After log overnight flights from Johannesburg to Rome we headed by car to our B&B in the little town of Gavignano near Siena. Along the way we stopped for lunch in Orvieto (a town we visited over 30 years ago).
We finally did it – got the last of the big five — the LEOPARD was finally found. Fitting end to our African Safari – off to the airport – we fly Botswana to Johannesburg to Paris then to Rome – long afternoon, night and morning.
6:00 am into Chobe National Park – bouncing and sliding along rutted dusty sandy roads but we finally found the Lions.
Then in the evening more of our friends.
Early wake-up and bus to Victoria Falls for a Sunrise hike to see the suns magic on the falls along with the possibility to see rainbows. Back to our lodge for the 1:00 vulture feeding (these birds are near extinction because of limited natural food). Then on to Botswana and an evening game cruise. A 2 hour + cruise along the Chobe River watching the wild animals return to the river for their evening drink.
Packed day today – starting with a 2 mile walk along the falls eastern bank. Then a walk with 9 mo old lions followed by a rollicking dinner & drum show.
The falls are running at their low water flow mark (spring rains have not arrived yet) but still the amount of water generates a heavy mist. Our guide tells us when flowing at full force the best view is from a helicopter.
Continuing our packed day – we went to a lion rehabilitation reserve for a stroll with 2 – 9 month old cubs then rushed to a dinner show where we were given some African garb and were treated to the tastes of Africa. Grilled lamb, impala, guinea hen, crock, kudu and wort hog. Everyone received a drum and tried to play with the group. A face painter was painting African animals on faces but he screwed up when he came to me.
Today’s travel was by air to Livingston Zambia (formerly Rhodesia) and across the boarder by bus to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe. Unemployment here is above 50% & the currency has been changed to the USD – no matter how much paper money they printed – it wasn’t worth the paper it upon which it was written. The largest bill the government printed was a 100 trillion note. Staying for two nights at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. After check-in we boarded a boat for a sunset cruise and wildlife viewing along the Zambezi River (4th longest river in Africa). The elephants were taking their evening bath & the hippos were playfully fighting. Our late dinner was Wort Hog – really delicious!
Today we did a city tour of Johannesburg and headed to Soweto to visit the Mandela House (http://www.mandelahouse.com/ ) and the Apartheid Museum ( http://www.apartheidmuseum.org/ ). Not a lot of photos because of restrictions so please visit the websites. Both were sobering – that said South Africa has come a long way in 25 years almost as far as the USA in 150! Muslims only make up 1.5% of the population of Johannesburg but there are several mosques – the one shown is a smaller version of the Blue Mosque built buy a Turkish businessman active in South Africa.
Off to Zambia and Zimbabwe tomorrow.
Today we took the Panorama Route to Johannesburg through Mpumalanga Province. Along the way we visited the 16 mile long Blyde River Canyon taking views at “God’s Window ( it is said that the canyon is the 3rd longest is the world). We also stopped at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, a series of waterfalls and rock formations formed by water erosion. The original 8 hour trip was extended as our road was blocked by a burning hay truck for about 40 minutes. Into J-Burg and dinner at Jamie Oliver’s Italian restaurant – great meal and enough left overs for tomorrows lunch.
4:45 wake up, on the bus 5:15 and in our jeeps @ 6:00 — the game drive was off for 8 hours. Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles and storks. Mountains, bush plains and tropical forests are all part of the landscape. We probably only covered 2% of the park which is over 20k square kilometers. It was an enjoyable day but with a little disappointment we did not see lions or leopards which we needed to complete our big 5 sightings. But more days to come.
Travelling Photographer 