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These days, it’s about all their money is good for. Burning Zimbabwean currency is illegal. Super inflation has snuffed the life out of Zimbabwe’s
economy, rendering their currency worthless. In its place, Zimbabweans have adopted American greenbacks and South African Rand.
When the $5-billion note was reduced to ash, the man looked up and smiled. “Zimbabwe is a safe place to come to,” he said. “We want the world to
know we’re a peace-loving people.”
As unstable as Zimbabwe is, we didn’t get that from the people we encountered. They were easily some of the warmest, friendliest Africans I’ve ever
encountered. Many were concerned how their country is perceived in America. Their situation appears bleak, but everyone who wanted to talk about it,
was confident their situation would change for the better, their indelible spirit glowing like a brilliant Zimbabwean sunset.
THE MIGHTY ZAMBEZI
T
hey say there’s a crocodile every 50 meters along the banks of the swift-flowing Zambezi River. There was a big brute at least 15 feet long, with
jaws agape on a muddy bank and another scaly predator contorting its body as it twisted and fed in the shallows. There was even a stubborn croc
squaring off with a cantankerous hippo along the shoreline.
As we gently canoed past the scaly predators along the magnificent Zambezi River, I quickly decided I wanted to stay in the
canoe. That almost wasn’t the case, as a little tiger fish flew out of the river and hit an Australian gentleman in the chest in a nearby
canoe. He was so startled by the sudden breach that he and his companion nearly flipped out of their own boat.
Just when they caught their balance and righted their boat, two massive hippos lunged out of the water and toward the
FAR
FLUNG
TRAVEL
