DAY 7 - GORGES (afternoon)

May 9, 2019 (Afternoon)

After a 45 minute jeep ride from Duma Tau camp we arrived at Chobe airstrip once again for our flight to Victoria Falls airport via stopover in Kasane to exit Botswana. Another Cessna Caravan was our chariot for the 45 minute flight to Kasane where we disembarked, claimed our luggage and had to fill out paperwork for the government of Botswana. After another long hour sitting at the airport we were allowed to once again board the same aircraft and took off for the 25 minute flight to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. There we had to buy a combined visa for Zimbabwe and Zambia, go through customs again, and were met by Conrad, our driver to the next destination of Gorges Lodge, which is perched right on top of the Gorge downriver from Victoria Falls about 12km. Driving out of the airport the baboons were frolicking out in the grass, our welcome committee. At Gorges Lodge our rooms were the cutest little thatched huts that looked like they were from the Hobbit. Right outside our room, within 6 feet, was the edge of the cliff with very little protection from falling 500’ to your death. I guess it’s a culling of the herd opportunity, because the entire lodge grounds line the cliff edge. If we had young children with us we’d have been terrified. Anyway, after a quick check in we were invited down to the far end of the property where they have a magnificent stone deck (again, right on the edge of the cliff) where they served us appetizers and cocktails. A gentleman named “Chris” who was a giant Caucasian man and lifelong Zimbabwe resident gave us an extensive talk on the Verreaux Eagle (also called black eagle) that resides in the canyons in front of the hotel. It was fascinating as they feed only on these little animals called hyraxes that look like giant gerbils and who live in the rock faces of the gorge. The eagle also nests on rock ledges in the gorge and after the egg(s) have hatched the fledglings have about 3 months to mature before the parents no longer provide them food and they are forced to learn to fly in a real life “do or die” situation because if they just fall to the canyon floor, their lives are in danger, so they really have to learn to fly quickly. At 6:30PM the local villagers came and put on a dance show for us and dragged just about every one of the guests up to dance! It was really great and much enjoyed. Dinner was served community style under the trees by the swimming pool and once again more food than we can eat, but a lovely end to the evening. It was the first evening we didn’t need an escort back to our rooms as there are no predators here.