With Megan, one of my new friends from L.A
Ooh.. long time no blog! Not surprisingly, it was quite difficult to find internet while travelling Southern Africa! I've got 27 minutes of internet at OR Tambo airport to fill you in on the last 3 weeks, the most amazing travel adventures and mishaps! Will try to make this quick, and add photos when I get home :)
--Kumuka--Botswana--
The tour I did with Kumuka through Botswana to Vic Falls was so much fun! Travelling with a guide and being driven, we got to see many fantastic things in a very short amount of time and make friends in the process. After my last blog, we drove to Maun which is a town at the start of the Okavango Delta. We stayed a night at a campsite and left 'bright' and early (read DARK, every morning we left before the sun woke up!) to go into the Delta. After a brief but freezing cold truck ride we arrived at the expansive water world that is the world's biggest inland Delta. We were met by a group of guys who were to be our guides and 'polers' for the next 3 days. Our transport was traditional Delta style.. mekoros or dug-out canoes. I shared a mekoro with Ed, the lovely bloke from Aus and we relaxed while we were poled through reeds and past some beautiful scenery. We set up our bush camp by the water and lazed around for a bit, it's too hot to do anything there in the early afternoon. After a few days of straight truck rides, it was so nice to chill out and take in the surroundings. That night we went for a game walk (ie walking through the bush to find aminals!) and saw giraffes and zebras. As lame as it sounds, it really was like something out of the Discovery Channel! But instead, it was just so REAL! We looked at them, they looked at us, we took photos and videos and then both parties were on their merry ways! We were kind of hoping to find something more exciting the next morning, but it's probably best not to come across a lion or rhino or elephant or leopard on foot! That night we told stories with our guides, who were such interesting and approachable people. It was wonderful to learn about how they live and the work that they do. One of them was the first African vegan that I've met! He was a character, a seventh-day adventist who had some interesting conversations with people from our group.. he laughs at evolution 'theory' and does not believe that his education was good for him. Hmmm....
--Kumuka--Botswana--
The tour I did with Kumuka through Botswana to Vic Falls was so much fun! Travelling with a guide and being driven, we got to see many fantastic things in a very short amount of time and make friends in the process. After my last blog, we drove to Maun which is a town at the start of the Okavango Delta. We stayed a night at a campsite and left 'bright' and early (read DARK, every morning we left before the sun woke up!) to go into the Delta. After a brief but freezing cold truck ride we arrived at the expansive water world that is the world's biggest inland Delta. We were met by a group of guys who were to be our guides and 'polers' for the next 3 days. Our transport was traditional Delta style.. mekoros or dug-out canoes. I shared a mekoro with Ed, the lovely bloke from Aus and we relaxed while we were poled through reeds and past some beautiful scenery. We set up our bush camp by the water and lazed around for a bit, it's too hot to do anything there in the early afternoon. After a few days of straight truck rides, it was so nice to chill out and take in the surroundings. That night we went for a game walk (ie walking through the bush to find aminals!) and saw giraffes and zebras. As lame as it sounds, it really was like something out of the Discovery Channel! But instead, it was just so REAL! We looked at them, they looked at us, we took photos and videos and then both parties were on their merry ways! We were kind of hoping to find something more exciting the next morning, but it's probably best not to come across a lion or rhino or elephant or leopard on foot! That night we told stories with our guides, who were such interesting and approachable people. It was wonderful to learn about how they live and the work that they do. One of them was the first African vegan that I've met! He was a character, a seventh-day adventist who had some interesting conversations with people from our group.. he laughs at evolution 'theory' and does not believe that his education was good for him. Hmmm....
What was once a buffalo
The next day we went on a game walk for a few hours and saw some more zebra and giraffes (yawn.. been there done that!) and LOTS of animal tracks. Even though my group didn't get to see very many animals, I was fascinated by the way our guides could track the animals. It's incredible! We lazed around again at lunch time and then in the afternoon I had a crack at poling! It was difficult but fun.. and to everyone's surprise I didn't fall in!
In the evening we went on a mekoro cruise and saw the sun set over the Delta, it was stunning. On return we played games with the guides and they sang us some local songs, pity we didn't really have much to give back in return but our English songs are CRAP compared to the beautiful harmonies they pulled out of nowhere!
In the evening we went on a mekoro cruise and saw the sun set over the Delta, it was stunning. On return we played games with the guides and they sang us some local songs, pity we didn't really have much to give back in return but our English songs are CRAP compared to the beautiful harmonies they pulled out of nowhere!
On the Delta
The next morning we were up and back in the mekoros to head back to the camp at Maun. The waters had risen so we had to take a long cut, but considering the environment it didn't even matter (it also didn't matter that our mekoro was taking on water..... eek!).
Argh! 9 mins left! Ok I'm going to rush through the next few weeks and fingers crossed I can fill it in at a later date (no promises though!).
Chobe- we saw a pack of lions hunting a herd of buffalo, which was AWESOME! We didn't see 'the kill' but the hunt was just so cool, and the buffalo were definitely winning! We went on another sunset cruise and saw elephants tusk-fighting, lots of hippos, crocs and pretty birds.
Vic Falls- the most incredible thing I have ever seen. It really is the only thing I can say I have stood before and felt completely in awe of. It was just amazing!
Argh! 9 mins left! Ok I'm going to rush through the next few weeks and fingers crossed I can fill it in at a later date (no promises though!).
Chobe- we saw a pack of lions hunting a herd of buffalo, which was AWESOME! We didn't see 'the kill' but the hunt was just so cool, and the buffalo were definitely winning! We went on another sunset cruise and saw elephants tusk-fighting, lots of hippos, crocs and pretty birds.
Vic Falls- the most incredible thing I have ever seen. It really is the only thing I can say I have stood before and felt completely in awe of. It was just amazing!
Lions are so incredibly beautiful!
Unfortunately, I was thrown off a horse on a horseback WALKING safari, had a ginormous bruise and possible fractures so the next few days I walked around with my hand bandaged and in a sling. I had to pass on the white water rafting but had a great time watching the others do the bungee, trawling the markets and having quite a few too many bevos on the booze cruise. No biggie though, when I got back to Joburg I found out that nothing was broken so it's all good!
Bloody horse!
---Swaziland--
From Joburg I went to Swaziland, hoping it would be my gateway to Mozambique. After much farting around it turned out not the best way to get there, but I had a great time with the people I met there, had lunch with the locals at the butchery and saw Nana 'The Diva of Swaziland' perform at house on fire. Brilliant!
--Mozambique--
When I EVENTUALLY got to Moz (via Nelspruit, Baz Bus and Greyhound bus) I was wrecked but it was nice anyway. The city of Maputo is interesting, and the people are fascinating. Many don't speak English and the portuguese culture is very much a part of the country.
Argh 1 minute!
Went to Tofo
BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL PARADISE
made awesome friends
Home in a few days
Love to all!!
Yola
From Joburg I went to Swaziland, hoping it would be my gateway to Mozambique. After much farting around it turned out not the best way to get there, but I had a great time with the people I met there, had lunch with the locals at the butchery and saw Nana 'The Diva of Swaziland' perform at house on fire. Brilliant!
--Mozambique--
When I EVENTUALLY got to Moz (via Nelspruit, Baz Bus and Greyhound bus) I was wrecked but it was nice anyway. The city of Maputo is interesting, and the people are fascinating. Many don't speak English and the portuguese culture is very much a part of the country.
Argh 1 minute!
Went to Tofo
BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL PARADISE
made awesome friends
Home in a few days
Love to all!!
Yola
