Journeying to Matetsi just outside Victoria Falls was seamless. It was a long drive from Hwange (about 2 and a half hours) but it was on a long straight and smooth road, something we had been unused to when bumping around on the parks bumpy roads. It can often feel like you are on a boat when you get off the vehicle, feeling a bit ‘at sea’. We had a warm welcome from the staff at the camp, all wearing masks to protect us from Covid. They applied hand sanitiser and on we went into the main area of the camp.

The main area looks out onto a seamlessly flowing Zambezi and snuggles comfortably below some huge trees up amongst the banks of the river. We were given a thirst-quenching drink of ginger and lemonade and then we were shown to our rooms. A short walk from the main area, we opened the doors to our room for the next two nights and it was bliss. A huge open space with double bed and to the left a huge round bath, sinks and an outside and inside shower. The rooms looked out onto a neat plunge pool with soft sofas as well as the further view of the Zambezi and on into Zambia.

We ventured off for a game drive that afternoon and came across all sorts; giraffe, zebra, impala, tonnes of birds a troop of baboon and lots of elephant too. We stopped for sundowners in an open area, where we had to cross the main road, where we watched a family of elephant drinking water, along with tiny babies and then on to having a dust bath. With the sun setting behind this view, and not much wind in the air, the dust coming from the elephant gave the evening view an almost magical feeling.

We ventured back in the dark, hoping to spy some nocturnal animals such as bushbabies or the odd porcupine, but no such luck. We arrived back in camp and went straight to a delicious supper. It is fair to say, Matetsi excel with their food. The air was warm and the night air still as we sat eating and discussing the day’s activities, looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.

The next morning, we went on another small game drive and came across two large male lions lounging in the sunshine. One of these males had had an accident when he was younger and had a dodgy looking tooth on his lower jaw, it stuck out at an intimidating angle but seemed not to cause him any harm or affect the way he lived, he just looked a bit ‘bad ass’!

We then were dropped at the banks of the Zambezi River where we went on a canoe safari. This was so peaceful and gives you a completely different view of the country, lay of the land, flora and fauna. Like a walking safari, you can get closer to the smaller elements of the African bush, small flowers, tiny bird tracks etc. We stopped our canoes on a small sandy spit of land in the middle of the river, where we tried to find some eggs left by some migrational birds, we did so and obviously not disturb anything, we just viewed a small part of life taking shape in the African circle of life.

We will continue with the rest of the days activities in our next blog later this week!