They say travel so that you can tell better stories, I say travel so that you can learn new cultures, myths, and legends. Africa is a land of great tales and legends, and the stories of the indigenous people are and were always there to educate and entertain. Africa has always had great respect for rivers and large bodies of water and all of them have legends and myths that you can only marvel at. The magic and marvel of a massive river such as the mighty Zambesi are enthralling but when you place a great wall of falling water in the mix the scene becomes intoxicating. Zambia has been on my bucket list for a while now. I can't explain how I felt in the days leading up to this trip; it's one of those feelings I wish I could have all the time, the anticipation of seeing the majestic Mosi-oa-Tunya - Victoria Falls and the magnificent Zambezi River.

The pandemic has disrupted my plans to visit more countries on the African continent, as I believe Africa has so much to offer, whatever your heart desires, Africa has it. From the gorgeous pristine beaches in Mozambique, formidable wildlife in Botswana, Kenya, and, of course, the Kruger National Park in my own country, Blyde River Canyon, Table Mountain, the jungles of the Congo, the gigantic lakes of the Nile River that even have their own beaches and the Namib Desert to name but a few.

In preparation for the trip, I had to check the requirements for vaccination, required tests, and visas. Since we are vaccinated and Zambia is part of the Sothern African Development Community (SADC), we don’t require visas and all we needed to bring was a valid vaccination certificate. Our flight departed at 11:00 am, we flew with Airlink for one hour and forty minutes, I can't believe this is shorter than flying to Cape Town. As you finish the well-packaged and light lunch it’s time to land, the approach is spectacular. The Livingstone airport runway lies parallel to the Zambezi with a cloud of thick mist from the falls visible, this sort of welcomes you to Zambia.

Upon arrival at the airport, we proceeded through medical screening and then customs, which was a breeze. African customs agents are friendly and welcoming. We then collected our bags and headed for the exit. Michael our driver was waiting for us by the airport exit with a sign displaying our name, relieving us of our luggage he directed us to the waiting SUV shuttle. You have no bearings in a new place, so you are not certain how long it's going to take to your destination. The familiar shopping brands create a homely feel. There is always something appealing about new towns, especially the small ones; I am drawn to them even in my own country. As we traversed the city Michael pointed to key and historic landmarks.

When in town, you can see the cloud of smoke that the waterfall creates from a distance hence its local name Mosi-oa-Tunya (The smoke that thunders), it's simply astounding. We also passed the renowned Livingston Express, the train where you dine with breath-taking views. As you head to the hotel, you get to an area where you are in the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, where the hotel is located, in this area wild animals roam free. The road makes several encounters with the mighty Zambezi River, it's a breath-taking sight. Michael courteously interrupted the journey so that we could see this magnificent wonder.

The arrival at Avani Victoria Falls Resort is a vibe, when we arrived, two gentlemen greeted us with a warm African welcoming song and dance, and of course, they invited us to join in and we agreed. The hotel is painted a stunning burnt orange colour and is designed in the North African style. We checked in, and our room was not ready, but we came before check-in time, and the hotel had just housed a large Conference, with people checking out as we arrived. They did offer us an alternative room, but we decided not to rush and explore the surroundings, while we waited for our room.

The centre of the hotel is commanded by a massive pool, and a Bedouin-style tent at Shungu Pool Bar Terrace, it was just the relaxing spot we needed after the morning’s travels. So, we opted to have lunch at Shungu Pool Bar. There is something about pizza at the poolside that just announces that you are on holiday. Our meal ended just in time; our room was ready. The porters carried our luggage, we made our way to the room. The rooms sit at the back of the property for privacy, and they are all housed on two floors

We are at the far end of one of the main blocks with Mosi-oa-tunya located at the back of the building. Our room is located on the right at the top of the stairs. The electronic card key gives you access to our gorgeous room, which features a bed wrapped with a bed net to keep mosquitoes at bay. The net is tastefully restrained closer to the headboard, during the day. The dispersed cushions add a flare of orange to the bed. On either side of the bed, there are two built-in side lamps accented by mint green bedside tables with a custom-made chair that matches the side tables in a deeper hue colour on the pattern. The television is lined next to bowl artwork and a modern mirror. There is a bathtub and a shower in the bathroom. The rooms on the ground floor lead into the garden but the top floor rooms have a balcony with two chairs and a table for those morning coffees.

The weather is beautiful and warm, and it's good to get away from the Joburg chilly winter. We are not dressed for this weather, we quickly change out of our sweatpants, into something appropriate and go and spend the afternoon by the pool, as we walked about the property, we discovered a lovely giraffe happily munching on trees near the lodge; we watched this giraffe in awe. What an exciting afternoon. Afternoon drinks by the pool turn into supper by the pool. I had a fillet with fries the freshness of the food makes a big difference, it was just decadent, and I finished it off with a light and fluffy chocolate mousse.

As the sun sets over the beautiful Zambesi River and the Mosi-oa-Tunya national park, the true spirit of Africa comes alive in its hospitality, and nothing says you are welcomed like music. Avani puts up a live music show on Fridays by the poolside bar what a treat, I enjoy live music. The girl singing had a lovely voice and she did some original music but mostly a lot of covers of the continent's beloved hits, from Malaika to Pata-Pata, to local Zambian songs with a beautiful reggae-like rhythm. Everyone was well entertained but when she started playing the song "Ndihamba Nawe" by Mafikizo, everyone jumped out of their seats and began singing and dancing. It was a fun night, but it was time to call it a night.

Breakfast is served buffet style at The Theatre of Food Restaurant, with a wide range of alternatives. After breakfast, we went on an adventure, walking to greet the magnificent Victoria Falls.

When the receptionist informs you that the waterfall is a five-minute walk away from the hotel, I guess it does not register. Maybe it is because the sound is muffled by the thick vegetation. We walked out of the hotel's back gate and less than a hundred metres was the gate of the Victoria falls national park, we nearly passed it that's how close it is. Hotel guests have free access to the national park and the falls; all we needed to do was show our room key.

Let me warn you no matter how many photos of this place you have seen you are never prepared for this beauty. At the very first viewpoint from the entrance, I was ready to call it a day the combination of beauty, power, and danger is enchanting. It was one of those "I guess you have to go there to see and experience it" moments. Allow me to try to paint a picture for you because the humming sound of the falls with immense power gives you shivers. The water creates a cloud of smoke, it's one of those moment you are there taking photos of the cloud that thunders the next you are in the cloud. The majestic falls remind you how insignificant your worries are as compared to the sheer power of nature in the greater scheme of things.

As we continued our walk to the second viewpoint, there was a guy selling raincoats because it is about to start raining waterfalls from this point onwards. He offered us one, but we declined because I wanted to experience raining waterfall, that's why I am here. Without a doubt, the water from the falls seems like rain from the following couple of viewpoints. I started dancing in the rain because I felt like a kid in a candy store. I'm working my way through the list of the World's Wonders one phenomenon at a time. Everywhere you look it’s a sight to behold, the whole time you are either in a canopy of trees or the beautiful cloud droplets. There is a lovely view of the bridge that connects Zimbabwe and Zambia. This area is beautiful and lush green because it rains waterfalls every day. We returned to the hotel filled with joy,

We arrived back at the hotel just in time for lunch after this fantastic experience. The food was great and fresh, I ordered a fish burger and chips. After a delicious meal, we spent the afternoon swimming by the pool and watching zebras graze on the grass.

Even though we are in the middle of winter, the weather here is rather pleasant. Temperatures reached 30 degrees and higher. I'm excited about the Boma dinner. Before we knew it, it was time to dress up and attend the dinner. Time to get ready, it's almost time for dinner under the African sky. When we arrived, the traditional dancers were performing and ushered us to our table. The layout is magnificent; there are lights strung across the Boma and fire pits everywhere; the energy here is incredible. The menu includes a variety of African ethnic foods. The entertainment is out of this world, with several groups performing on stage, showing the rest of the world that this is the essence of Africa, this is our culture, and what a great evening everyone had.

I questioned if I was really leaving this place tomorrow because time flew by so quickly. They say time flies when you're having fun, and I was having a great time. After all the dancing and the magnificent fall, it was time for bed. As I fall asleep, the events of the day replay in my mind. I'm far from home, but I feel at home here in Avani Victoria Falls Livingstone, Zambia. The next morning, we enjoyed a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise from our balcony before heading to the restaurant for breakfast. The breakfast was bittersweet because we were leaving this lovely place. We checked out, and the traditional dances performed a traditional goodbye dance.

For more details an bookings here is a link to Avani Victoria Falls Resort

Avani Victoria Falls Resort - Zambia Experience