We traveled for safari with OATtravel to South Africa (Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana)
We headed out ahead of the trip and spent 3 days in Franchhoek, SA, one of the wine regions near Capetown. This gave us some time to relax and get use to the time zone change (6 hours).
This area is a fertile valley surrounded by mountains, very picturesque. Weather was perfect for us, though it snowed a few days later.
Nice compact town with a wine tram and shuttle buses. So we UBERed in and hit a number of wineries. While this is not the most famous wine region, the wines were still good.
Next we met the group in Jo'berg for that start of the safari. The goal of any safari is to see lots of animals and take lots of pictures. I took over 3000, whittled it down to 400 for a slide show, with maybe a dozen worth printing up.
From Jo'berg we flew to Victoria falls and took a bus to the Hwange National Park. But to get there we passed through an area being strip mined for coal by China.
The staff was wonderful and greeted us with song at every camp. We had to reciprocate at the camp fire on the last night (I will save our embarrassment with our performance, though I thank those that led the group.)
Once in Hwange we started our game drives, each morning "wakey-wakey" at 5:30 for breakfast and then into the jeeps.(actually Nissan, Toyota or Land Rover pickups converted to carry 9 people) -- 15 in our group split between 2.
While it looks as if a fire went through here, it is just the end of the dry season with all leaves off the trees and branches and bark eaten by elephants (also this has been a drought year)
After Hwange we went back to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side (which is dry this time of the year), but we walked across the bridge over the gorge. Now you (NOT me) can bungee jump or zip line across the 100 meter gorge (stock photo)
After Kafue, then to Chobe Park (the size of NJ), then returning to Victoria Falls for flights to the Okavango Delta using what our guide called those rare big blue birds.
So everyone wants to see the big 5, well we saw 4 of them as Rhinos had been moved out of the park into private game reserves to better protect them, though there is some discussion of bringing some back into the national parks.
While yes I have a pretty good telephoto lens, but how close did we get to the lions?
They tell us the lions don't perceive the jeep as potential game as just this too big blob they don't know what to do with.
A leopard in a tree about 75 meters away.
Once our driver spotted an elephant coming our way on an established path, so he parked the jeep behind a bush.
When the elephant came by it spotted us and stopped about 10 feet away. I was closest and each time I made eye contact she stomped and snorted.
And the herbivores.
Impalas (in front) were everywhere.
Kudus seemed to be the next most numerous
Zebras were a running joke until we got to Chobe. Our jeep spotted a couple zebras while the other jeep failed to spot any. So we kept saying we saw more zebras each drive (NOT). Until Chobe where there were hundreds if not thousands.
Waterbok
Hartebeest
Hippos are the second most dangerous animal in Africa after the mosquito
Hippos come out at night to graze.
Roan antelope
Sable in the distance. Sables are vicious defenders and lions leave them alone. Just look at those horns.
Warthog in the front. guinea fowl behind and of course impalas
The warthog and marabou stork are 2 of the "ugly 5". Wildebeast is another of that group, and I saw one hanging with the zebras at a great distance, but most had moved out of the area. I also saw various vultures also in that group and a spotted hyena crossed our path at night returning to camp. So we saw all the ugly 5.
Lots of smaller animals too.
The hyrax, closest relative is the elephant.
banded mongoose
painted dog pups
monkees
Baboons getting groomed
And lots of birds
Lilac breasted roller
Bateleur Eagle
vultures
Little bee eater
Fish eagle
Spur-winged goose??
Male ostrich on the nest
Marabou stork
Hornbill
Sunbird
Blue eared Starling
Grey heron
Crowned Lapwing
Cormorant
Weaver bird community nests in a Baobab tree.
It's election season there with a political sign on the tree
And more
The locals actually view chameleons like we view snakes. Chameleons are not poisoness, but apparently will latch onto you and not easily let go.
Our accommodations were mostly tents on platforms, each with shower and bathroom.
The staff was great, they greeted us with song at every camp. Food was great even though prepared in camping conditions.
OATtravel emphasizes cultural ties, with visits to local families, rural shops, schools and talks with locals.
Coincidently a few weeks before, I was watching Mythbusters trying to make fire with different methods. They failed miserably rubbing sticks together. But one of our drivers (a Bushman) came in traditional garb and demonstrated it, only took him about 30 seconds.
His secret, one hardwood, one softwood, and add a little sand.
We went as some strangers, but returned as friends.
After the safari we went to Victoria falls for rest in a real hotel (WITH A/C). At the falls we walked along the path.
Most took a helicopter ride over the falls
We also took a walk with the elephants where we fed them and walked among them. These elephants were all orphaned when very young, but raised here, not in captivity but open to the bush.
