Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 10 - 6am WAKE UP CALL!

We're to be in the truck for 7:30 where we're to meet Hippo, our Zambezi boatman guide for the week.



Driving through the town we ponder what lies ahead. The anxiety is building and there's a real sense of trepidation as we pull into Savannah Lodge, the place where our guides are to meet us.

Not soon later, we've been briefed and the team are... Well, I'll leave it to them to explain how they feel:

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 9 - Entering Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is situated along the Zambezi river which in turn separates Zimbabwe from Zambia, you can actually see the falls from either side but the Victoria Falls Hotel is situated on the Zimbabwe side (so not actually Zambia at all then).



So as we cross the Zimbabwe border (MORE VISA FORMS!) you can tell the excitement is building.



James - who if you remember was initially excited about the safari - now just 'can't wait to get there'. The amount of travelling these guys have done over the past 48hrs is immense alone, now we head to the Victoria Falls Hotel...



Our challenge, awaits.....

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 8 - Leaving Namibia

Early start this morning, before our transfer to Victoria Falls (we'll come back to this later - I guarantee) the winners have been scheduled some more safari action - this time via 4x4.



But first, something that is becoming a recurring theme in our time so far here (48hrs now?) we have to cross the border (again) back into Botswana - passport - stamped...



WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF PASSPORT PAGES!

Safely across, we drive onwards into Chobe national park...









...AND A FRICKIN LION!!!!

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 7 - Speedboat Safari

Not too long after 'checking in', Ralph - our hosts tell us that whenever we're ready, we'll be taken back out onto the Chobe River for a 'Speedboat Safari'.

"Its 16:20, can you be ready for five?"
"Er... Speedboard safari? We'll be ready *in* five."

:)


No words. Seriously. No. Words.

Just photos!










Later, after watching the most beautiful Sunset...



...we head back to the lodge, for dinner, chat, laughter and thought ahead to the challenge that lies ahead.

"White Water Rafting eh? Good luck lads' our host says with a grin 'I'd love to just sit and watch you guys try that..."

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 6 - Ichingo Lodge

Tonight we're staying at Ichingo Lodge on the Namibian banks of the Chobe River.

A simple yet beautiful bubble of normality amongst the crocodiles and bush here and Kenny, the competition winner, is happy to show us around...

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 5 - Speedboats a go go!

To Namibia!

Challenge: White Water Rafting Post 4 - Four Countries

So yeah, that whole "let's just get to Zambia" thing? HA!

Well first of all, we're not headed to Zambia. ZIMBABWE is going to be our final destination. But first, we're to spend a night in Namibia - more on that later...



We arrived in Zambia reasonably safe and sound, but it was the onward journey that we didn't know about. Our plane arrives in Zambia (fill out visa forms), we get picked up by coach and driven into Botswana (fill out some more visa forms) and then we catch a boat into Namibia (yet even more visa forms).

Before we do that however, we stop at the harbour where, from here - you can see four countries meet, but I'll leave it to our driver, Tiz, to explain