It all began when I brightly told a tour operator that I wanted to get above Victoria Falls and happily booked the delightfully named ‘Livingstone Walk.’ We met our guide, a handsome man named Alpha Omega (?!) and  unquestioningly followed him up past the view points of Victoria Falls to what can only be described as a wall over which flowed a small river. Naturally we walked this wall, then we hopped from stone to stone over a dryish river bed. A sharp turn left and we had a view of the entire falls. Breathtaking…but not the end. Alpha then led us straight towards this gushing torrent of water. A quick fanta (I wanted something stronger but it was only 9AM) and my clothes were off and I was swimming possibly 10 feet from the edge of the falls. The current wasn’t strong, I don’t really think there was any threat of being swept over but the fear started and was to continue. I shakily climbed out of the river only to find myself standing on rocks over looking a small plunge pool which in turn poured over its edge as Victoria Falls, or simply, as Rob tried to reason with me, an infinity pool.

By this time my legs were shaking, my face screwed into a perpetual cringe and the words ‘I can’t do this’ escaping periodically from my lips. Alpha explained very simply that in order to clear the rocks I was going to have to jump wide into the pool. Excuse me? Jump into a pool that is dragging itself over the side into vic falls?! Holly mother of superted. But Hannah jumped, and then Rob flung himself forward. I was there, psyching myself up, (still repeating my mantra of refusal), then Alpha cunningly produced a video camera, aimed it at me and almost magically my face was attempting to contort into a smile and I was in the air (jumping to certain death) and surprisingly in the water and spluttering ‘where’s the rock, where’s the rock, where’s the rock,’ over and over again till finally Rob grabbed me and held me onto the rock ‘wall’ where I sat clinging to random bits of rock and occasionally becoming hysterical enough for Rob to laugh at me.

It was amazing…yet terrifying. By leaning back (heart in mouth) I had a view of Victoria Falls, right next to me! I could feel the spray from the huge volume of white water cascading down and shooting upwards from sheer force. For a brief moment I forgot that I was sitting in a LIFE THREATENING SITUATION in a pool aptly named ‘The Devil’s Armchair’ and my breath was taken away in admiration. It was a case of leaning till I got so scared that I would have to cling to the rock again only to build up the courage to force myself to look to remind myself why I had come to this ridiculously daft place.

Only then, at the height of my terror did Alpha explain his intentions to hold my feet while I leant over the edge and placed my arms in the waterfall. But of course, how silly of me to not have realised this earlier! Almost in tears I was shook and watched the other three all perform this almighty feat (and survive) still convinced that I was the one to which it would go wrong. I had thoroughly convinced myself that I wasn’t going to do it when my arms took on a life of their own and heaved my body onto the ‘wall.’ My feet were grasped and I was edging forwards. I screamed, I tried to come back but my feet were being pushed and my head appeared over the edge facing directly down into vic falls. I was part of that waterfall, not above, not viewing, blooming part of it!

So there we have it. I never realised I could be so scared and am still beating myself up that I let fear get in the way of my enjoyment.

So… in order to combat this ridiculous fear I have thrown myself into every water born activity I could find. I conquered the Zambezi in a raft, I spent a day floating through the Okavango Delta in a Mokoro (a small dug out canoe made of wood). Then yesterday I was offered the chance to go water skiing. Well of course I said yes and thought nothing of the consequences till I was in the water, feet in the air holding onto a speed boat by a bit of rope. Straight arms said the man, knees to chest…and with a whoosh I was standing…first time. They tried to shake me but I was unbeatable and fall only when the boat stopped. Then we turned around and I was up again, amazingly, feeling so pleased with myself and getting such a rush. I still can’t quite believe that it happened so smoothly! It was only later that I was told about the Hippo, ah well, what you can’t see doesn’t hurt you, or something like that.

Till the next installment my friends, have happy adventures, face your fears and try something new J

Georgie