Check out and check in. New hotels please.
The lodge is out of town and overlooks a watering hole. Local called Zulu approaches over lunch advising everyone, “I’ll be feeding the vultures now……if you’d like to join me…..follow me.”. Lots of vultures circling overhead. Marabou storks strut their stuff at the waterhole. They join in the fray. Zulu chucks some meat onto the ground and the entire flock of vultures descend. Still feeding on my soup so shall join him tomorrow to see it up close and personal.
One of my guilty travel secrets is having a haircut in the most native hairdressers I can find. The cheapest haircut was a quid in Brasil (remember that PH & BM?).
It’s rather more expensive here at USD12 and no negotiation. Ostrich feather duster used to sweep the floor of the light brown, slightly greying hair. It’s the usual inane hairdresser conversation except not asked if I’m on my lunch break or have I been anywhere on holiday this year (where would I start?!).
Victoria Falls Hotel is the grand old dame of the town. The old colonial hotel set in gardens overlooking the bridge and the falls. The mist rising in the distant. It would be a magnificent sight when the falls are in full flow. That would be worth seeing from this vantage point. Plenty of interesting photographs from the colonial era when, of course, it was Rhodesia. They’re serving Afternoon Tea. Don’t mind if I do. My local waiter is far too effeminate. He’s mincing good and proper. As are a few other waiters. Reminds me of that effeminate black waiter in Beverly Hills Cop.
Dinner overlooking the waterhole which is illuminated by sodium floodlights. Soon everyone is standing up away from their dinner peering into the gloom. An elephant has arrived.
