Feb 28, 2018 | Things to do in Victoria Falls, Vic Falls Carnival, Victoria Falls Activity, Wild Horizons Activites
Five Minutes with Mi Casa – Victoria Falls Carnival 2017
From the 29th of December until well into the early hours of the 31st, the atmosphere in Victoria Falls is electric, as though the very air with breathe is quivering with the excitement Carnival goers feel. Music vibrates through crowds of dancing bodies, the bar teems with thrilled partiers, and the entire sky is awash with colors as stage lights flood the night. Amist the craziness the carnival is famous for, Mi Casa could not look more comfortable. Dr. Duda, J’Something, and Mo-T have a platinum selling debut album, 3 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) and 
thousands of fans and followers, yet this dynamic trio could not be more humble and down to earth. As I pushed through the throngs of euphoric people and made my way towards the backstage area, my heart thumped as the questions I had prepared raced through my mind like a flurry of birds. However, when I reached the group, their humble, positive and introspective energy washed away any nerves that still jittered through my veins. Mi Casa did not behave as three big shot celebrities that people can’t interact with- their wit and good nature holds a mirror up to the quintessential feel good music that they produce. The name of their group is another reflection of their appreciation of their fans and the media who they believe are key in getting them to where they are today. Mi Casa su casa means my house is your house, and J-Something explains that they want their listeners to feel that this group is your group as much as it is theirs- my house is your house, my music is yours too.
The chemistry between J-Something, Mo-T and Dr Duda is as evident off stage as it is on. They bounce off each other, laugh and tease the way a trio of friends who have grown up together would. When asked what their first thought was when driving into Victoria Falls, they answered “Beautiful” in unison. I had always imagined that they had been an incredibly talented group of friends growing up, but their union was actually a musical twist of fate. One evening, Dr Duda was djaying an event in 
Sandton when Mo-T’s brother called him to come and play with the DJ. J-Something joined the two on stage and the rest is history. Dreams were realised, lives were transformed and life long friends were made. With Mo-T’s jazz background, Dr. Duda’s gospel background and J-Something’s soulful background, the world was introduced to a fusion of music that everyone wants to sing along to and has to dance along to.
When Mi Casa took to the stage, people were not just watching the performance, they were involved in it. Each song sent the crowd further into a frenzy, and even the few that were not familiar with the group were losing their minds to the sounds pouring through the speakers. As each new track began, I was determined that it was my new favorite song. That is, until the next one. When they played Your Body and Jika, it felt as though a flash mob had erupted on the dance floor. Thousands of feet pounded onto the soft grass while hands were flung into the air and bodies danced to the music. They could have played their set on repeat for the entire carnival, and I doubt a single person would have left the dance floor. 
So, there are two things to add to your bucket list now- watch MiCasa perform live, and come to the Victoria Falls Carnival. It is the best way to guarantee an incredible New Year. Happy 2018 everyone!
Written by Jess White
Jan 5, 2017 | Author : Jess White, Things to do in Victoria Falls, Vic Falls Carnival, Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls Activity, white water rafting, Wild Horizons Activites, Zambezi river
Victoria Falls, a quaint town home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, was transformed into festival central over the New Year period. The atmosphere hummed with excitement, music from multiple genres filled the air and the streets teamed with brightly dressed party goers. Land Rovers wound across the busy roads, packed with adrenaline seekers as they made their way between the rafting excursions, gorge swings, helicopter rides, and various pool parties dotted around the town.
The 3-day event came to life on the edge of the mighty Zambezi River. Beneath the surface of the glistening ripples live countless fish, crocodile and hippo. Birds dip and dive among the indigenous green trees that proudly overlook this impressive body of water. It is the ideal location to mark the start of the three-day extravaganza. There is no better way to spend an afternoon than lazing by the banks of a slow flowing river, listening to the gentle background music of talented DJ’s, with a refreshing drink at hand. The moon eventually took its place in the sky, and in small groups, people returned to town and pay a visit to the vibey Shoestrings Backpackers Lodge and Mvu bar, where the festivities continued into the early hours of the following morning.
On day two the Jameson Vic Falls Carnival raced on at full steam ahead with the popular party train, which took off on the 30th. Hundreds of people made their way to what can only be described as Grand Celebration Station. Waving their luminous purple wrist bands in the air above their heads, people leapt aboard the ride of a lifetime. Hogwarts Express pales in comparison to the party train, which was equipped with bars, music and hundreds of enthusiastic passengers. The train made its way to Jafuta, where a stage and strobe lights awaited the train. The high-pitched whistle of the train could barely drown the sound of the powerful music pouring from the speakers at the front. The smell of frying burger wafted across the eastern end of the party, while the sound of ice clattering into cooler boxes sounded at the west, where people were served their drinks in the light of the setting sun. Local DJ’s transported the crowd on a musical journey that only ended once the final train was ready to make its final departure home at 1 o’clock in the morning.
It is hard to believe that this was just the warm-up so the main event.
Like children to the Pied Pipers tune, so the carnival troopers danced their way onto the field where the NYE party unfolded. Feet pounded the earth from dusk until dawn as music from Locnville, Sketchy Bongo, GoodLuck and many more artists engulfed the crowd. The various food stalls also got a fair amount of attention as the night wore on and the munchies kicked in. People were lured off the dance floor by the delicious aroma of frying burger patties, and returned revitalised and ready to party on. The lights emanating from the stage gave the carnival an almost surreal feel. The vibrant colours washed over the dancefloor and swirled across the stage, reaching high into the navy blue sky towards the millions of stars that watched the carnival below. During the countdown into the new year, a soft mist drifted down, refreshing the party so that they could carry on dancing into the eagerly anticipated new year.
The Jameson Vic Falls Carnival is as unique and special as the town in which it takes place. The earth’s natural beauty flourishes here and can be seen everywhere, whether you are strolling through the rainforest, hurtling through the rapids or plunging into African air at the edge of a bungee cord. There is a marriage between cultural diversity and musical talent that leaves listeners with new found musical taste. Everyone you meet at the carnival is excited, friendly and ready for an adventure. The elation doesn’t end from the moment you step into Victoria Falls, to the moment you say your wistful goodbyes to her. Wild Horizons are proud to be Co-sponsors of the Jameson Vic Falls Carnival.
Jan 28, 2015 | Vic Falls Carnival, Wild Horizons Agents
Wild Horizons is pleased to report that the Jameson Vic Falls Carnival, with Wild Horizons as the official activity partner, brought in 2015 with a bang, attracting thousands of tourists to the town for the 3 day festival. The festivities commenced on December 29th 2014, with the departure of the long-sold-out party-train journey to a secret bush location, where Capetonian ‘Toby2Shoes’, rocked the stage for the 500+ lucky ticket holders.
The second day of the festival was themed around the world-famous ‘Holi One Colour Festival’. Festival-goers sport bags of multi-coloured powder paint to throw up into the air above the crowds at regular timed countdowns, creating a stunning eruption of multi-coloured haze above the jubilant crowd, which is a sight to behold! Local and International DJ’s, including Harare’s Rob Macson, kept the crowds bouncing throughout the afternoon and into the early evening, which led on to a host of various official after-parties at renowned locations in Victoria Falls town.
The final day of the festival was held on New Year’s Eve. The 5000+ crowd was undeterred by showers of warm rain as it glittered above the crowd in the foreground of an impressive lighting setup, which created a sublime electric atmosphere on a scale never before seen in Victoria Falls!
Long-time Zimbabwean folk legend, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi, attracted thousands of followers to the Carnival to witness his truly original Zimbabwean sound. Oliver, at 62 years of age, had the entire crowd in the palm of his hand as fans sang along to every word of his set of well-known local hits. The festival headliners ‘Goldfish’, the vibrant band-come-DJ duo from Cape Town, brought in the New Year with their unique and classic sound of vintage fusion with modern electro beats. All had a fantastically unforgettable time, and we look forward to watching this Festival continue to grow from strength to strength in the years to come!
