Hello from Zimbabwe!
We're here in Vic Falls and are still having fun. Once again we've been travelling around like mad, but we've had today to ourselves and are catching up on internet and laundry.
Botswana was nice. We spent two nights in the wilds of the Okavango Delta with nothing but a bush toilet--it was definitely an experience. There wasn't much game around, which was a bummer. The sunset cruise in Chobe National Park was better though (lots of hippos!), and funnily enough we were on the same boat as I took in 2006.
The falls on the Zim side are much longer and are very full at the moment. We were told it was unusual for there to be so much water at this time of year. In fact, even white water rafting is cancelled for the time being--we were crushed! Ah well.
Our walk by the falls yesterday left us completely soaked to the bone. A rain storm moved in to add to the water vapor, and it looked like we had taken baths in our clothes. The pictures are funny!
I'll blog again from Joburg in two days.
Love,
Ames
26 March 2010
19 March 2010
Swakopmund--->Spitzkoppe--->Etosha National Park--->Windhoek
Hi everyone,
We have been extremely busy again, and haven't spent more than one night in a place since Swakopmund.
Mama is a bit crowded now, and the new people are OLD (pipes and knitting and complaining about loud music), but we're still having a good time.
Highlights: sleeping under the stars in Spitzkoppe with bats flying over our heads, game driving in Etosha National Park, and going out for another dinner here in Windhoek. I had the kudu and Rory had ostrich, zebra, and oryx. All were very tasty, and we washed it down with quite a lot of beer.
Other tidbits: our tent was flipped over by a baboon while we were away at dinner, I woke up covered in tiny ants, and we had lions surround Mama at one point. Oh, and Larium is messing with our heads a little--but we'll survive.
Today we head into Botwana. This is the last time I'll have internet for quite some time, but I least I got some photos up.
Love,
Ames
We have been extremely busy again, and haven't spent more than one night in a place since Swakopmund.
Mama is a bit crowded now, and the new people are OLD (pipes and knitting and complaining about loud music), but we're still having a good time.
Highlights: sleeping under the stars in Spitzkoppe with bats flying over our heads, game driving in Etosha National Park, and going out for another dinner here in Windhoek. I had the kudu and Rory had ostrich, zebra, and oryx. All were very tasty, and we washed it down with quite a lot of beer.
Other tidbits: our tent was flipped over by a baboon while we were away at dinner, I woke up covered in tiny ants, and we had lions surround Mama at one point. Oh, and Larium is messing with our heads a little--but we'll survive.
Today we head into Botwana. This is the last time I'll have internet for quite some time, but I least I got some photos up.
Love,
13 March 2010
Swakopmund ctd.
Hi everyone,
We're still here in Swakopmund getting caught up on laundry and internet. One of the tour members brought a laptop, so we're using free internet for over an hour--a real treat these days!
I thought I should say a bit more about what we're up to. It's an 'overland' safari, which means we go everywhere in our vehicle. There are all sorts of compartments and lockers for our bags, valuables, tents, and even a portable kitchen that pops out of the side. Our guide's name is Pilele, and he is from Zimbabwe. We also have a trainee guide who is from South Africa, and we've had some good chats--turns out he was homeless in Florida just a few years ago. Our cook, Nika, is also from Zimbabwe and I swear he has magical powers. He makes delicious foods out of few ingredients and very little space in 'Mama'. We've been eating well, which is good because it's a very active tour.
The group is an interesting mix: 4 Americans, 4 Germans, 3 Koreans, a Belgian, a Dutchman, and Rory. We'll pick up a few more people here in Swakopmund before we make our way eastwards (so 'Mama' might get a bit cramped). Everyone is kind and likes a good laugh, so the evenings are good fun. Everyone has a few beers and relaxes together.
We travel between five and eight hours everyday. It's bumpy, but still comfortable most of the time. I haven't read or listened to music at all because the views are so astounding. The only complaint I have at this point was the heat on a few of our early stops. On the worst day, it was 104 degrees IN THE SHADE. In the sun it was more like 112. We don't have air conditioning.
So the sea breeze is refreshing here, and we also get two nights in dorms. One of the girls whose tour finishes here just offloaded a bunch of unneeded clothing on me, which I'm very excited about. Nearly everything I brought with me is ruined in some way (usually holes from getting washed so much).
We had dinner out last night, and I had a springbok calzone. Rory had the game burger (we don't know what animals that might have included). Both were huge and we didn't come close to finishing. Zebra was on the menu, and apparently it was good. Rory and I thought it was too close to eating horse. We also had four beers apiece--it was a bit of a party.
I have so many photos I want to share, but getting them uploaded is a problem. I'll try to post the highlights every week and then post loads once we get to the UK.
That's it for now, a small chance of photos later on,
Ames
We're still here in Swakopmund getting caught up on laundry and internet. One of the tour members brought a laptop, so we're using free internet for over an hour--a real treat these days!
I thought I should say a bit more about what we're up to. It's an 'overland' safari, which means we go everywhere in our vehicle. There are all sorts of compartments and lockers for our bags, valuables, tents, and even a portable kitchen that pops out of the side. Our guide's name is Pilele, and he is from Zimbabwe. We also have a trainee guide who is from South Africa, and we've had some good chats--turns out he was homeless in Florida just a few years ago. Our cook, Nika, is also from Zimbabwe and I swear he has magical powers. He makes delicious foods out of few ingredients and very little space in 'Mama'. We've been eating well, which is good because it's a very active tour.
The group is an interesting mix: 4 Americans, 4 Germans, 3 Koreans, a Belgian, a Dutchman, and Rory. We'll pick up a few more people here in Swakopmund before we make our way eastwards (so 'Mama' might get a bit cramped). Everyone is kind and likes a good laugh, so the evenings are good fun. Everyone has a few beers and relaxes together.
We travel between five and eight hours everyday. It's bumpy, but still comfortable most of the time. I haven't read or listened to music at all because the views are so astounding. The only complaint I have at this point was the heat on a few of our early stops. On the worst day, it was 104 degrees IN THE SHADE. In the sun it was more like 112. We don't have air conditioning.
So the sea breeze is refreshing here, and we also get two nights in dorms. One of the girls whose tour finishes here just offloaded a bunch of unneeded clothing on me, which I'm very excited about. Nearly everything I brought with me is ruined in some way (usually holes from getting washed so much).
We had dinner out last night, and I had a springbok calzone. Rory had the game burger (we don't know what animals that might have included). Both were huge and we didn't come close to finishing. Zebra was on the menu, and apparently it was good. Rory and I thought it was too close to eating horse. We also had four beers apiece--it was a bit of a party.
I have so many photos I want to share, but getting them uploaded is a problem. I'll try to post the highlights every week and then post loads once we get to the UK.
That's it for now, a small chance of photos later on,
Ames
12 March 2010
Cape Town--->Springbok--->Soussevlei--->Swakupmund
Hi everyone,
We are having a great time on our safari. The group is fun, and the places we've been have been stunning. We've gone on nature hikes, eaten under the stars, saw the second biggest canyon in the world, hung out in the desert, climbed a massive sand dune, spotted wildlife from 'Mama' (our vehicle), and slept with the night sky visible through the door of our tent.
We're in Swakupmund now, which is near the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. I consider Namibia to be one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited--the desert views just go on forever, and are actually quite variable. And being a former German colony, the beer is pure and delicious.
We'll be here for another day or so, and then head eastwards towards Botswana. If the tour continues the way it has, it will end of being a really memorable and special experience.
There is much to say, but not much time. And the only internet cafe here doesn't have Skype! So I'll have to leave it here, until tomorrow.
Love,
Ames
06 March 2010
Stellenbosch--->Cape Town
Hi everyone,
We leave on our big adventure in a few minutes. We'll be spending 26 days doing a big trek through Namibia, Botswana, Vic Falls, and the other side of South Africa. I don't think we'll have much internet, but I'll do my very best to update this.
So excited!
Love,
Ames
We leave on our big adventure in a few minutes. We'll be spending 26 days doing a big trek through Namibia, Botswana, Vic Falls, and the other side of South Africa. I don't think we'll have much internet, but I'll do my very best to update this.
So excited!
Love,
Ames
04 March 2010
Cape Town-->Muizenberg-->Stellenbosch
Hi everyone,
Greetings from the Cape's famous Winelands! Tomorrow we head out on a tour (and intend to try plenty of wine).
We've been busy again. After our days at Table Mountain and the Bo Kaap in Cape Town, we caught the train and headed further down the Cape to the surfing town of Muizenberg. We stayed at an absolutely lovely place called the Amberley Lodge, and then couldn't tear ourselves away. The cool breeze and the cheap room were just too enticing, and we stayed for three nights. The highlight of the stay were the African penguins (pictures to come).
Today we left and headed here to Stellenbosch, an old university town. As for what's next, we're considering a 26-day overland safari through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and back to SA. We'll keep you posted.
Getting pictures up here has been a problem, but watch this space. I just might figure it out!
Love,
Ames
Greetings from the Cape's famous Winelands! Tomorrow we head out on a tour (and intend to try plenty of wine).
We've been busy again. After our days at Table Mountain and the Bo Kaap in Cape Town, we caught the train and headed further down the Cape to the surfing town of Muizenberg. We stayed at an absolutely lovely place called the Amberley Lodge, and then couldn't tear ourselves away. The cool breeze and the cheap room were just too enticing, and we stayed for three nights. The highlight of the stay were the African penguins (pictures to come).
Today we left and headed here to Stellenbosch, an old university town. As for what's next, we're considering a 26-day overland safari through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and back to SA. We'll keep you posted.
Getting pictures up here has been a problem, but watch this space. I just might figure it out!
Love,
Ames
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