One Step, Two Step…Zambia, Zimbabwe

When you visit a place like Victoria Falls, it makes it really difficult to NOT enter Zambia too. After all, only a bridge separates the two countries. I’m a country collector, so I’m always in favor of heading into a new country if at all possible. According to our guide, Joshua, if we drove across the bridge to see the other portion of Victoria Falls, we would have to go through immigration again–paying the $30 USD fees and dealing with two sets of customs agents. I don’t know the cost to enter Zambia because we never took advantage of the opportunity. Instead, we chose the free option: walking over the bridge and walking back.

While we didn’t drive into the country, my foot touched land :). FYI…technically I entered Zambia, but any time I mention it as a country I’ve visited, it will always come with a caveat. My general rule is you have to leave something of yourself in the country to count it. The dust on your shoe does not count. Using the restroom does count 🤪. Do you have any rules that you must abide by to say you’ve been in a country?

Amazingly, the governments allow this type of border crossing for free. Jenny, Mark, and I set off to immigration while Joshua moved the car closer to our location. We went into the immigration office and let them know we just wanted to walk over the bridge. The officer filled out a small white paper and sent us on our way.

Crossing the border comes with many different “salespeople”. I’m impervious to their pleas…”Don’t you want to help the people of Zambia? Don’t you want to help the people of Zimbabwe? Just one look. Find something you will like.” Jenny, however, loves a good sale. She was able to purchase a nice bracelet at a nice price. Plus, she did her part to help the people from one of the two countries.

The signs for entering the neighboring countries stand tall in the middle of the bridge. Fortunately, we were able to walk completely across the bridge, touch the dirt, and walk back.

We stopped along the bridge, so we could look at the many different opportunities. From this bridge, you can bungee jump. You are also able to zip line. While we did not partake in either option, Jenny and I did go to a restaurant later that day and watch others enjoy the zip line and the bungee jump.

The gorge captured my attention. Far below us was the Zambezi River. The water flowed through the gorge while the glimpses of Victoria Falls remained. Steep rock prominences provided the backdrop as we gazed upon the beautiful scenery.

For us, traveling across the bridge was pure pleasure. For others, the bridge allowed them to get to work. People lined up in their vehicle vehicles prepared to cross the border. One man even carried his business upon his bicycle. Watching him work gave me intense respect for the efforts the people of Zimbabwe and Zambia put into their daily life.

Because we explored Victoria Falls early in the morning, we were able to return to our hotel for breakfast then turn out again for another tour. Joshua drove us to a baobab tree. We’d encountered many on Safari, but the immense size of this one stunned us. A salesperson near the tree opened a seed pod and let us see inside. The seeds were small and white— similar to a small rock. Baobabs just might be my new favorite tree.

We finished the afternoon with a trip to a nearby restaurant. Some great food filled our bodies as the incredible views filled our eyes with wonder.