Zimbabwe...What an Experience!

Today we flew from Namibia to Zimbabwe to meet up with our next FCE contact at Victoria Falls. Our flight arrived at 4:00 p.m. about half an hour ahead of our scheduled arrival. Upon checking in at the customs booth we realized we had to buy Zimbabwe visas at a cost of $75.00 each. Between the four of us we had about $10.00 to spare as we were unprepared for this expenditure!

Once we cleared customs we gathered our bags and exited the airport only to find that our FCE contact was no where to be seen. After waiting 45 minutes we started to worry and decided we should try to make contact with FCE. Unfortunately for us, none of us were able to secure cell service! Not a good place to be! At about this time a young man pulled up in an immigration department vehicle carrying a can of beer and wearing aligator skin shoes...he asked us if we wanted a beer, which of course we declined. Eventually he became aware of our situation and borrowed a cell phone from a young lady and made the call to FCE for us. By this time it was about 5:30 and we became aware that the airport closed at 6:00! By the way it gets dark in Zimbabwe at about 6:30! Our call to FCE was very beneficial as we were able to determine that our contact person was waiting at the Zambian airport, about 25 minutes away. We were assured that he would gather a cab, cross the border and pick us up...we were just suppose to sit tight. Easier said then done when it is 6:05, the Airport is closing, it is getting dark, and there is a party starting down a village trail next to the airport building!

Long story short...our FCE contact arrived with a cab at 6:15, we experienced crossing the border in Africa which is a tale for another day and arrived safely at our hotel about 8:00 in the evening! What an experience...needless to say...I will never forget Zimbabwe!