Devil's Pool

Well it was time to try something really daring here. My friend Suzanne from the UK is here volunteering for 3 weeks and we decided to try out Devil's Pool. I realized afterwards that I really didn't mention to Suzanne what Devil's Pool really was and I noticed that neither did I until I did it. So basically we went over to Livingstone Island as I did with Jordan and Dad while they were here but you take it up a couple hundred notches. After walking along the edge to take some photos we strip down to our bathing suits and get ready to get in the water. Here is how the explanation went for us....Ok so you need to swim over there through the current (he points away from the edge of the falls) in order to get over there (points more towards the falls). The current is quite strong but just push through and don't panic. I'm sure if you had a camera on all of our faces you would see nothing but panic!! If the current happens to take you grab on to that rope over there that's just 10 meters from the edge of the falls. Afterwards you are going to need to crawl like a crab over these rocks to the point where you will jump into the pool. Needless to say Suzanne turns to me and wonders how she ever trusted her friend to book her on this excursion.

So we jump into the pool or in my case I slide out of fear. They bring you to the edge where a rock wall of about 6-10 inches stands in front of you and going over the Victoria Falls. I didn't think it was possible to dig my nails into rock but it is!! Suzanne pulled muscles in her neck avoiding looking over the edge and fighting the current coming at us. All I can say is that I'm not sure how it is even legal to do this activity. It definitely would not have passed the Lundbeck HR qualifications!!

Anyhow we did survive and proceeded to spend the rest of the day poolside at the Zambezi Sun sipping on some cocktails. I had the chance as well to use my underwater camera which has worked out amazingly.

Other than that it's just lion, lions, lions and elephants...awesome times but only 6 weeks left. Time has gone by so quickly.

Stay tuned....

Vick xoxo

They are released and doing very well...

Well the 6 girls were released on Friday and boy was it a day. The volunteers and staff here worked so hard to have everything ready for the big event. They painted building, removed grass, set up tent & chairs, drinks, food....you name it they did it. It was great to see all of our new marketing pieces arrive too to give it that little extra something :)

The 6 girls were in great spirits and probably a little confused by all the people surrounding their enclosure. Thank goodness the fence was securely built as the girls had their eyes on a few of the kids!! As some speeches were given the girls rested on their front paws as if they were listening as well on how important a step this was for them. All they probably wanted was the gate to open so they could get to the impala that were about 200 meters away.

As the gates opened a great applause from over 100 people roared through the release site. I'm pretty sure all the other animals took off at that point. The girls came out one by one with some doing a little stretching before they left their enclosure. It was quite an amazing to watch and I'm not gonna lie....a little emotional.

Once the girls were out in their 800 acres site we all went off to celebrate. At our Boma we served some cocktails and snacks and mingled with the crowd. I was able to meet one of the Chief and he even invited us to go to his land one day. After everyone left then it was time for the the team to celebrate...and boy did we. Everything went off so well and people were so thrilled with the day that we continued our celebrating well into the morning...or sorry did I say morning...well let's just say I took a nap before starting the next day's work.

Now there is just one part left that I would like to share with you. On the drive to our GM's house at 4:00 a.m. the owner of the company decided he wanted to hear "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers. It was like music to my ears. Of course nobody had a copy of this and most people didn't even know what it was but I just said "Don't worry...I got this" In my best country twang I started to sing "The Gambler". Now I wish I could have had a photo of the expression on Mr. Connelly's face when I went through the entire song but I will sum it up by saying he was impressed!! As I was singing he also would tote..."true..so true" or "that's how I live my life". I knew someday that my knowledge of the "the Gambler" would come in handy one day but I didn't think it would be in Africa!!

Cheers everyone :)