Chapter 17 - Zimbabwe's "Smoke That Thunders"

From Botswana, Toto went to the country of Zimbabwe. To get there I crossed back into Namibia along a thin strip of Namibia called "The Caprivi Strip." It is a panhandle at the top of the country. A 'panhandle' is a term used to describe a thin area of land created by a border between countries, like this one, or between states, like the ones on Oklahoma and Florida. Look at this map of Southern Africa including Namibia. Can you see the Caprivi Strip jutting out like the handle of a pan from the top right (northeast) of Namibia towards the place that four countries meet? They are Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

I drove from Namibia to Zimbabwe across the narrowest border between two countries in the world. It was only 45 meters (about 50 yards) wide. In fact, it's just wide enough for the road between the two countries.

Then I went to see Victoria Falls, where the Zambezi River tumbles over one hundred meters in a spectacular waterfall. The middle of the falls is the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, as the Zambezi River is where the two countries meet.

Historians say that Dr. David Livingstone, a British missionary, discovered the falls in 1855. He called them "the most wonderful sight I had witnessed in Africa." He named them after the British queen at the time, Queen Victoria. The reality is that he was only the first European to see the beautiful waterfall. Of course the local African people "discovered" the falls a long time before Dr. Livingstone arrived. The name for the falls in their local language means "Smoke That Thunders." That's because the falls make a very loud noise like thunder from all the water hitting the rocks. The falls also create lots of mist and spray that you can see from far away, where it looks like smoke. Up close it felt like walking through a constant rainfall. Because of this, the area around the falls is a rain forest, even though it may not rain for many weeks during the dry season. The mist also means I saw a rainbow almost constantly. During a full moon you can even go at night and see a rainbow created by moonlight!

I went canoeing just downstream from the falls in a bend in the mighty Zambezi River, whose water looks green. Lots of things that wash down the falls tend to collect in this bend. It smelled pretty bad, so I asked my local guide why that was. He showed me the rotting carcasses of a hippo and crocodile. Both had apparently washed over the falls at night several weeks before. I could see how it could happen, as just ten meters away from where the water goes over the ridge, you wouldn't realize that the river drops one hundred meters. I'm sure both animals were quite surprised as they fell to their unexpected deaths. Needless to say, I kept far away from the edge of the falls and preferred to watch the beautiful spectacle from a distance.

One of the things I did in Zimbabwe was to taste a snack that many locals eat the way we eat potato chips. They were dried mopane worms! Here's what they look like. I promised the students at St. Peters School that I would eat something surprising on my travels. So when the waiter put a bowl of dried mopane worms and peanuts on the table, I had to try them in order to live up to my promise. I guess they were a bit like our cheese snacks, only they tasted more like smoke and wood  than cheese. I have to admit, I ate more than one, though they were a bit dry for my liking. Nevertheless, you can buy whole bags of dried mopane worms in the markets. Do you think they'll show up in the snack aisle at your grocery store? Try adding "Bag of Mopane Worms" to your family's grocery list and see what reaction grown-ups give you!

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Travel Questions:

1. What four countries meet near Victoria Falls?
2. How wide is the border between Namibia and Zimbabwe?
3. Define 'panhandle.'
4. What is the name of the Namibian panhandle across which Toto drove to get to Zimbabwe?
5. What is the local name for Victoria Falls?
6. Why did Dr. David Livingstone name the falls "Victoria"?
7. Why is the area just downstream from Victoria Falls a rain forest?
8. Can you name two animals that live in and near the Zambezi River?
9. What color is the water in the Zambezi River?
10. What snack did Toto eat in Zimbabwe?

Global Nomad Travel Questions on Zimbabwe:

1. There are 3.28 feet per meter. How tall are the Victoria Falls in feet?
2. Draw a picture of Oklahoma and Florida, and show where the panhandle is on each of these states.
3. Draw a scene of what Victoria Falls might look like if you were to visit.
4. Zimbabwe had a different name before it gained independence. Research the country's history and find out the former name.
5. Do you know what makes a rainbow? If you don't know, do some research and find out why you'll almost always see a rainbow at Victoria Falls.
6. Have you ever seen a waterfall near your home or on a trip? If so, write a paragraph about your experience. How tall was it compared to the 100-meter-tall Victoria Falls?
7. Find the Zambezi River on a map of Africa. List all the countries through which it flows. Into what ocean does it empty?