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After visiting Victoria Falls, I went with my guide Kenny to explore some other sights of the town.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is a small tourist town with a population of 30,000 to 40,000. Started in 190, the town originally was built to explore using hydro electric power from the falls. It connects Zimbabwe to Zambia and is the center of the country’s tourism around the famous falls of the same name.

Before the tour, we spent a painfully unnecessary amount of time searching for my Zimbabwe tourist shirt as I couldn’t find anything suitable after checking several tourist shops and local markets. Eventually Kenny had the idea of going to a shirt printing shop who could create a one of a kind Zimbabwe shirt with the country flag on it. It only took 30 minutes and $10!

In the meantime we sat for a beef braai lunch at a local place. Kenny told me about his life, family, and dangerous stint in Johannesburg. For the year that he worked there, he felt like a prisoner in his own home. Apparently even Zimbabweans are taken advantage of in Johannesburg as they are seen as foreigners and targets.

After lunch we started our touring.

The Big Tree

This famous tree is a huge Boabab with a height of 24m and a girth of 22.40m. At an estimated 2,000 years old, the tree is supposedly the oldest and largest in the country.

The Big Tree is protected by Museums and National Monuments of Zimbabwe and was under the guard of two security officers playing on their phones when I visited.

Next we headed to the landmark hotel.

Victoria Falls Hotel

This historic hotel sits on the Second Gorge and has a view of the Victoria Falls Bridge. Opened in 1904 it has accommodated very important guests such as King George VI. The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was ended during a conference at the hotel.

Today the hotel is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and managed by African Sun Limited.

Then Kenny drove me to Victoria Falls Airport about 25 minutes away. I thanked him and said goodbye.

Air Zimbabwe Flight from Victoria Falls to Harare

The airport was quite new and spacious inside. After checking in for my flight I took some pictures was admonished by the security guard. When asked by I was taking photos, I explained that I was admiring the architecture. The guard was not amused.

After a quick security check, I was off on an Air Zimbabwe Xian MA60 airplane to Harare.

The flight was comfortable and even had a small meal. Service was friendly and the aircraft was in pretty good condition.

Harare

Started in 1890 as Fort Salisbury by the British South Africa Company and was in British control until the Southern Rhodesia government took over in 1923. Today it is the largest city with around 1.5 million people and serves at the country’s capital. After the recent political and economic crisis in the 2000s, the city is slowly developing.

At the airport I met Goof from Nyati Travel. He is originally from Holland and when he moved here to teach mathematics, he fell in love with the country and has been based in Zimbabwe for over 25 years!

With the remaining daylight, Goof took me on a brief tour of the capital.

Market

We started at a local market in a suburb outside of the center which was just winding down. There were many stalls and everything seemed to be for sale. The streets were full of cars, trucks, and people transporting goods. It was an interesting look into the local culture.

Downtown Harare

Downtown the city was much more developed with paved roads and well kept buildings. Goof pointed out all of the historic colonial building lining the main roads.

We drove by the central park, Africa Unity Square which was surrounded by government buildings, the Meikles Hotel, and an old Anglican Church.

We drove around to see the different modern office and apartment buildings around the center before returning to the hotel so I could check in.

I quickly settled in before joining Goof for a night on the town!

Nightlife

As a long term resident, Goof knew of all the trendy locales. He took me to a new bar with a mix of an international expat and local crowd. It was a pub with live music from a Harare band.

I tried a burger and of course some local brews. Later Goof’s friend, Oscar, arrived and we conversed over all sorts of topics related to life, the country, travel, Harare, sports, and music.

As the band continued playing, the bar became more packed and had a great vibe.

The night was a welcome change to the frantic pace of my trip thus far.

With an early trip the next morning, we didn’t stay out too late and Goof dropped me off at the hotel so I could catch a bit of sleep.

The next morning after breakfast, he picked me up at 6:55 a.m. and took me to the bus terminal where I caught my bus to Lusaka.

I had no idea that I was in for a rough border crossing into Zambia.

Harare was an interesting and fun stopover thanks mostly to Goof!