Field Notes: Alex & Liam’s Honeymoon, Day 2
DAY 2
Good evening from the veranda outside my room at the stunning Victoria Falls Safari Lodge! Today brought more unforgettable moments — full of fun, joy, and deep appreciation for Africa.
We began with a peaceful breakfast overlooking the waterhole below the lodge. Fall is beginning in Southern Africa, and so is the rut. Right on cue, two male impalas were sparring over a female just beyond the deck — a surprisingly dramatic show to accompany our morning coffee! After a flurry of chasing and clashing, the standoff ended in what looked like an unspoken truce. A group of guinea fowl seemed to sigh in relief and waddled off to the water’s edge, their commentary almost audible.
Lucky, our guide, met us at the lodge entrance to begin the day. First stop: Ilala Lodge, a charming and beautifully maintained property in town. Guests were enjoying a fabulous breakfast buffet on the sunny veranda, and the warm, golden light made the whole scene feel like a postcard.
From there, we joined Lucky for a tour of Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side. We visited all 16 lookout points — a two-hour round-trip walk — and ended up completely soaked in the powerful mist. Despite our trench coats, the spray from Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) was determined to drench us, and we couldn’t stop laughing.
Along the trail, baboons lounged in the shade, grooming each other without a care in the world. But it was the falls that stole the show — the thunderous roar, the mist curling into the sky, the brilliant rainbows arcing overhead. It’s no wonder this place is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Back at the lodge, we dried off and changed before heading to lunch at The Lookout, a restaurant perched above a sweeping gorge with arguably the best panoramic views of the falls. The food on this trip has been consistently outstanding — chef after chef delivering meals we won’t soon forget. Needless to say, we’re in no danger of going hungry.
After a leisurely afternoon by the pool, we set off again — this time for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi with Bushtracks Africa. If I had to choose a few top experiences in Africa, sundowners would be one, and sundowners on the Zambezi would be another. Our captain expertly navigated us about a kilometer upstream from the falls, giving us stunning views of the rainbow mist rising above the trees.
We shared drinks and stories with fellow travelers from New Zealand and Australia, snacked on delicious small bites, and soaked in the scene: hippos grunting in the shallows, elephants feeding on the banks, and birds swooping just above the river’s surface.
Signing off on another remarkable day on safari. Until tomorrow.
