Maramba Lodge

After our long drive from Lusaka, we were instantly enchanted with our "chalet and luxury tents" at Maramba River Lodge. The grounds were green and shady. And our luxury tent was just delightful, with tile floors and bathroom with an outdoor shower. Judith and Mike had a tent next to ours, and the kids had their own chalet just a short walk away.

After our long drive, a dip in the natural rock pool was exactly what we needed. We collapsed in chaise lounges and hung out around the outdoor bar, overlooking the river. We had dinner at the lodge restaurant on an outside deck, enjoying the cooler night air.

The next morning, a trumpeting elephant woke us at 6:00. Kate and I stepped outside and looked all around, but even though there was elephant dung all around, we couldn't find the actual source.

After a delicious made-to-order breakfast at the restaurant, we all went for some bungee jumping in the gorge behind Victoria Falls, then spent the afternoon napping and eating pizza by the pool.

Kate made the mistake of tossing some leftover pizza into nearby bushes for the birds. Instantly dozens of large baboons appeared, so aggressive that we had to hide in our tent until a staff person came by with a slingshot on his daily baboon patrol.