Day 18 26 April Johannesburg

Not the best of nights as the duvet was too hot.

Up at 5.45 and joined everyone at 6.30 when the dining room opened for breakfast. Great choices.

By 7.30 we were all ready for departure, although Michael's bag had disappeared. Eventually found and we were taken swiftly to OR Tambo International Airport. Assisted by a local, we were soon booked in, and passed through security and Customs.

Browsed in the book shop + until boarding time appeared. Our Air Link Embraer was reasonably full. One hour 20 mins later we arrived at Victoria Falls airport.

We were met by the Old Drift Lodge crew and driven into town and then along the Zambezi bank to a jetty. The whole group was transferred to 2 boats and we made our way slowly upstream, looking for wildlife onshore. Elephants, giraffe, and impala.

Greeted by the staff and welcomed by the female manager. Allocated to rooms and we discovered that we had been given the special sky room facility, 800ms away from the main block, downstream from all the others, with an outdoor bed on a raised platform. Had fun unwinding in the plunge pool.

At 4.30 we gathered for tea and then set off on a river cruise. Hippos, elephants, maribou storks and an African river sunset.

Had a kudu steak for dinner and walked back, with a torch-bearer to ward off wildlife, to our Room 12. Showered and then climbed up to our sky bed for the night. (couldn't see much because of the thick mosquito netting, which was a bit of a let down but we were too tired to care!!)Read more