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Melissa Mpofu, Showbiz Editor
It’s no secret that being home on New Year’s Eve sucks especially when you start hearing fireworks from neighbours and can’t join the fun.

But not to worry, the annual Jameson Victoria Falls Carnival is upon us and what better way to usher in the New Year than being part of Africa’s biggest party in the resort town with so much adventure and amazing bands entertaining you. And of course, so much Jameson on standby waiting to be imbibed.

Every year tourists from all over the globe join Zimbabweans for this once in a lifetime celebration. They either fly into the country or simply hop onto overlander trucks which bring them all the way from surrounding countries, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Namibia.

The party begins on the journey to Vic Falls as people bond while playing cards, drinking beers and chatting over bumpy roads. If lucky, you may be spoilt with an accidental safari along the way where you can spot elephants, kudus and lions from Lupane going onwards.

For those in Zimbabwe though, there are basically four options, either drive with friends and family, catch a flight, jump onto a train or a luxury coach. Jumping onto a train is however not advisable as it may not be so luxurious as boarding a Gautrain.

The carnival is simple, it’s an excuse to get wild, partying for three continuous nights, imbibing publicly, walking around with no shoes on and wearing the weirdest bright coloured outfit, basically anything goes. And if you are single, this may be a perfect opportunity for you to get a partner, if lucky that person may well be your lifetime partner.

With an amazing line-up of artistes – Mango Groove, Goodluck, Mokoomba, Jason Le Roux, DJ Francis, you won’t want to miss this event. And there is what they call the bush party where you are ferried to a secret location aboard a steam train. On board, you will be jamming to music and imbibing to sounds from DJ Francis.

On each night, after parties will be held across the whole town and they will be free for ticket holders meaning the partying just doesn’t stop.
Vic Falls is generally an ideal location for such kind of behaviour as people there are free spirited.

In preparation for the event which starts on December 29, ending on January 1, one needs to consider buying their tickets to the events now. Already, the main events – the train party is almost sold out. A second train has since been availed.

For entrance into events being held over the three days, one needs to budget $90. For accommodation, one will need between $100 and $400 depending on their preferences. But worry not, you may not even need to sleep as you’ll be partying all night long so pitching a tent in a very secure location may be a brilliant plan. However, accommodation is available at lodges, rest camps and hotels but most are almost full, hurry.

Often times I’ve heard people saying the carnival entertainment is boring so they never enjoy. Very true because DJ’s don’t play commercial music but mostly play electronic dance music (EDM) which is a hit among white folk. The trick to this is to go with a fun crew so that you focus less on the entertainment and just go with the flow.

Once you fail to identify your crew, you’ll be headed for a disaster as all you’ll be hearing is: “We’re tired, let’s go and sleep” yet the party will just be starting. If anything, you need a crew which will ensure you are the last ones to leave always. After all, this is why organisers of the carnival have a ‘hangover kit’ of medication specifically meant to assist such people.

Dressing is of great importance when preparing for the carnival. The whole idea behind going to that fete is to have fun and forget about the stresses of everyday life. So when choosing clothes to wear there, make sure they are clothes you feel comfortable in and really enjoy wearing.

Most of the events are outdoors so it’s a good idea to wear shirts that are made of a breathable fabric such as cotton. Cargo pants are also a great option as the extra pockets can come in handy for holding your wallet or other personal effects and can also hold any tickets that you may get.

If it is too hot for pants, then a nice pair of shorts for the guys will do the trick and the girls can also wear a nice pair of bum shorts. Hats are a must to wear because of the hot weather.

A carnival requires you to walk around all over the place so people should wear the most comfortable shoes.

As I said, the carnival alone may not be quite exciting as the events only start in the evening meaning during the day, you will be holed up in a hotel room or tent. You should make sure that’s not the case otherwise you’ll be one of those who’ll leave saying: “the carnival was boring.”

Being in the adventure capital of Africa, one needs to maximise on their visit. After all, it’s not every day that you get to visit Victoria Falls. Most only visited this world wonder in Grade 7 during their trips. Activities people can partake in include a tour of the Falls, “Flight of Angels”, an adrenaline rush of bungee jumping from the Victoria Falls Bridge, crocodile cage diving, white water rafting to game viewing from the back of an elephant.

You should not leave without gambling at the Kingdom Hotel. The dealers there are quite friendly, they are always willing to teach you how to play just in case you are new to the game.

With so many places to eat out, make sure you treat yourself to the town’s signature crocodile and game dishes. Many believe the resort town is costly and hesitate going out while there, don’t be part of those statistics as you need between $5 and $20 for unique meals. Standard meals like the traditional sadza and chicken/beef cost at least $2 at outlets such as Invuvu and kwa Mai T. Pizza lovers, be sure to make your way to Shoestrings and Panarottis. Steak lovers may as well head to Spurs. Those who love it African/traditional will definitely love The Boma and Mama Africa. Zim Cafe is another good option.