Our June safari ended with a bang — at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

To get there, we hopped on a small plane to northern Botswana, then crossed the border by cab. Right away, the contrast between the two countries was striking. In Botswana, everything just worked — smooth roads, friendly faces, a general sense of ease. Zimbabwe told a different story. The cab ride was bumpy, the seatbelts barely functioned, and there was no AC. More than that, the economic struggles were impossible to miss. Everywhere we went, people asked for tips or tried to sell us trinkets.

We checked into the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, built in 1904. Though updated over the years, it still radiates British colonial vibes — you can practically feel the “upstairs—downstairs” dynamic. Maybe that explains why every service, no matter how small, seemed to come with an unspoken request for a tip.

The hotel may have been a mixed bag, but the Falls? Absolutely jaw—dropping. It’s easy to see why they’re considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world: 1,700 meters wide, 108 meters high, and roaring with power.

We followed the nature trail with its 17 viewpoints, each one revealing a new angle of the thundering cascade. Water exploded from the cliffs, sending a mist so heavy it soaked us through — no need for rain showers here!

We passed the statue of David Livingstone, who brought news of the Falls to Europe in 1855 (though, of course, local communities had known of them long before).

We’d visited the Falls before, in November 2012, and barely got wet that time. So when locals offered rain slickers this June, we smugly declined. Big mistake. June means far more water, and we were drenched. Thankfully, the hot African sun dried us out quickly.

That Was Then, This Is Now

Some things had definitely changed since our 2012 trip. The airport is far more modern now. 

But other parts felt like stepping right back into the past.

Zambezi River Cruise → Still the same peaceful ride, spotting animals lounging along the riverbanks

Bridge to Zambia → Still buzzing with life, still filled with trucks inching through customs, and still home to bungee jumpers hurling themselves off the edge (not us, then or now!).

The Big Tree → This baobab tree is still massive, still magical, still wrapped in folklore.

Farewell for Now

And just like that, our African adventure came to a close. Victoria Falls gave us a finale that was equal parts humbling, exhilarating, and unforgettable.

So, farewell for now, Africa — until next time.