The falls themselves

It has taking us a good 4 days to finally get to the main attraction... Well, what a bloody lot of water and a big racket on the ears... seriously, I am not going to try and paint a picture of the falls - look it up on the net. But I tell you the "smoke that thunders" is impressive...no wonder it is one of the 7th natural wonders of the world.

The mist that comes up must rise a good 100 feet, and turns into rain. And not London rain (drizzlely stuff) but a full on tropical downpoor! You need a rain coat to avoid getting drenched to the bone, and even then the mist coming up seems to get in underneath anyway. The paths and lookouts are refreshingly unsafe - many not even having a railing! Good ol' raw Africa just delivers it big beautiful and rough around the edges.

We then took a walk down to the boiling pot - which is basically the first 90 degree bend after the falls where all the water boils in a big whirlpool. A fair old walk down it was too in the heat of the African sun. Now on the way back was when the drama started - we experienced first hand the violent muggings we were trying to avoid.

This other lot of tourists (not sure of their origin) got mugged by a baboon. He took there bag containing crisps, smokes and camera. Mind you, Josie and I have been sat in the middle of this pack for about 30 minutes before the tourists arrived - and I can only think the baboons recognised in me an alpha male, not to be messed with ! So, they fannied about while the baboon opened the crisps and started eating them up the hill a bit. He then opened the ciggies and stuffed about 10 in his mouth. But he was not happy, either with the brand or the fact he didn't have a lighter!?

Yours truly, then took up a big stick (always speak softly but carry one) and scared off the criminal mastermind to return the camera to the helpless tourists. Movie rights are patent pending.

We then ran into our first snake - which would no doubt have given my dad the heebeejeebies...not sure what make and model it was, I don't like not knowing what is venomous - but took the aussie rule that it probably would kill you if it got a bite in. So we have a couple of photos...

I am getting tired so will keep the last bit brutally short and lacking in colour....we then wandered to another resort (at the falls) with Zebra and Velvet monkeys all about the place - had a quick beer and headed for the curio shops to haggle for wooden stuff the bloody aussie inspectors probably won't let us in with anyway.

Damn the locals can haggle too - put the negotiation skills course I did to shame. But I think I did ok - less than a third of the asking price. But took about 30 mins each negotiation - you know it won't be easy when they offer you a stool to talk price :)

But Josie is now the parent of more animals and we now need to figure how to get the buggers home....