2 weeks after I lost my job I paid $150 for a 12 min helicopter ride over Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and unequivocally one of the best days of my entire life.
I was literally shaking for at least 10 minutes after we landed. The rush was indescribable! If you’re heading to Victoria Falls and have never done a helicopter ride, DO IT!!!! Yes, in all caps with exclamation points, because it was just that amazing. It’s a quick tirip, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t regret.
Selfie time! Because that’s what you do when you do badass things like fly in helicopters.
As I waved goodbye to my friend Omar (who refused to join me because he has far more sense than I do), I tried to be all carefree and nonchalant but was really all like OMG I’M GETTING ON A HELICOPTER OMG MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE OMG THIS IS HAPPENING!!
This is the part where homie was like “Don’t get your head chopped off by the helicopter blades because your family won’t get any money from us since you signed your life away on that form. Any questions?”
You can see the mist from the falls from miles away, even from the plane when you land in Livingstone, Zambia. We were blessed with completely clear skies so we could see everything!
There are tours that take travelers along the Zambezi river pretty close to the edge of the falls, and during low season you can sit at the Devil’s Pool along the edge. Totally doing it next time!
Halfway through the ride, this rainbow emerged from the falls and I held back tears lest I scare everyone in the helicopter lol. Definitely a moment I’ll never forget.
I failed to mention (read: didn’t want to worry) my Mother with the fact that I was flying in a helicopter over the biggest waterfall in the world, so she found out through my Instagram posts (sorry, Mom!). And if that wasn’t enough to put her into cardiac arrest, I also jumped off the bridge in the distance the next day. Luckily, through prayer and wine, she survived through my posts about it, and lived to brag about it to her friends when I got home.
Social media has made it possible for us to virtually travel so many places. But if you dare to dive into your screen and actually travel to these destinations, those “likes” can transform into a tangible love no smartphone can ever capture. There’s an overwhelming sense of awe when you experience it for yourself, and the gratitude is even deeper when you overcome obstacles or take a risk to get there.
The next time you’re about to scroll past yet another breathtaking travel photo because it seems unattainable, I encourage you to pause and add it to the vision board of your life. Whether it takes a few months or many years to get there, you won’t regret turning that dream into a reality. I can’t wait to “like” your photos!
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