I have now been back at work for 3 days, mind you, when I say 'back at work' I mean I have been sitting at my desk in front of my computer at MISA - I haven't done ANYTHING except email and post photographs on my website for all of you to enjoy. Now that I am finished that I can really start work!
I had a great time in Victoria Falls: white-water rafting, climbing around upstream of the falls, walking about, buying souvenirs in the open market, gambling Zimbabwean money at the casino etc. The rafting was definitely the highlight of the trip. We went with this company called Bad Dog which was new (3 months old) and initially offered the cheapest rates. You can't walk anywhere in town without having someone come up to you and ask you if you want to go rafting: "Hey friend!", they would say as the approached their victim, "would you like to go rafting?". And then if you refused they would offer a safari in a game park, and if you refused that they would offer to set you up on a booze cruise. You can be sure that if the conversation had carried on this long then someone else offering the same thing will have approached someone else in the party. Under continual bombardment we wondered around town, fortunately after the fourth day they recognised us and left us alone.
The day started with a wake-up at 7:30 and a light breakfast at the Bad Dog office. Afterwards we were given a brief introduction and training session, and then we were off the the Zambezi River. The climb into the gorge was challenging but manageable on fresh legs. We finally got into our raft and set off after some more training, but not before we did the Bad Dog cheer! The guide would scream out "Who let the dogs out?" and we had to reply in unison "Who?..., Who?, Who?" The current pulled us into the first rapid (Morning Glory) and I can't remember what happened but the boat flipped and the next thing I knew we were floating along holding onto the side of the boat! There was a calm stretch afterwards where we were able to right the boat and relax for a bit. And then: "Who let the dogs out?".... another rapid and I think we flipped again! We carried on like this for a while until we reached the rapid known as the Devil's Toilet-Bowl. The guide instructed us that there was an undercurrent that can suck you under. If this happens he said the best thing to do is to cross you arms over your chest and count to 10. By the time you reach 10 it will have spit you out! If, however, you count to 10 and you are still underwater, then you can't count!? So, with thoughts of this dreaded undercurrent in our heads and our guide yelling "Who let the dogs out?..." we headed into the toilet bowl. The boat flipped and we were sucked into the undercurrent. Fortunately for me I wasn't under for long, but some of the people on our boat swear that they were under for more than 10 seconds. At this stage in the trip those people moved into the 'chicken boat' which took the easy way through rapids and never flipped. Shortly after we had lunch and then carried on our way downstream. We flipped one more time and then finished at rapid number 22 (we started on #4). The hike out of the gorge was difficult and tiring but the reward of a barbeque and beer at the top was enough to keep us going. And thus ended my first rafting experience.
The trip back to Windhoek will be mentioned here because the repercussions lasted for many days... In Northern Namibia we stopped at a gas station in Rundu where I asked Barry to buy me a sandwich in the store (bad idea). It was a pre-packaged sandwich which also came with a pre-peeled hard-boiled egg. I remember looking at both Pat and Barry and saying "I probably shouldn't eat this egg" and then stuffing it in my mouth! Well, about two hours later I felt sick to my stomach and that feeling stayed with me for about 6 days. Luckily that disaster is behind me now and I have learned my lesson.
The trip with Wild Dog began 1 day after the egg incident. The trip was wonderful and the scenery was incredible but there were times when I just wanted to lie in bed. It was incredible walking around the desert amongst huge sand dunes and the Fish River canyon was amazing. The trip was fun, the guides were great and the company was excellent. There is a 4-5 day hike through the Fish River canyon that I would like to do before I leave however it is closed at this time of year because it is too hot. And now I am back here in Windhoek, back at work...
