Chasing Waterfalls

Rachel Boswell enjoys an experience far beyond running at the Victoria Falls Marathon.

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Like any good story, a race has a beginning, middle and end: a strong kick at the start line, a middle section of twists, turns and mixed emotions, then an epic conclusion at the finish line.

But as I found with the Victoria Falls Marathon, held across the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, sometimes the race is just one chapter in a much larger tale.

Despite a promising blurb, my story started on something of a downer. After a series of flight-related mishaps I landed in Livingstone, Zambia, a whole day late and with no checked luggage. And I hadn't packed running shoes in my hand luggage.

But the sourness was short-lived. I was staying in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park - a UNESCO World Heritage site - and was soon spotting zebra and giraffe within the hotel grounds. I was here to run the Victoria Falls Marathon: a once-in-a-lifetime foot race that straddles two countries and offers unparalleled views of that world-famous sheet of water.

Importantly, I was also part of a 30-strong group running the marathon in support of the charity Play It Forward, which empowers thousands of young Zambians from disadvantaged communities through education, sport and health initiatives.

Our first evening included a jet boat ride across the Zambezi River, and an unforgettable trip to the Elephant Cafe. Here we had the extraordinary chance to interact with rescued elephants before tucking into exquisite local cuisine.