Sri Swamiji embarked on His second journey to Africa (first to Egypt in 1984) on 30 April 2001. Leaving Mysore and arriving at Madras, Sri Swamiji visited Madras Ashrama where a send off program was held. Thereafter Sri Swamiji flew via Singapore, South Africa (Johannesburg) and arrived at Victoria Falls airport in Zimbabwe on May 1^st 2001 at 10.30 PM. Aruna Malani of Hyderabad and her son Krishna Kumar Malani of Zambia received Sri Swamiji and a cool and wonderful Africa beckoned Sri Swamiji.

Victoria falls town is a border town in Zimbabwe and leads to Zambia. We crossed the border and entered Zambia. Sri Swamiji had passed through five countries in a matter of 26 hours. (India, Singapore, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia) In Zambia, Sri Swamiji stayed in the house of Sri Krishna Kumar Malani in the border town of Livingstone.

 

On 2^nd May, At 9 AM, Sri Swamiji travelled to Victoria Falls, situated in the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls is on Zambezi River and is the longest water falls in the world. It is a whopping 1.75 miles wide and huge torrents of water hurl down 150 meters and brings down a peak average of 550 million litres of water per minute. The water falls in to a creek formed in between a flat African land. Sri Swamiji walked on the path in front of the falls and said the Victoria Falls has immense power. The falls welcomed Sri Swamiji with huge sprays of water emanating from the bottom, which drenched Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji walked the one-mile path and saw the full fury of Victoria Falls. Sri Swamiji loudly chanted the Mantra "Om Aim Hreem Shreem Lalitambikayei Namaha". As we crossed the bridge across the creek of the post falls river, we were mesmerised to see a round rainbow, which looked like a welcome garland for Sri Swamiji. Having never seen a round rainbow, it was spectacular. Sri Swamiji wished to perform Sri Chakra Puja near the falls where the sprays of water (like a drenching rain) would be the natural Abhishekam to the deities.
Click here to see photos of the Falls visit

In the evening Sri Swamiji, visited the Musi-oa-Tunya wild life park. Among the animals seen were Giraffe, Rhino, Deer, Guinea fowls, giant lizard, Wart hog. The road in the park which runs along the upstream of the mighty Zambezi river (before the falls) is a popular crossing place among the animal to reach the river. We stopped near the other end of the park and Sri Swamiji walked to the river and spent a few quiet moments there and watched the sun set behind the river.

Click here for photos of the Zambezi River

 

On 3^rd, Sri Swamiji went on a boat ride on the Zambezi River and watched rhinos and crocodiles in their natural habitat. Sri Swamiji played an indigenous African wooden instrument on the boat.

In the late afternoon, Sri Swamiji visited the falls again and had taken with him the Sri Chakra Puja box and in the full shower of the water spray from the falls (like a stormy rain), Swamiji sat near the edge in front of the falls and performed Abhishekam to the deities with the water from the rain. It was very unique. The rain was so strong that Sri Swamiji many times was barely visible in the thick water mist that encircled and engulfed Sri Swamiji in the Puja place. After about twenty minutes of Zambezi River Abhishekam Puja, Sri Swamiji, all wet but happy pointed to a unique rock formation in the falls, which looked like a Shiva Lingam. Sri Swamiji said it is very unique and the vibrations near the falls was very powerful and genuine. Click here for photos of the Puja

 

That evening Sri Swamiji was presented a dance show of various provinces of Zambia. Later the members of the Hindu Samaj called on Sri Swamiji and invited Sri Swamiji to visit their Samaj and Bless them.

On the 4^th May (Friday), Sri Swamiji visited the Zimbabwe city of Victoria falls and saw the falls from that side. Sri Swamiji also visited a crocodile farm, which is helping the preservation of various crocodiles of Africa. The oldest of them was an 80-year-old crocodile. In the evening Sri Swamiji visited the timber factory of Sri Krishna Kumar Malani and Blessed it.

On 5^th May, (Saturday) Sri Swamiji went in a micro light plane. The openness is the biggest feature and it took off with relative ease and it flew all over the falls and the up stream and the flight lasted for about 15 minutes. Sri Swamiji said the falls gave an entirely different perspective from the sky and it was fascinating.

 

Sri Swamiji played piano for a while and then left for the Hindu Samaj. There Sri Swamiji gave a lengthy discourse in Hindi. Prior to this, Sri Kalyandas of Hyderabad gave a introductory speech in Hindi. Livingstone, which has about 30 Indian families, attended the program.

On Sunday the 6^th May, Sri Swamiji celebrated Narasimha Jayanti. The 108 names of Narasimha was chanted a Ganapathy Homa was performed.

 

In the evening, we left for Hwange safari park in Zimbabwe.

The next day, Sri Swamiji went on a safari ride in the park and saw many animals including lions, elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Wild boars, fox, spring rabbits, Crocodiles, wilder beasts, deer (many types of them) Hyena, many types of birds, etc.,

 

Sri Swamiji immensely enjoyed the calm and quietness of the Hwange park and the vast open park had a watering hole next to it, which was frequented by many animals in the evening and night. Sri Swamiji spent the evening watching the animals and the round and bright moon, which rose behind the watering hold and carpeted the landscape with soft white light. Click here for the photos of the Safari

On 8^th Monday Sri Swamiji travelled back to Livingstone. On the way Sri Swamiji stopped by in a village. It was remarkable to see that the village which made up by about 20 thatched houses with about 100 inhabitants all making a living out of agriculture and animal husbandry looked so happy inspite of the non existence of electricity and telephone system. There was a craftsman who made exquisite wooden carvings from the fallen and dead trees. Sri Swamiji was given a fruit, which he said would enhance the vision of the eyes.

In the evening Sri Swamiji visited the Victoria falls again and saw the falls in moonlight. Standing near the edge where the falls swooped down, the rising moon caused a rainbow in the water spray. It was quite unique to see a rainbow in moonlight. Sri Swamiji meditated for quiet some time and then returned home.

 

On 9^th Tuesday, Sri Swamiji left Livingstone at 12 noon and journeyed to the Victoria falls airport and then flew back to India via South Africa and Singapore.

Sri Swamiji arrived in Bangalore Ashrama on the 11^th May at 11 AM.

Jaya Guru Datta