I have mentioned that when I crossed from Botswana into Zimbabwe, I paid for a ‘double entry’ visa. The reason I did this was so that I could go across into Zambia when I was in Victoria Falls.
Border Fetish
I have to admit to having a bit of a ‘border fetish’. I suspect that this is probably due to being born and spending most for my life on the ‘island continent’. Naturally we do not have a land border with another country. This can also be said for the other place where I have lived for some time- the UK.
I have been across some interesting borders.
Remembering the Border between East and West Berlin
A very interesting border was between East and West Germany in the divided city of Berlin. I first made that border crossing in 1983. In October 1984 I went to East Berlin on a Department of Foreign Affairs trip.
I stayed in hotel near to the ‘Wall’ on Friedrichstraße. I did not like the food in the ‘East’. I decided that I would eat as often as possible in the West. This involved crossing the border at the Friedrichstraße train station. After eating a good meal, I would return across the border at train station or at Check Point Charlie.
Leaving Zimbabwe
The road to the border is quite busy up the point where you enter the Victoria Falls National Park. After that it is quite quiet. There are not too many people making the crossing.
Getting through the Zimbabwean border control was uneventful.
The Bridge
After passing through the border crossing, it is not far to the bridge over the river.
The bridge was the brainchild of Cecil Rhodes and is part of his grand and unfulfilled Cape to Cairo railway scheme. It was constructed by the Cleveland company. They built the Sydney Harbour bridge and the much smaller bridge over the Tyne river in Newcastle in the north east of England. That bridge is the same design as the Sydney bridge, but one eighth the size.
They also built the arch for the new Wembley stadium in London.
Given its age and the lack of maintenance, there are strict limitations of the use of the Victoria Falls bridge by trains and heavy vehicle. Most of the crossings appear to be by foot or bicycle.
The falls are very close to the bridge.
Into Zambia
Getting through the Zambian border control was quicker than the Zimbabwean side.
Boiling Pot
I didn’t have too much time available. I had thought about taking a taxi into Livingston, but I didn’t have enough time to do that.
I decided to walk down to see the famous ‘boiling pot’. It is the point in the ‘Second Gorge’ where the Zambezi River Gorge makes a sharp right turn and has carved out a deep pool which is about 150 metres across. Check out the video. It is amazing.
It is quite a steep walk down to the ‘boiling pot’. The return climb added to my Fitbit floors.
Victoria Falls Hotel
After crossing back to Zimbabwe, it dropped into the Victoria Falls Hotel. It is very up market and super expensive.
Flickr Link
About the Bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Falls_Bridge
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