Leap of faith a thrilling escapade
THIS is it.
This is the moment I am going to die.
The deafening whoosh of the Zambezi River as it hurtles down the rock face is all I can hear, and the pounding of my heart is all I can feel as my tour guide signals me to jump.
After 30 years on Earth, I’m about to take my last step. Or in this case, leap. This was the thought crashing around my brain as I contemplated my jump into the aptly named Devil’s Pool, at Livingstone National Park.
Described as the ultimate infinity pool, the fascinating rock formation sits at the very top of Zambia’s Victoria Falls.
The pool is one of many rock pockets caused by erosion along the ridge of the largest waterfall in the world.
Jumping into the Devil’s Pool has become a popular activity for travellers seeking a hit of adrenaline and the best view of the falls.
I’ve jumped out of a plane at 50,000 feet and ridden horses at a gallop, but nothing compares to the guttural fear I felt as I stood on that rock.
I had been assured that jumping into the pool was safe, and I knew it in theory after reading reviews by other travellers.
But try telling that to my shaking limbs and my thumping heart, which had somewhere along the line moved from my chest up into my ears.
After a few false starts and silent wishes to anyone who would listen, I did it.
I heard the guide as he counted me in: One, two, three … and then all went quiet as I plunged into the cool, deep water.
Making my way to the surface, the force of the flow pushed me towards the edge of the pool. There, thankfully, I stopped. The rock lip stood as a barrier between me and hundreds of litres of rushing water.
I stayed in the water long enough to take a peek over the ledge, with the help of my guide who was kind enough to hold on to my shaking ankles as a precaution.
The jump into Devil’s Pool was the focal point of a threehour trek run by some extremely capable guides.
Their calmness, balance and positive attitude were as relentless as the gushing water of the great falls.
It’s a long, slow and sometimes awkward walk to the pool, which requires that you negotiate slippery rocks, rushing water and tree stumps, all while being part of a human chain.
The Devil’s Pool adventure was a thrilling part of my sixweek journey through Africa, and it’s one I’ll never forget.
I felt like I aged a few years in that moment on the ledge, but will always be glad that I took the leap.
Victoria Falls is something to behold. The UNESCO World Heritage site is loud, majestic and worth the trip alone.
When the waterfall is at its peak, it can be heard from as far away as 40 kilometres, earning it its local name Mosio-Tunya, or “The Smoke that Thunders”.