Thursday 6 th
of November 2014
and my alarm went off at 6 o'clock. And at the same time they called from the reception to wake me up. I don't know if it was due to the excitements to go seethe Devil's Pool or what it was, but I didn't fall asleep until after 4 o'clock in the morning. So I was tired at 6 o'clock.
My right foot felt better but I was still in pain, but Devil's Pool or bust. And the day is finally here, I have been planning and dreaming about this. Spending many hours on board Roy Maersk talking about this with our 2nd Engineer, looking at pictures, and today it will happen.
They will come to pick me up at 7 thirty and I had asked for the wake-up call at 6 and that gives me one and a half hour to get ready. I was tired, but there is a difference to be called earlymorning for the Devil's Pool and to be called for work that has to be done.
I went to the restaurant “Jungle Junction” for breakfast. The breakfast buffet looked Ok and I ordered an omelette and I had bacon with the omelette. A big pot of Earl Grey tea and two slices of bread. One with strawberry jam and one with honey.
I left the restaurant 20 minutes past 7 and I went to the reception and the car from Shearwater Tours was soon coming to pick me up and we took off towards the Zambian border. We are going to Royal Livingstone Hotel in Zambia.
At the Zimbabwe/ Zambian border
At the Zimbabwe/ Zambian border
Leaving Zimbabwe behind
Crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge approaching the Zambian border post
Crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge approaching the Zambian border post
Zambian Immigration
Zambian Immigration
Our hero cleared Zambian Immigration with a one day “VIP” visa
It took us about ten minutes to drive to the border from my hotel. Clearing Immigration took a few minutes and there was a bus waiting for me and we crossed the Victoria Falls Bridge to get tothe Zambian immigration. I was alone and I had expected at least a few more people to be interesting in the Devil's Pool
We crossed Victoria Falls Bridge and we were soon at the Zambian immigration. I paid 20 US for a one day VIP visa and we were soon on our way to the Royal Livingstone Hotel on the Zambezi River side. It took us about ten minutes to reach the hotel from the border and we arrived at 8 o'clock. And my tour didn't start until 9 o'clock.
One hour to kill, an hour I could have spent in bed! But there was a nice view of the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls. We could see the Livingstone Island as well and we will go there by boat and ittakes a few minutes to get there.
I was alone and I was hopingto be alone on the tour. I asked the Guides on the platform and they told me that we would be 12 people going. And yes, I was disappointed.
There were soon a group of Polish people coming down to the platform. I thought that I was going with them but they were on the 7 thirty tour and they were late. Well, bad for them, they willget less time at Livingstone Island.
There were a group of Hippos relaxing in Zambezi River a little bit out from the platform and I enjoyed the view, time turned quick and it was soon time to board the boat.
On the way to Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool
On the way to Livingstone Island and the Devil's Pool
Arriving to Livingstone Island
Arriving to Livingstone Island
A welcome drink
Took a few minutes to reach the Livingstone Island and they were waiting with welcome drinks. I didn't wanted any welcome drink and I was eager to get on with the tour. Devil's Pool, how many nights have I spent on board Roy Maersk thinking about the Devil's Pool trying to kill the boredom.Finally, I was here and I was not going to waste time with a welcome drink.
We were soon on our way, the boat returned to Royal Living Stone Hotel to pick up 6 more passengers. Can only take 6 passengers and while they go to get the others we will walk towards the Devil's Pool having a look around Livingstone Island.
Well, we met some of the polish guys and they had have a very good time at Devil's Pool. We passed a few tents where they were going to serve breakfast after the swim. We met the Chef and I toldher that I didn't needed any breakfast as I had have my breakfast at the hotel.
And I'm not here to eat. We were soon continuing towards a monument/ memorial for Dr. Livingstone. 150 years ago (2005) since Dr. Livingstone sat foot on Livingstone Island.
There had been some relative to Dr. Livingstone here 2005 and he was 90 years old or something like that. I didn't listening too much as I was more interested in the views. This is the dry season and most of the Victoria Falls is dry, but in May it is 1700 meters long and full flow falling over the edge. Then here is so muchmist you can't see Zimbabwe on the other side of the gorge, maybe 100 meters wide.
I might come back sometime to see the full force of Victoria Falls, but I'm here mainly because of the Devil's Pool and gaming in Botswana. So dry season it is. And here is not any mosquitos now, but it will get worse in a few weeks’ time when the rain starts.
We were standing on the edge of the gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Impossible to see the bottom when the water flows in full force. And we can see on the pictures that the falls are completely dry, well almost, to the East.
To the west we have the Devil's Pool and the main falls and at the far side to the east we have Devil's Cataract. But in general, Victoria Falls are dry East of Livingstone Island. I felt bad coming too close to the edge and I was dizzy, but a few pictures was necessary and I was off the edge.
On Livingstone Island looking east
On Livingstone Island looking east
Victoria Falls are dry
Not much water in the gorge
The main fall and Devil's Pool
The main fall and Devil's Pool
The main fall and Devil's Pool
The main fall is almost dry
We will have to swim across here to reach the Devil's Pool
We had a look around the east side of the Livingstone Island before we walked towards the main falls. We will have to swim for 20 meters and then walk 2 meters to reach the Devil's Pool. This iswhat I feared, to walk on the rocks with my right foot. But one of the Guides had a pair of plastic sandals in my size and I borrowed them.
He will walk to the Devil's Pool barefoot, yes, as it is very low water you can walk there. But we're not allowed to walk on the edge and we have to swim.
The water was cold the first few seconds and after that it was very comfy. It took is 3 minutes to cross the stream and we were on the rocks above the Devil's Pool.
The stream was pretty strong but it was no problem to cross over to the Devil's Pool. There werealso 2 lines over the stream as last resorts if you lost control while swimming across.
We all made it across, well, no need to be an Olympia swimmer to make it, and we were soon standing above the Devil's Pool. It was very nice to swim over and I expected it to be as nice in the Devil's Pool. The Guide that had lent me his shoes wanted to have our cameras so he could take pictures. I told him my camera was waterproof and I wanted to take my own pictures. He told me that he took very nice pictures of us.
And as I had been in an arge... No, I had a discussion with one of the Guides before and I handed him my camera to avoid getting in to any more discussions.
We made it across reaching the Devil's Pool
Our Guide walked this way to the Devil's Pool
Walking the few last meters to the Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
Victoria Falls from the Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
The Devil's Pool
Main Falls from the Devil's Pool
Devil's Pool
Breakfast before we're leaving Livingstone Island