A Trip to the Victoria Falls

That morning of southern Africa’s winter started with excitement. Finally, we had arrived so close to the legendary Vic Falls in Zimbabwe. The place was poor. Yet the empty Victorian hotel still displayed past glories with large rooms and impeccably dressed employees. I feared a cold shower at the falls, but the shock came when I saw our gaunt taxi, so dilapidated that it had a wooden bench in lieu of seats.

To say that I was shocked would be an understatement. To also say that I had not been ready to run away, would be a blatant lie. I hesitantly hopped into the taxi, encouraged by my mom and the driver’s toothy smile. I later learnt that our ride was his only source of income for the day.

However, as soon as I almost toppled over the makeshift backseat, I began regretting my decision. Somehow, all my beautiful discoveries in Zimbabwe disappeared through the big hole on the taxi floor. As we started moving, I kept my feet safely away and gaped through the hole revealing the road beneath us. Adding to this, a constant metallic rattle, made me feel that the taxi was falling apart. My mind imagined that this car could give its last breath anytime. Hence my disbelief when the driver announced our arrival at the falls. Mechanically nodding, I jumped out, thanked the taxi driver and joined the wave of tourists.

We were told that taxis were the key to a beautiful discovery. It turned out to be true. Our doubts faded out completely in the wonderful, thundering sound of the falls. My fears seemed to dissolve into thin air as we fell victim to the uneven rhythm of beauty that the Victoria Falls bestowed on us. Later, as I walked toward the bridge overlooking the falls, I noted how their magic captured ecstatic visitors. It was unimaginable. Though we were all prepared, confidently holding cameras and binoculars, we only grew still and watched the nature with our naked eyes. The white threads of water, mixed effortlessly with the evergreen vegetation as they leapt and glided down the falls, until lost in the unknown below.

In that instant, nothing could have bothered me. Not even the mere thought that I would have to take that taxi once more. I was simply taken by the Victoria Falls.