What's twice as tall as Niagara Falls, several times as long, and one of the seven natural wonders of the world? The Victoria Falls, which spans both Zambia and Zimbabwe. But the famous waterfall is not the only thing these two African countries have in common. They both share the honor of being Africa's extreme-sports capital. Their borders are smack dab in the middle of the bridge where most of the really extreme activities like bungee jumping and gorge swinging take place.
But if you think that is extreme, meet someone who willingly goes into the jungle on foot to give visitors a walking tour of the area and its inhabitants. Chiinga Siavwapa lives in the former capital of Zambia and is a licensed safari guide and Falls expert. Here's some questions I put to him:
So I take it that you've tried a few of the extreme activities?: I've done the gorge swing, a couple of boat cruises, and obviously the walking safari, which some people call extreme.
Why is it extreme?: I've had an elephant come after us, a rhino charge, and you have to know how to react. It's always best to back away slowly because a running target is more interesting. I've been trained in animal behavior and it helps that the park provides you with a guard who is authorized to carry a gun.
Any other close calls?: I was giving this Japanese guy and his girlfriend a tour of the Falls and took them to the Boiling Pot section of the river. It's where the current swirls the water and as a result the temperature is always warm. Like a lot of tourists, the guy decided he wanted to swim in it, but after a couple of seconds we saw him struggle to stay above water. His girlfriend laughed saying he was always playing practical jokes, but when we looked again we could tell he was not faking. He was eventually able to swim out, but I still remind him about it to this day.
Your job must require you to speak a lot of languages.: We're very experienced with languages in Zambia. We have 73 different tribes here and that means 73 different languages. I speak six languages.
Ever visit the people you've met on the job?: Unfortunately no, I've never traveled outside Africa. I've been to all the countries neighboring Zambia, and then Ethiopia is the furthest north I've gone.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?: I'm a bird lover so I've always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and see the condors. Especially since they're dwindling in numbers.
Where does your love of nature come from?: I studied art in college and eventually got a job working at a museum where my research took me to the local parks. It was there that I developed an interest.
Lisa Costantini is a writer/editor currently traveling the world with her husband working on a project about sport and culture. More information can be found on their website at www.whysportmatters.com. Lisa will be blogging from the road for us as she and her husband travel through Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe over the next several months.
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