A Life of Travel: Victoria Falls - Awe from the Ground, Magic from the Air

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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter... being written from the small beach town of Ponta do Ouro, Mozambique.

📆 update

This personal update is a big one.

Not because something dramatic happened - far from it - but simply because the past few weeks have been packed with beautiful moments across Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and now Mozambique.

It’s been one of those trips where the days roll by in a haze of sunsets, safaris, friendly conversations, an absurd number of border crossings and more elephants than I’ve ever seen in my life.

Let’s start with the wackiness.

Flying into southern Africa can be a puzzle. For this trip, the easiest airport to fly into from the U.S. was Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (via Addis Ababa). However, the ideal starting point on the ground was actually Botswana. With some clever routing, here’s how it unfolded:

• Landed in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

• Crossed straight into Livingstone, Zambia for the first night (an easy 1-hour drive)

• The next morning, drove another hour into Kasane, Botswana

• Then: 3 nights in Botswana, 3 nights in Zambia, and 4 nights in Zimbabwe

And then to fly to Mozambique? The best route was from Livingstone, Zambia, back across the border once again. In total, I crossed between Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana five times and collected 12 entry and exit stamps. I honestly can’t think of another region in the world where I’ve done that kind of border-hopping in such a short time.

But let’s not get distracted by passport stamps.

The real story? Victoria Falls.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never considered myself a "waterfall guy." But Victoria Falls isn’t just another waterfall. It’s not an “oh, that’s nice” kind of place. It’s more of a “holy ****, life is amazing” kind of place. It’s truly one of the most awe-inspiring natural formations I’ve ever seen. Here’s a video I took.

Stretching 1.7 kilometers wide with drops over 100 meters, the falls roar with energy, surround you with mist and delight with endless rainbows. And despite its fame, the Zimbabwe side had almost no crowds at this time of year. Following the 16 marked viewpoints at a relaxed pace, just soaking it all in, I couldn’t stop smiling.

And that’s just from the ground.

A few days later there was a helicopter ride over the falls, which gave me a whole new perspective… sweeping views of the falls, the Batoka Gorge, the open savannah, the mighty Zambezi River, and even spotting some wildlife from above. It was pure magic as we buzzed over it all.

But the trip also didn’t stop there...

Other Highlights:

Botswana: Chobe National Park Safari – Wild, uncrowded, and teeming with animals. There was so much wildlife I had no idea where to look. We saw nine lions in one drive!

Botswana: Chobe River Boat Safari – One of the best value safaris anywhere: $50 for 3 hours of gliding along the Chobe River between Botswana and Namibia, surrounded by endless elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and more… topped off with a perfect sunset.

Zambia: Royal Livingstone Express Train – A classic steam train with pullman carriages, 5-course meals and magnificent evening views from the Victoria Falls Bridge. This was definitely worth getting dressed up for. Although, I must admit, I had on shorts and was told to change into pants when they picked us up at the hotel :)

Zambia: Elephants Everywhere – I’ve never seen so many elephants in one region. We heard them from the hotel, saw them from the car, the train, the trail. They were just… around. All the time.

Zimbabwe: Zambezi National Park Safari – A relaxed safari with less wildlife than in Botswana, but still impressive. With barely another vehicle in sight, it was a special feeling to have a National Park to ourselves.

Zimbabwe: The Victoria Falls Hotel – Built in 1904 for railway workers, it’s now one of the grandest accommodations in the region. Colonial architecture, perfectly manicured grounds, stunning interior design, views straight out over the gorge, delicious meals… a big thank you to credit card points for this stay!

Zimbabwe: Dusty Road – This catering company turned cultural and culinary experience is a must-do when visiting the town of Victoria Falls. Their lunch consists of freshly prepared local dishes made from the freshest ingredients. You eat very well while learning about everything on your plate and the cultures behind the food.

Now, I’m writing this from Ponta do Ouro, a sleepy beach town in southern Mozambique. It can be described as one sandy road, a few simple restaurants serving fresh food, a golden beach that stretches forever, and not much to do except walk along the sand and interact with all kinds of people.

Tomorrow it’s time to return to Maputo and spend a few days there.

After a year of aiming to explore more of Africa, it feels like it’s working. So far: Mauritania, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, and Mozambique.

And the journey shall definitely continue...

💭 did you know?

🦟 The Only Country Without Mosquitos
Iceland has no mosquitos. None. Zip. It’s too cold and the soil is too volcanic for them to breed.

🇸🇦 A Country With No Rivers
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a single river. Not even a small one.

🏔️ The Himalayas are Still Growing
The Himalaya Mountains rise by about .5 - 1 cm every year due to the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Ready to Travel in 2026?

Wandering Earl tours are nothing like standard group tours. With intimate groups (max 12), flexibility, unique itineraries, personal touches and plenty of surprises, every trip is designed to feel both effortless and unforgettable.

For 2026, we’re opening the door to some of the world’s most spectacular places:
Peru, Romania, South Africa, Vietnam (sold out), Bhutan, the Balkans, Namibia, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan, Socotra Island (sold out), and Japan (sold out).

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to experience travel differently, perhaps 2026 is your year!

🌐 around the globe

🇬🇪 How Georgia’s Pankisi Valley Rewrote Its Story
Once known for all the wrong reasons, this remote Georgian valley is now full of resilient communities, hospitality, and mountain peace.
Read the story

✅ 5 Travel Rules Worth Breaking
Simple, thoughtful, and spot-on. This post shares five rules that you should break in order to make your travels more meaningful.
See the rules

🥾 Crossing Liechtenstein on Foot
It's one of the world’s smallest countries, but crossing Liechtenstein on foot still offers drama, mountain views, and a surprising amount of solitude.
Follow the walk

🇸🇮 A Hidden Alpine Valley in Slovenia
Jezersko is one of those places where time slows down, with alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and no pressure to “do” anything at all.
Escape here

🛫 Boarding Group One
This short, sharp read is a reflection on airport ego, travel status games, and why none of it actually makes the journey better.
Read more

🏨 Hotels That Break the Mold
From treetop pods in Thailand to igloo suites in Finland, this list of unique stays might inspire your next escape, or at least a new travel daydream.
Explore the list

🇳🇦 Visiting the Skeleton Coast
Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is wild, eerie, and unforgettable. This travelogue captures the vastness, shipwrecks, and silence that define the route.
Join the journey (or join my Wandering Earl Namibia Tour in 2026!)

🇲🇦 Morocco’s 800km Cycling Trail
It’s called the “Route of Caravans” and goes across the High Atlas Mountains until it ends at the coast. It’s not easy but following these ancient trails provides a unique way to experience the remoteness of Morocco.
See the post

🗺️ where in the world?

A big congratulations to those readers who guessed the location of the photo in the previous newsletter! Here’s the only two who guessed correctly:

Mike and Steve

The location is Roseau, Dominica, the capital city of this tiny Caribbean nation! I remember going here often when I worked on cruise ships. Apart from visiting the beaches, my favorite activity was to wander through Roseau and get a haircut at this one small, friendly barbershop on the main road. I got at least 5 haircuts in this town!

This week’s image:

Let’s do something different! Take a close look at the below image. Then answer this question:

For the rest of your life, you can only travel to one of these regions, which do you choose?

Click reply and let me know!

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Thank you so much for reading!

Derek
(my middle name is Earl)

WanderingEarl.com

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