Looking back on our first year of “life in the lodge”, all I can remember is the rain. It rained and rained for what seemed like weeks on end. Non-stop wet, drenching, cold rain.
The thatched roof leaked miserably, and we had to call in the thatcher as a matter of urgency, as we didn’t have enough buckets to catch the rain and everything grew mould; a dusty, green-grey damp mould that I was convinced would make us all terribly ill.
The cheerful thatcher, with his wide grin and pleasant nature, assured us that the new thatch would fix the problem. He guaranteed there would be no more leaks, and said the roof would look beautiful. He arrived with his band of brothers, all 14 of them, and they began their work before sunrise every morning. Climbing barefoot onto the roof and working silently throughout the day, with the only sound being the gentle swish, swish, swish as they brushed and laid bundle upon bundle of fresh, sweet-smelling golden thatch.
Once the roof was watertight – only the next rainy season would tell – we turned our attention inwards. The cavernous size of the lodge appeared to swallow up any ideas that we conjured up and spat them out like insignificant gnats. We had no sense of direction. There were so many obstacles and so many fixer-upper projects that we felt completely overwhelmed.
Wooden window frames and doors were swollen with moisture from the rain and every one of them needed adjusting. Plastic toilet seats were broken, electrical wires dangled dangerously low, and paint peeled off bathroom walls. On top of all the structural problems, we had inherited the previous owner’s personal imitation of an African wildlife museum. Including a pair of enormous fibreglass replicas of trophy elephant tusks, a real elephant leather foot umbrella holder, numerous kudu horn light fittings, impala horn trophies, and other dubious paraphernalia.
Any passenger who has boarded a plane, taken their seat and heard the instruction, “fasten your seatbelts”, knows that the journey is about to begin, and there is no turning back. We had boarded our plane and our seatbelts were fastened – we just had no idea where we were headed!
When in doubt, put everything on hold and gather your clan close to you. Your family becomes your parachute; your safety net; your encouragement during times of self-doubt. A celebration was needed to distract us from our challenges. And, by chance, the installation of the new thatch coincided with Mornette’s 50th birthday milestone. The Clan gathered from all corners of the world, as siblings were reunited after 8 years, and a cocoon of love enveloped the family for a most precious moment in time.
For 10 gloriously happy, memorable days in March 2017, we experienced Victoria Falls as all visitors to this beautiful part of the world should experience it. We cruised on the river at sunset, mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River.
We jumped off the gorge, letting go of all our inhibitions and fear of heights! We explored a tiny corner of our vast national park, savouring the delights of elephant, giraffe, zebra, warthog and buffalo in their natural habitat.
We walked arm in arm through the rainforest, marvelling at the thunder of the waterfall and mesmerized as we watched waterdrops dance among rainbows – basking in that feeling you get only when you are on holiday with the ones you love. We each took a part of the magic of Victoria Falls home with us. It was exactly what we needed to get us into full throttle for the next step in our lodge journey.
One Response
Hi Morn, So lovely to read about your adventures and the lodge… The pictures of the family so precious…
we really need to get up there some time !!