Tim Sanderson

The Pathfinder bus proved the perfect transport to Victoria Falls and like every other trip we saw abundance wildlife en route. We arrived in the early afternoon and set up our tents in the rest camp with much excitement and anticipation for an amazing week to come. There would be work; there would be play and a birthday party.

The week started off with working in the famous Ilala lodge, I assisted the receptionist with the guests checking in and out, listened to the phone calls and got an understanding of public relations generally. I think hospitality is a good option and it may be something I follow in the future as my father has a lodge. I also helped in the kitchens and learnt how to bake a Christmas cake before meeting with the owners and directors of the lodge where we had the opportunity to ask some detailed questions about running a hotel in a place like Victoria Falls.

The rest of the team had a go at the gorge swing and bungee jump, which they enjoyed but it was the water rafting that, will forever be one of the best memories for us as a team. We had a chance to cross 22 rapids filled with fierce water, pure adrenalin pumping through us all along with the best guides in the world. Our team suffered a few injuries with Samantha and Brian damaging their ankles and Aimee dislocating her shoulder – however they all showed Quest team spirit and perseverance and even through the pain they completed the water-rafting course. Watching the video we realized that we had not fully understood the intensity of the water at the outset, so filling us up with a lot more pride. It may have been the most exciting part about Victoria Falls because not only did we do it but we did it as a team.

We have been through moments of fear, moments of joy, moments of absolute bliss, three months has flown by so quickly and it is sad to say goodbye, to a place that has helped me find myself and a few good friends

Kevin Horwitz

While most of the team was excited about the adrenaline sports like the Bungi, the Gorge Swing and White Water Rafting, I was most keen for the hospitality part of the week because I could see myself doing that as a career. So we started in four groups of three working at Ilala lodge and I couldn’t believe that the owners just let twelve in-experienced people just come in and work at the lodge. But this is what happened and we are so grateful for this kind of opportunity.

We did everything from behind the scenes work of maintenance and kitchen through to bookings at the reception and helping out at the bar! The lodge was a five star-rated lodge. Everybody who works there is so happy and takes such pride in their work and all are so willing to help us and teach us! Victoria Falls was amazing to say the least and I have only spoken on the work side.

Now for the fun! It’s only natural to find the local watering hole and at Vic falls it was called Shoestrings where we did have a party or two. We all knew we would get the opportunity to go bungi jumping and gorge swinging if we had the funds but Quest had a little something up its sleeve: On Mr. Oli Pike’s birthday we went for a helicopter ride above The Falls - it was unreal, six minutes long but it felt like half an hour! After the flight they gave us the afternoon off for bungi jumping and the gorge swing! …

…finally we were there:  Hayley and I were up first for the gorge swing, I was calm as anything while my tandem partner was nervous like there was no tomorrow! But the switch was flipped as soon as we stepped off the ledge she was quiet and I began to squeal for my life! My mind began to doubt the thin ropes holding us up and the feeling of swarms of butterflies stayed for all too long! Then I watched my reaction in Dylan and after him Kirsty. The rush was still there on the way to the Bungi and I was regretting signing up because the butterflies had all but killed me! After watching Rob, Craig (aka “Kenya”), Hayley and Oli I had to do it and I’m glad I did because it was so different to the gorge swing you can’t compare them but hey -see for yourself!

Craig Allen

This past week has been one of the most amazing weeks of my life; it has been thrilling, exciting and yes definitely educational.

Victoria Falls has been one of the places that I had been hoping to visit; although very touristy it is a marvel of Mother Nature. We started off by working in the Ilala Lodge, which was fantastic for me because the hospitality industry has always been what I have wanted to do. I spent most of my time behind the bar, unfortunately not participating in consuming the drinks but serving them!

After all the work was done there was definitely some time left to play. The first thing was bungee jumping, where to say the least I was terrified to death and thought that I would have to change my pants but fortunately that was not the case. The very next day, we were up for white water rafting which was full of adrenaline packed action and probably our biggest team activity. We were given the most amazing opportunity to do a flight around the falls in a helicopter, which turned out to be absolutely breath taking. All in the entire trip was packed with the perfect balance between work and play.

Tim Sanderson

We have been through moments of fear, moments of joy, moments of absolute bliss, three months has flown by so quickly and it is sad to say goodbye, to a place that has helped me find myself and a bunch of good friends for life.