(The trip to Victoria Falls was undertaken on personal budgets and in between ministry times.)
Since we were so far north in Botswana and had a few days off before needing to head back to South Africa we decided to plan a trip to Zambia to see one of the seven wonders of the world.
Victoria Falls.
All we had planned was to get the bus from Muan to Nata and we had reservations at a hostel in Livingstone (check out the link and see the history of David Livingstone missionary to Africa and who the city is named after).
We left Muan at 5:30am on Saturday to catch the 6am bus to Nata via Francistown.
The bus ride was smooth and quick (only 3 hours!) and we were dropped off at a gas station in Nata.
We took a break and started looking for a ride to Kazangula which is the border town between Botswana and Zambia.
Jesse and Brady found a ride for 4 people (out of ten) to Kazangula in a nice SUV.
It was a woman who owns an Inn on the border.
So Gina, Gabrielle, Jesse and Brady headed out with her.
Elizabeth and I headed across the street to find a ride for the rest of us.
Need to give you some detail here.
I have a new spiritual gift which I have found while living in Africa.
I have a gift for catching rides for my team and others.
I can catch a lift (ie hitchhiking which is very acceptable and done often in Africa only in large groups and in the back of trucks) almost anywhere or anytime.
It is strange but true!
Ask my teammates…
So we saw this flat bed truck drive up and we asked the driver if he was going to the border and would he mind if we hitched a ride in the back.
He was surprised and kept asking “Are you sure?”
“It won’t be very comfortable?”
We are World Racers and comfort is no longer top priority (sadly it is more comfortable to hitch in the back of a truck than to ride a bus.
So he agreed and we jumped in.
The rest of the day was wonderful. Riding in the back of the truck with the wind blowing through our hair and watching the countryside of Botswana pass us by. I was thinking (I think this very often) this is my life? I cannot believe that God would ever allow this to be something I get to experience. Amazing!
As we got closer to the border we picked up our remaining friends and headed for Zambia. At the border you exit Botswana cross the ferry and enter the border in Zambia. The men we were riding with would not even allow us to pay for our share of the ferry ride!
Once we crossed into Zambia they helped us get through customs. They warned us when they saw “pretty ladies” they would want to take our money. So they sent Casey in with one of the business partners to take our passports and go through. We knew going in to Zambia that our visa would range from $25 – $100 American dollars. When Casey came back he told us all of our visa’s were free! There was no cost! Lord – Thank you!!! It was amazing to see God cover the details in ways that only He could!
After leaving the border our ride told us they would take us into Livingstone (even though they were going to Angola). They dropped us off at the door to our hostel and refused any money we offered! All in all it was amazing to see the Lord take care of us. That day and even now I stand in awe of God and His provision.
The next day we got up and headed to Vic Falls for a day of sight seeing. To say we were awestruck would be an understatement. God’s creation was displayed in ways I have never seen. Enjoy….
This is my guide who took me to the top of the falls – His name is Jimmy Hendrix!
I hope to have a video from our adventures in Zambia coming soon. Also a few more blogs to close out our time in Africa. Coming soon to a blogpost near you “Stairway to heaven or Hightway to Hell”
