Zimbabwe

The journey to Zimbabwe was short and lovely — a pleasant start to the trip. The welcome at the airport was warm, with traditional dancers giving us a first glimpse of the local culture as soon as we arrived. From the clouds outside the plane window to that welcoming first impression, it was a beautiful beginning.

On the Zambian side of this journey, Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort sits on the banks of the Zambezi River within Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. Its riverside setting, leafy gardens and infinity pool overlooking the river make a beautiful contrast to the drama of nearby Victoria Falls. Amani Spa & Wellness offers treatments, while the resort’s restaurants and bars bring together local and international flavours, with dining also offered aboard its river cruiser. I had a wonderful stay here — a lovely highlight of the trip, and a place I remember with great fondness.

Our Zambezi river safari brought us close to the scenery and wildlife along the banks: from the shaded boat deck, we watched elephants grazing on the green riverbank and crossing the open grassland. Wide water, leafy banks and bright skies made a beautiful contrast to Victoria Falls. Here, the same river plunges into a deep gorge between Zimbabwe and Zambia, creating one of the world’s most iconic natural spectacles. Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya — ‘the smoke that thunders’ — the falls are celebrated for their immense curtain of water and the mist rising above the gorge; they form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In our photographs from the falls, thick grey clouds hang over the rainforest and drifting spray softens the view into the gorge, while the river safari pictures show blue sky between white clouds. Those changing skies give this part of the journey two very different moods: the open brightness of the river and the dramatic, mist-filled landscape around the falls.

Boarding the Rovos Rail train felt like stepping into another era — polished wood panelling, white tablecloths and a guitarist playing in the lounge car as the bush rolled past the windows. We stopped at the Victoria Falls bridge to take in the gorge, and dinner was a proper occasion: course after course served as the light faded outside. It was the most civilised way I have ever travelled, and I loved every unhurried minute of it.

These photographs capture a close-up encounter with a young lion and lioness in the bush. In the Victoria Falls–Livingstone region, this type of guided activity is commonly called ‘Walking with Lions’ or a ‘Lion Encounter’. On the Zambian side, Mukuni Big 5 Safaris in Livingstone offers lion walks and viewing, with guides explaining the animals’ behaviour. This is a managed wildlife encounter, distinct from a game drive to observe free-ranging wild lions. The photographs alone do not confirm which operator hosted our visit.