robin and Olivia, thanks for the help!!!!

Oh, no, Marc, you still have to pay for that visa at some point! Just not sure where it is. Maybe Joe took his shots from the bridge or something, before you have to pay. I would love to walk across with you and Arlene!

Me too, me too!
Oh, let's do it while I'm still there to add another country to my list!!

Then run back and have sunset cocktails!

But you won't get on the canoe with Colin, right Suzanne?

Oh gosh!

If I was able to stay a full second day, I'd do it in a heartbeat ;) .

Actually Olivia, if you are "game" to do it, I may be too! :eek:

I called the tour operator this morning to check on the water levels. Marc, your supposition is correct. The water is very high right now. Livingstone Island is closed until the water levels are safe. She thinks that's probably a month from now. :( It'll be a reprise of Motu Mahana, flood-style, to celebrate Suzanne's last day. Floating loungers? Clifford the Big Red bartender? <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> An ark?

Adding underwater cameras to the last-minute list! Thanks so much, Olivia, for the pictures and Robin for posting.

Cheers, Anne

Anne, thanks for checking. I guess I should have done more research before posting the idea. Hopefully a helo trip will still be worth doing.

Au contraire, Marc! Thanks for getting me thinking about it before we got there. Gary spied a golf course so he's noodling around with that idea.

Just found a spare underwater camera. It's in the bag now!

Let Arlene know I'm working on the ROAR personalized calendar today.

Cheers, Anne

If Gary spied a golf course at Vic. Falls, please tell him "mums the word" ;) Joe and Marilyn's eyes will glaze over.

You are right about that if Joe knew there was a golf course opportunity he would be all over it.

I bet the tour operators will have many adventures on offer to take our tourist dollars and keep us entertained. We can check all that out on arrival before we go on our Falls tour that afternoon.

We will all have some free time the next day with the only things planned being the sunset cruise at 4.30 pm and then the Four Corners in the morning for 10 of us.

Robin, sorry I missed you! I wasn't in bed, I was watching 24! How've you been--hope you'll post some more.

Anne, I emailed Arlene your comment....

....her response.....

ROFLOL :D