We arrived in Livingstone about midday. We were anxious to put down our bags and start thinking about organization. The friendly folks from Chanters Lodge greeted us at the door out of customs/immigration and whisked us off. The lodge is located more in a neighborhood, so the outside noises are more likely to be chickens and kids rather than city street noise.

Our plane had banked over the mighty Zambezi River as it cascades over the slot that creates Victoria Falls. We hope to see the falls tomorrow, but we had booked an evening on the Zambezi for our first day in Livingstone. With just 6 passengers, we had a lovely cruise, with birds, hippos, and crocs. There’s nothing like a relaxing boat ride, with a well-supplied cooler and great sundowner snacks. The river provided the rest of the entertainment. Little did we know that the two Americans on the boat were the last ones we would see for more than two weeks.