Mar 15, 2013 - Victoria Falls

A few days have lapsed but that is because we have been in Zimbabwe and the Wifi has been less than desirable but it has made up for things in so many other ways. We flew up to Vic Falls on Tuesday about a one and half hr flight from Joburg. The Vic Falls Safari lodge where we stayed was 4kms out of town, and was overlooking a watering hole and the savannahs. It was another true African experience with the bar and restaurant with no windows and the thatched roofs. The sunsets were incredible. We took a tour of the falls which was an...

Nov 29, 2012 - Zimbabwe - Victoria Falls

Hi - One of my lifelong travel objectives has been to visit Victoria Falls. Along with Niagara and Iguazu it's considered one of the three great waterfalls in the world. The problem is how to do that. Zimbabwe is not a very safe country at this point. Traveling by public transport is a poor choice since I'd have no flexibility to see some major game parks on the way. Driving myself is out since the auto rental agencies won't allow travel into Zimbabwe. That pretty much left booking a tour. Check this one out...

Oct 10, 2012 - Transition Day

We’re back in Johannesburg, staying at our base camp – the Peermont Metcourt Hotel—awaiting the 4:00, 4 hour trip to Kilgali, Rwanda and our Gorilla Trek. Last night was a time for hand washing laundry in the sink hoping it would dry before time to pack. It also afforded a fun dinner with our traveling mates. Our Aussie friends, Peter and Alison, spent much time explaining the ins and outs (or overs and bowlers and wickets) of Cricket to us as we watched on the TV. I think we finally have a handled on it! Then as the wine and beer flowed,...

Oct 10, 2012 - Walking with the Lions; 1st Adventure Ends

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Oct 9, 2012 - Lions & Lions Oh My!

cannot express the enjoyment of today...Walking with the Lions! This was what I had been waiting to do since the beginning of this trip! The lion population has decreased 80 to 90 percent over the last 30 years. The ALERT project gets cubs from the breeding sanctuary when they are about three months old and works with them with walking with people. The second stage of the project introduces the lions to a controlled wild environment. Radio collars are attached and taken to environment where there are animals for them to hunt; there is no...

Oct 8, 2012 - Canoes & Rainbows

We were greeted by the Vervet Monkeys playing in the trees at the entrance to Zambezi National Park. We were then off for a bumping ride down a long dirt road to the upper Zambezi River. There were many photo ops on the journey...Giraffes, Bush Buck, Kudu, Impala and our friends the Baboons! There were interesting nests in the trees. They belong to the Weaver Bird. The hole in the nest always faces west and all of the nests are on the west side of the tree. The male builds three nests of which only one is used, the others are for...

Oct 8, 2012 - Canoeing and Victoria Falls

Canoeing the Zambezi Another early morning pick-up, this time by Shearwater Adventures. Beginning of the experience was a bit shaky. Driver Jeffrey dropped us off at a hotel and settled us into a thatched covered dining area. The itinerary called for breakfast, but it was not to be except for coffee. Seems they had planned for a lunch, not brekky. We then sat for 30 minutes waiting for someone to retrieve us. Eventually Mancouzi our guide for the day appeared and we very, very slowly worked our way through signing the ever necessary...

Oct 7, 2012 - Elephants, Baboons & Hippos

Up early for our elephant back safari. We arrived at the Victoria Falls Animal Reserve; 8500 acres of private reserved started in 1989 with 3 elephants. Two males and one female we're brought in and in 7 years there were 6 elephants. These elephants are now 39 years old. We were fortunate to ride Boma, one of the original males. Jackie and Gary got to ride Tatu, the original female. Paul was our leader guide, walking in front of us with a loaded rifle in case there was a wild animal attack! Benjamin was our elephant trainer. He has worked...

Oct 7, 2012 - Elephants (and more) and Sunset on the Zambezi

Elephants (and more) and Sunset on the Zambezi Met our ride this morning at 6:15 a.m. to head out to the Victoria Falls for our elephant ride. Ten miles of paved road followed by 15 miles of dirt road into the 6500 acre private game reserve, which was started in 1989 with 3 orphan elephants. There now are 25 elephants, four of the five big cats (lions, leopards, tigers and cheetahs), kudo (the largest antelope and the one with the spiral horns), giraffes, rhinoceroses, water buffalo, impala, zebras and a host of smaller animals. From the...

Oct 6, 2012 - Baboons, Monkeys & Warthogs

We arrived at the airport, asked directions for which terminal to use. Terminal A we are told, but when we get there we find we need to go to Terminal B. Off we go, and this was by no means a short walk. Stand in line, get our boarding passes (where the agent cannot believe we are only checking one small suitcase for four people. Then we have to trudge back to Terminal A to our gate. Our flight left late. But how lucky we're we to get Exit Row seating! Arrive in Victoria Falls, Jackie and I feel like we are now in Africa! We have to stand...

Oct 6, 2012 - First Feel of Africa

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Jul 8, 2012 - Zim to Johannesburg

7/8 Day of travel. I woke early and decided to a walk along the A'Zambezi river. I'm enthralled by its majestic calmness knowing every that contained within 10 meters there lies a crocodile. It's amazing. I was shuffled off to the airport and stopped the bus for more cash. Crazy how much you go through in Zim as its currency is cash. It's actually a pretty expensive country as the rich people drive the cost of everything up.  I stopped at a Barclays bank. Selected $400 and savings. Um no. Ok too much. Put card back in, selected $200...