Got up for the usual 6 am game drive. Yesterday’s storm has moved out so we now have beautiful blue skies. I had to sit in the front seat again, other two couples in the rows behind. But the wildlife was not cooperating with us today. Saw one elephant drinking but so dark, can’t even see any details.

Saw a few birds:

Gabar Goshawks

White-backed vulture drying its wings

A Tawny Eagle

And a Kori Bustard showing off for a nearby female

The most interesting thing was a field of spider webs.

We had our morning breakfast along the river. Good thing there weren’t any hippos or crocodiles around! Our lodge is located on the Matetsi Private Game Preserve. It covers 136,000 acres and is surrounded by Zambezi National Park. There are no fences, so animals are free to wander at will.

Got back to the lodge, switched out cameras from my long lens to my wider angle lens. My driver from yesterday came and took me to one of the Helicopter companies. When I was here in November, we had the option to take this helicopter flight. Since I knew I was coming back I decided to wait. Last November it was the end of the long dry season so there was no water going over the Zambia side. I told them I did not want a middle seat and I did not want to face backwards!! Luckily, I was pared up with a family with 2 little kids and they were the ones who had to face backwards. My seat had a bubble window and that really helped reduce glare. The flight was spectacular, it is really the only way to see the falls because when you are walking along the trail, you can't see top to bottom very well. From the air you can see the whole thing. Another bucket list item checked off.

Then my driver took me to the Rainforest National Park that is across the river from the falls. This is the same trail I took last year – just with a whole lot more water and thusly more mist to get you wet. I decided to just do the first few lookout points before the mist would drench me.

While we were in town, my driver helped me find a mouse pad. I really missed having one. The only one we could find was $20! And it doesn’t have a picture on it, it is just plain black. Oh well, when you need something…

Got back to the lodge for a late lunch. The 19 cabins of the property are so spread out along the river that they had two lodges/dining rooms, one at each end. They took me via golf cart to have lunch at the other dining room. All dining is open air and I could hear hippos grunting just off shore.

After lunch had about an hour and a half to kill so I’ll show you my room. It is incredible, would have been nice to have a little time to enjoy it. It has an indoor shower, and outside shower and a bathtub that would hold 4 people. It has a bedroom, sitting room and a desk room. Outside it has a beautiful plunge pool. Even had a bush buck come and have a drink.

At 5 pm they took us (with same two couples) to their boat dock and we had a leisurely ride around the river until sunset.

We cruised by some reeds and I was able to get a few pictures of the cute Little Bee eaters.

And saw a Masked Weaver colony

Watched the sunset on the river

Got back to the lodge for dinner. The food is a little too gourmet for me, don’t know half of what is on the plate. But they are doing a good job avoiding mushrooms and vegetables I don’t like for me.

Then it’s packing again! Packing and moving every couple of days reminds me of my tour directing days – how did I do it??

I’ll finish this now and cover the last morning in Matetsi in the next blog, stay tuned.