It doesn’t matter if the question comes from adrenaline junkies, solo travellers or a group of friends- when people ask me what they should have on their itinerary, these three activities are at the top of my list.
Art with the Elephant
Having grown up in Africa, I have seen more elephant than I can count. Even now, sitting in front of a computer screen, I can draw an elephant in my mind's eye without a second thought. So you can imagine my bewilderment when I sat down in the shade of an acacia tree, easel in front of me, paintbrush in hand- and I felt as though I was seeing these breath-taking creatures for the very first time.
I had never appreciated the true size and power of an elephant until the day I did this activity. In the back of a safari vehicle, surrounded by distractions and noise, it is easy to comprehend their enormity without fully acknowledging it. But when there is only a gust of wind between the two of you, that coat of misunderstanding dissolves. An elephant’s skin is covered in intricate wrinkles, like a map of all the places they have travelled to and the things they have seen. Veins run through their ears like rivers through the landscape and they have mastered the art of careless grace. I stared up at an animal I thought I knew, and the rest of the world fell away. Behind those pencil-thick eyelashes, their eyes hold a depth understanding that we have only skimmed the surface of.
How do you transfer something so majestic onto a piece of parchment? Full disclosure- I certainly didn’t. I came away with two brown blobs between a streak a blue and green, but it doesn’t matter, because when I look at my painting, I am taken back to that extraordinary time in my life. And should I ever have children, they are going to have to be artistic protégés if they want to have a place on the fridge with this picture.
The Wild Horizons Bike Tour
The last time I rode a bike, pink streamers were pouring out its handlebars, and a wicker basket was proudly attached to the front. Some years later I decided that it was time to dig out my trainers and do a bicycle tour around town. In the hazy morning sunlight, we gathered outside the Wild Horizons office while our guide described the route and gave us a safety briefing. When our water bottles were filled and our helmets secure, we set off.
As soon as I found my stride, it seemed as though a veil had been lifted. I have seen the ‘Big Tree’, crossed the Victoria Falls Bridge and been to the edge of the gorge countless times, but there is something more intimate about these sights from the saddle of a bicycle. They seemed bigger, steeper and more impressive when the barrier was taken down and I wasn’t in a vehicle. Driving has a sneaky way of disguising the pace of life, but on a bicycle, we slowed down and moved to the rhythm of our breathing. It felt as though the wilderness was more willing to reveal itself to us when we took the time to really appreciate its natural wonder. I didn’t just see the plumes of mist around the Falls, I felt them curl around my body, and I heard the whisper of the waterfall in my ears. Your heart speeds up and your mind decelerates, leaving you feeling exposed to the elements but exhilarated by them.
Vulture Culture
Discovering this activity was a happy accident. I was out for lunch at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge when a guide approached our table and asked if we would like to watch the vulture feeding. We followed him to a small clearing, where tree branches hung low to the ground under the weight of hundreds of vultures. The sky was dotted with black figurines, swooping low in anticipation of their meal. The moment the carcasses hit the dusty ground the vultures descended. The atmosphere changed as wings beat the air, so loud it sounded as if they were making a solid impact. The frenzy was over almost as quickly as it had begun and we stared, slightly shell shocked, as jackals carried off the last of the bones.
And then Moses began to speak. He told us why Victoria Falls Safari Lodge started this initiative and described the vital role that vultures play in the health of the ecosystem. Although we had just witnessed the vultures seething and squabbling on the ground, when he spoke about how they are persecuted by poachers because their patrolling alerts Parks officials of a crime, our collective group of strangers experienced the same wave of anger. Within 15 minutes, Moses had me feeling fiercely protective and concerned for a bird I had never given any considerable thought to. People often say that vultures are ugly, scavenging creatures. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but it is like pointing out a supermodels snag tooth- a tiny blemish on otherwise fascinating and fantastic creatures.
All these activities, though vastly different from one another, share a theme. They break down the physical barriers between humans and nature to reveal a new perspective. This is the reason I so strongly recommend them, because they are not activities, but experiences. Victoria Falls is not just about life-changing journeys, but mind-altering encounters.
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