Victoria Falls, Africa
Let me start by saying it has been nearly two decades since I got married. My husband-to-be and I had just completed a nine-month adventure to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji before journeying on to the US to advise my parents we were getting married. Our urge for a long-haul expedition newly satisfied, and our bank accounts well and truly tapped, we opted for a modest yet romantic honeymoon in Portugal over the usual bucket list choices.
But over the (many) years since that honeymoon, I’ve witnessed with envy countless friends and relatives take that extra week’s leave given to the newly betrothed to plan the ultimate romantic break, thinking if only I could go back in time and do it all over again…
So when I was presented with the opportunity to travel to Victoria Falls, I rushed home to advise my beloved… who was a little miffed he was not invited to come along. In my defence, it’s not every day the chance to visit one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World presents itself, and unless my husband wanted to plan a second honeymoon, well… let’s just say I had to take the bull by the horns and head off on my own.
For the uninitiated, Victoria Falls crosses the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa and is the largest waterfall in the world. No photograph or YouTube video does it justice. To physically be there with the mist on your face and the roar of the water drowning out the chatter of other tourists in your midst is something else entirely. As I stood there, draped in a poncho looking at a double rainbow, I wished with all my might that my husband could be there beside me to share the experience.
My home for the duration of my visit was Avani Victoria Falls Resort (avanihotels.com), which is situated just five minutes from the falls, offering guests unlimited access to the park entrance during their stay, plus a plethora of wild visitors who amble throughout the 46-hectare resort grounds, including giraffe, zebra, baboons, impalas, and the odd cheeky monkey.
The perfect base, this welcoming resort – decorated in warm African colours with mosaic details and Zambian artworks scattered throughout, and the friendliest staff you could find – features a pool surrounded by plenty of lounge beds, cosy shaded seating