I took a very quick and expensive trip to Victoria Falls this past Sunday through Wednesday. I rationalize a lot of my decisions based on not knowing when I will have this opportunity again. I hope I feel the same way when I get back home.

So, all in all, the trip was amazing. It definitely had its good and bad points though. The good — I saw Victoria Falls, I visited Livingstone, Zambia, which is COMPLETELY different than anywhere I’ve been in SA, I met these two cool South Africans from Soweto that I ended up hanging out with the whole time, and I walked up to the border of Zimbabwe. The bad being, I spent way more money than I anticipated. I had to actually buy a second ticket between Jo’burg and Cape Town on the way back in order to avoid being stranded there for the night, (I hate you Zambian Airways for getting me there late), and I made a very poor decision at the curio market outside of the Falls by paying way too much for some tourist junk than I should have. Chalk it up to experience, right? Oh, and one more bad thing.

When you get close to the Falls, you get drenched, even if you’re wearing a raincoat. I met this nice Australian couple, who I toured the Falls with on my first day. After we got drenched, we sat down to observe the Falls from one of the more drier locations, and I offered them some biscuits/Maria crackers. They decide to continue further, and I tell them I’ll meet up in bit. I wanted to enjoy the moment even longer. So, I put my biscuits away, I stand by the ledge, just taking it all in, when I feel a heavy tug on my bag. I look to my left, and here’s a full-grown baboon on his hind legs, with his paws leaning on my bag, looking me dead in the eyes. I flipped. I took that bag off so fast, and I ran. I probably screamed too. A man nearby turned around and shooed the baboon away. I stood from a distance terrified. What a fool I am! The man returned my bag to me, which had my life in it — passport, camera, money, keys — and for some reason, I kept staring at this woman he was with, I suppose unconsciously looking for maternal support, something. Instead, she just looked back at me like I was an idiot. Really, what was I thinking? I see baboons on heavily traveled roads in SA. I knew better. Of course, after this, I see baboons everywhere :-/

I could write more, but there’s no time. Victoria Falls is really amazing. And despite the surprises, I don’t regret it. I’m glad I went.