Livingstone - A Walk on the Wild Side

I haven't been home for even a week yet.  But it feels like a lot longer.  It is amazing how quickly "real life" takes back over after the return from a truly epic vacation.  I suppose I am in a bit of a slump at the moment.  Leaving the eternal springtime of Lumwana to experience a "polar vortex" is a shock to the system.  And all the optimism I was feeling before and during my trip seems now to have been a bit too idealistic.  Winter doldrums?  Maybe.  Obviously it will take more than 11 days in Africa to cure me of the frustrating sadness that just won't leave me be.  Yeah, I know.  Poor me.  I'll stop whining now and save the analysis of my state of mind for later.

The reality of it all is - I travel a lot.  And most of the time I find that after 10-14 days of living out of a suitcase (or saddlebag), I am ready to come home.  I want to sleep in my bed, surrounded by my pets, shower in my bathroom and wrap myself in the familiarity of my nice, comfortable little home.  I want to see my sisters, meet my friends for dinner and drinks, talk to Renee on the phone everyday and laugh at the stuff that only she and I seem to find funny.

But it wasn't the case this time.  After all those miles, plane rides, bumpy roads & unfamiliar beds - I wanted to stay.  I wanted to see more.  I wanted to meet more people.  I wanted to hear their stories.  I wanted to learn more about the places I visited.  I wanted to explore it more fully.
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After the wild beauty of Mfuwe, we headed south to Livingstone, home of Victoria Falls.

Livingstone is a tourist town - Africa style.  It is much more crowded, has a nice highway running through it bordered by strip shopping centers, grocery stores and fast food joints.  Hungry Lion, anyone?

After our day of travel we were all beat.  We walked to get take-out pizza before we left for the Zambezi River Sunset Cruise.  It was relaxing and beautiful (the cruise - the pizza wasn't bad either).  We went back to our guest cottage and passed out.  We had a big day ahead of us.  The McPhee's had a surprise for me.  Mukuni Big  5.

Mukuni Big 5 advertises itself as a "safari" but in realty it is a preserve that allows visitors to interact with animals that live there.  I will admit, I was a bit skeptical about it at first.  I was afraid it would have  a "petting zoo" feel to it and I kept thinking it would be the Zambian version of "The Yellow River Game Ranch".

Thankfully, it wasn't.  Wildlife conservation is a big deal in that part of the world.  I looked for deception on the part of the guides and employees but didn't see it.  What I did see were very dedicated people who have a strong desire to conserve what is left of the wildlife and to teach others as much about the animals as possible in an effort to save them.  It wasn't an act.  It is serious stuff.

"Go ahead... rub my belly"

So, we walked with two female and one male lions - all less than a year old.  We were instructed on what to do and more importantly, what not to do (don't touch their ears, feet or stomachs).  After our visit with the lions we spent time with two cheetahs.  They are kept on leashes because they are a little harder to control.  I learned that lions are basically lazy and clumsy and cheetahs like to lick people.  And in both cases they truly reminded me of my own two cats - who are lazy, clumsy and like to lick people while enticing me to rub their bellies so they can then attack me.

 

It was then on to Victoria Falls which deserves its own entry.