The guy behind the lens

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Zambezi Sunset

Zambezi Sunset

This week's Skywatch Friday & Scenic Sunday post comes from my 2006 visit to Southern Africa. I was lucky enough to be able to present at a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa that June. To make good use of the long trip and to live out a lifelong dream, I booked two safaris. The first was at Ngala Private Game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. The second was in Botswana at the Chobe National Park. The trip from Ngala to Chobe entailed a two-day stay in the town of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. As the name suggests, this is where the mighty Zambezi River falls more than 360 feet (more than double the height of Niagara Falls) into the Zambezi River Gorge. The falls is also more than a mile wide at this point. The evening before I kayaked the rapids of the lower portion of the Gorge, I was able to enjoy a sunset cruise on a flat-bottomed barge on the Zambezi just above Victoria Falls. Lucky, it was the dry season and we were treated to a stunning, cloud free sunset in addition to sightings of crocodiles and hippos.


Enjoy your view of one of Africa wildest rivers!





Click in the image for to see it in the original gallery
PS - several of you have already emailed and asked about any images I have of the Victoria Falls. Due to the mist that the the Falls kick up (the locals call Victoria Falls - "The Smoke that Thunders") it is tough to get a good view if the Falls from the land based viewing spots. As such I took one of the local helicopter rides to see the Falls  from above. The images are not great as I felt like I was holding on for dear life  as we sharply banked over the Falls.










Click in either image for a higher resolution version


16 comments:

Rajesh said...

Terrific captures. The view of water falls is amazing.

Sara Chapman said...

Pretty incredible shots, all three of them. But the text is a bit challenging to read reversed, even though it makes the photos pop.

TexWisGirl said...

A once in a lifetime view...

Anonymous said...

A dream come true! Love the thunderous water and above all, that magical sky shot!

Unknown said...

Pretty impressive!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Fotokarusellen said...

A nice set of incredible photos. Perfect! I say no more.
Have a nice weekend.

Kay L. Davies said...

An incredible sunset, and those shots of the falls are nothing to complain about. Most of us will never fly over Victoria Falls in a helicopter, so it is a privilege to see The Smoke That Thunders from your point of view.
-- K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Walk in New York said...

les chutes sont magnifiques, je ne connais pas et je suis impressionnés

Publicity ;o) Every Friday (and the Weekend), The Challenge "Walk In The Street Photography"

Al said...

Fantastic shots - I'd love to visit that part of the world one of these years.

Lesley said...

The view from the helicopter was worth hanging on for!

Anonymous said...

Magnific

KT said...

I hope to go some day; terrific sunset!

Anne said...

Very very nice captures.

Anonymous said...

wow very interesting photos, follow me I follow you just now.

Amila Kanchana said...

Hi John, These photos carry me to the dreamland!Works of excellence,mate!

NatureFootstep said...

wow, I would love to see this in real life. :)