| OK, I admit it - I'm soft on Africa. The African bush is | | | | visited the falls and the Mahango Game Reserve. |
| my dream . . . and my passion. | | | | Day 7: Maun |
| Imagine the rolling hills shimmering before you in the | | | | We crossed into Botswana at the Mohembo border |
| glow of dawn, the special golden light at sunset, the | | | | post and traveled along the Okavango River |
| incomparable wildlife right next to you, the baobabs | | | | southwards to Sehitwa before turning north east to |
| withering in the blistering sun, the camp out in the bush - | | | | Maun, the capital of the Okavango Delta. |
| at these moments you are in contact with the very | | | | After stocking up on supplies, we left for our campsite |
| essence of your primeval being! | | | | just outside town on the banks of the Thamalakane |
| I have been on safari in Africa many times. It is | | | | River. We jumped at the opportunity of a scenic |
| definitely a favorite destination. This particular trip was | | | | sundowner flight over the delta, our pilot swooping |
| the highlight of all my African excursions - a 4X4 12 | | | | down low over the herds of animals heading for their |
| day camping safari that started in Windhoek, the | | | | evening drink. |
| beautiful capital of Namibia, through some of the | | | | Day 8: Moremi - Okavango Delta |
| roughest terrain on the planet through like the | | | | Early morning we head for Moremi Game Reserve in |
| Okavango Delta in Botswana and up to Victoria Falls | | | | the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta in |
| in Zimbabwe. | | | | Botswana is one of the last totally unspoiled Wildlife |
| Known to the local African tribesman as | | | | areas in Africa. The unique ecosystem is a labyrinth of |
| "Mosi-oa-Tunya" - the smoke that thunders - Vic falls | | | | lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area |
| are truly a spectacular site. | | | | of over 17,000 square km and the largest inland delta in |
| Remarkably preserved in its natural state and one of | | | | the world. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands it is a |
| the most spectacular natural wonders of the world, the | | | | magnet for the wildlife who depend on the permanent |
| falls inspire magical inspiration to all visitors. At 1708 | | | | waters of this unique feature. The Okavanga hosts |
| meters wide and a drop of between 90 - 107 meters, | | | | over 400 species of birds, as well as lions, elephants, |
| this is the largest curtain of water on earth. | | | | hyenas, wild dog, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles, antelope |
| The falls and the surrounding area have been declared | | | | and many other smaller animals such as warthogs, |
| National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus | | | | monkeys, mongoose and more. |
| preserving the area from excessive commercialization. | | | | We take our time exploring the wetlands and its |
| The Falls are spectacular throughout the year, but | | | | myriad inhabitants en route to our next campsite at |
| February onwards, after the rain season, has the | | | | Moremi. |
| heaviest flow and volume of spray. | | | | Day 9: Okavango Delta |
| I find that a self drive 4x4 is the best way to explore | | | | More game viewing, this time from a dugout canoe - |
| the natural wonders of Southern Africa. On this trip we | | | | known here as a Mokoro. We paddled deep into the |
| booked a 4X4 campervan which is basically a | | | | delta from Xakanaxa spying all manner of |
| modified LandRover or other 4X4 with additional gas | | | | water-bound species on the way - hippos, gigantic |
| tanks, gear racks and an unfolding tent on the roof. | | | | crocodiles and more. Shades of Tarzan! Mind boggling |
| After picking up our vehicle at the rental depot we set | | | | to see these animals so close. |
| off as part of a convoy led by a qualified guide. While I | | | | Day 10: Chobe |
| usually prefer to wander around on my own, the | | | | After an early breakfast we hit the road again. (Never |
| terrain here is so rugged and so full of wild game, that | | | | short of food on this trip!) |
| you are definitely advised to take the guided convoy | | | | Heading north to the Mababe Depression, we entered |
| route. | | | | Chobe National Park at the Mababe gate. A major |
| One of the greatest highlights of any Safari is the gin | | | | feature of Chobe National Park is its elephant |
| and tonic sundowner after a hard day in the bush. | | | | population. These herds comprise what is probably the |
| Roughing it in Africa is more than a gin and tonic with a | | | | largest surviving continuous elephant population, |
| bottled lime juice instead of fresh, however. This is no | | | | currently estimated at a totals of some 120,000 |
| pussycat trip; this is hardcore Africa... everyone is | | | | elephants. They are also the largest of African |
| expected to pitch in and help, even if it means dragging | | | | elephants, but their tusks are brittle so there are not |
| the 4x4 out of the mud. We did - one of our | | | | many huge tuskers among them. The elephant |
| team-mates got stuck in the fine sand - and we made | | | | population has built up steadily in recent years and has |
| it with the broadest smiles we've ever had. | | | | largely escaped the illegal ivory hunters of the 1970s |
| Starting from Windhoek, a perfectly preserved | | | | and 80s. |
| German colonial style town (Namibia was formerly | | | | The herds are migratory, making seasonal movements |
| German South West Africa), every day of this trip | | | | of up to 200 kms from the Chobe and Linyati rivers |
| held a new and different thrill. From big game, bushmen | | | | where they concentrate in the dry season to the pans |
| tribes-people and spectacular natural wonders, this trip | | | | in the southeast to which they migrate during the wet |
| still makes my heart sing! | | | | season. |
| Day 1: Windhoek | | | | After an extremely pleasant day of game watching |
| We flew into Windhoek on South African Airways' | | | | we moved on to our campsite at Savuti. The Chobe |
| morning flight from Johannesburg. After picking up our | | | | river valley practically swarms with elephants. Most of |
| 4X4 and meeting with our guide and some of our tour | | | | the day they are scattered around the hillsides |
| mates, we spent the rest of the day exploring this | | | | surrounding the valley, and as the sun begins to sink |
| great little city. A combination of modern and German | | | | towards the horizon, they descend to the valley in their |
| colonial style architecture, this slightly provincial city is | | | | hundreds to swim, roll in the mud, eat and socialise. |
| quite neat and clean. | | | | After pitching camp in the late afternoon we moved |
| The influence of German language and culture is still | | | | down to the riverbed to await the arrival of our |
| very much apparent, with plenty German-style | | | | elephant friends for their evening sundowner. We didn't |
| restaurants and other cultural remnants. Although | | | | have too long to wait. They were soon crossing the |
| English is the official language, German can be used | | | | river in droves, in both directions. This carried on for an |
| just about anywhere. | | | | hour or two, until both banks were liberally covered in |
| Day 2: Etosha - Okaukuejo | | | | elephants of all sizes, from this year's calves through |
| After a light breakfast we left bright and early on the | | | | to a few who must have been upwards of 50 years |
| main highway north from Windhoek. | | | | of age. Can you picture this? It was happening right in |
| Passing through Otjowarongo we arrived at the | | | | front of us! Absolutely amazing. |
| Etosha National Park. Before setting up camp for the | | | | Day 11: Chobe |
| night we went on a sun-downer game drive. Later in | | | | The memories of last night's elephant lingers on into |
| the evening we sat on the banks of the floodlit | | | | the early morning ..... |
| waterhole bordering the camp, watching the animals | | | | Today we were awakened by the unique waking of a |
| coming in to drink. | | | | Fish Eagle perched on the tree behind our campervan. |
| Day 3: Etosha - Namutoni | | | | What can beat that? We traveled further north |
| A full day of game viewing today, and our first glimpse | | | | through the Chobe Forest Reserve to Ihaha. We saw |
| of lion and rhino not 10 meters from our campervan. | | | | ample game along the way - warthogs and |
| What a fantastic sight. At day's end we reached | | | | waterbuck predominate. At days end we camp on the |
| Namutoni, our camp site for the night. | | | | Chobe River bank after a game drive along the river. |
| Day 4: Tsumkwe | | | | Day 12: Victoria Falls - Lodge |
| Exiting the Etosha National Park we headed east via | | | | Our final day here in the wild - and we're on our way |
| Tsumeb and Grootfontein to Tsumkwe in the heart of | | | | to the smoke that thunders - or Vic Falls, discovered |
| Bushman land. The cultural experience of a visit to a | | | | by David Livingstone back in 1855. |
| bushman village is quite indescribable, so I won't even | | | | We cover the 130 kms in 4 hours and arrive at the |
| try. But make sure you don't miss it on your tour. | | | | falls at noon. Not much seems to have changed here |
| Day 5: Khaudum | | | | since Livingstone's time. The falls are a national |
| Following an off-road track of deep and loose sand, | | | | heritage sight and so are relatively uncommercialized. |
| we head north into the Khaudum Game Reserve. | | | | We quickly returned our vehicles to the depot and |
| Another day to enjoy game viewing. | | | | made a beeline for our lodge and a nice long bath. |
| Day 6: Popa Falls | | | | What a luxury! The rest of the day and most of the |
| An early start as we headed out before dawn for a | | | | next we spent absorbing the grandeur of the falls, and |
| game drive in the area of our camp before heading | | | | finally headed to the airport to catch our plane back to |
| further north to Popa Falls. We managed to track a | | | | Johannesburg and civilization. |
| pride of lions stalking their prey, but were not able to | | | | If you're after hardcore Africa - this West African |
| view the kill. Continuing north, in the afternoon we | | | | Safari is definitely the ULTIMATE African experience! |