“Are you a local?” – ahhh, the love of Sadza/Pap/Miele

At the Vic Falls airport in Zimbabwe, I was asked if I was a local, after I ordered the most common local dish (v. all of the American menu options) -- I think I had them shocked that I like Sadza/Pap/Miele (it's like a mixture between mashed potatoes and cream of wheat...and has several different names, depending on which country you're in, in Africa.) Why in the world would I waste my time traveling across seas to eat a burger and fries or chicken salad?!

Atop are a couple pics from organizing my stuff in my room at Savanna Lodge (which basically entailed drying everything that I had left in my pocket at the falls!)... and a sunset photo from the plane en route to Jo'burg.

See you again next year?! – Vic Falls to Kenya, here we come!

6 African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zimbabwe & Zambia) and 1000's of Km's later, next year a handful of us plan to venture from Vic Falls towards Kenya... and continue our adventure! Kenya, Tanzania, Congo?!... here we come!!!!!!

Zambia – Easter at the Falls, Livingstone & bungi frenzy

I walked over to Zambia from the town of Vic Falls in Zimbabwe with a few friends on our 2nd day in town. We took a long break on the bridge over the Zambezi River to watch some of the bungee jumpers from above... wow! That's about all I can say (to the actual event, and the ridiculous cost!)

We continued on, after two successful border crossings to catch taxis into Livingstone -- the main city in Zambia, nearest Vic Falls. We found great bar-restaurant for lunch and had the opporunity to listen to a jazz band's rehearsal for their Easter celebration later that night. We took a brief walk through the markets on the street alongside, before returning to meet our taxi drivers (negotiated deal & time thang.) My friend Cristina was the only other person who wanted to experience the Zambian side of the falls, so the two of us took off on our own to do just that. Inside the park on this side, there is a bridge over to an island (basically an island of cliffs)... and the bridge is SOAKING! Everybody was laughing and running through the spray.. there was absolutely no way not to be drenched! We were having a blast playing in the 'rain'... only one minor glitch -- I forgot to put my passport back into my waterproof case after we crossed the border -- I had accidentally left it in my short's cargo pocket... and it had quickly taken on the start of running stamps, a wavering bar code, and my picture was peeling back from the main cover -- ai, yai! Only one temporary solution -- use some of my money to blot the stamps for the day, so I'd be able to get back across the border into Zimbabwe (as visas are involved!)... I had no problem re-crossing, but I did get some looks and a tad of laughter out of the border officials as I handed them the book of sogginess!

Being at the falls on this particular day was quite special. It was Easter, so all of the locals were there! Kids were swimming around and playing in the river above the falls and most others were picnicing along the edge. There is an intricate series of walking trails going every which-way through this side of the falls, so you can enjoy amazing views of main river before it plunges 100's of feet below, the falls from most every angle, and the bridge spanning over the Zambezi River.

Zimbabwe – Vic Falls, Hunter’s Bar, & chillin at Savanna

VICTORIA FALLS!!!!!! Rain on me! I was thoroughly looking forward to this visit after my trip to Iguazu Falls in between Brazil & Argentina last year... and after spending two days wandering the Zimbabwe and Zambian side of Vic Falls, I don't think a comparison is all too fair -- as they are both extremely magical in very different ways. Vic Falls is a long mass of powerful water flow offering relatively consistent rainbows, and a spray that creates a tropical rainforest on the upper banks of the canyon across from them... lush green plants, wet paths and monkeys are to be found! I just stood in the 'rain' at each vantage point... allowing the falls to wash over me... invigorating every essence of my being.

Botswana (again!) – Katima Mulilo & the Chobe River

ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS, ELEPHANTS!! We managed to see quite a few animals in Chobe National Park and along the riverfront (as we took the longest and slowest sunset cruise ever!)... ELEPHANTS, were by far, the highlight! Having the intimate opportunity to have them brush up against our safari jeep, and stand only 5 feet back from me at moments was thrilling! We watched a mama elephant dig up the root of a tree, and saw many of them huddle around their babies, along with the rest of their herd, to protect them. They play in the water -- rolling around and poke each other in the rear with their tusks. They throw dry dirt and wet mud (their preference) all over themself to cool themself and keep the bugs away. They flap their ears pretty regularly as a method of cooling the main veins on the back, which in turns helps to cool their body. They raise their snouts and point them toward us to smell us... they are just as curious as we are. You can distinguish the male and female by how broad their head is... well, the guide can anyways!!! :)

A return to Namibia – Caprivi National Park

A brief and beautiful return back into Namibia for another evening under the stars. I found an abandoned dock alongside this river to enjoy a little yoga in the warm air, just before sunset. I was lying on the concrete that had been heated all day by the sun, as the wind drifts swept over me -- a great, contrasting feeling. I then sought out the most ideal spot to catch sunset, on my own -- and this was it... just along the bank of the river -- at least a couple steps back, just in case a crocodile decided to join me! ;)

Botswana - Okavango Delta

Chased by elephants!!!!!!!! Shortly into our first mokoro trip we spotted a couple elephants feeding on some of the bushes on a small island. We shored our canoes, hopped out and climbed up on the island to get a closer look -- about 50 yards from the nearest elephant. I was amazed... how cool! And then JB started rounding us up to quickly jump in the canoe and paddle away from our landing spot... and only a minute later the two elephants came running right through where our canoes were parked and across the water to the other land mass across the waterway! Exhilarating!

"Hungry, Hungry Hippos!" Oh how they sound frightening -- not because of their grunting, but because of where they MAY be -- it is very difficult to get a grasp on where they are in relation to the mokoros (dug out canoes) we were traveling through the tall grass and calm water of the delta. A couple hippos came closer to check us out, as we watched them... that is what you see in the picture above -- the hippo popping his head out of the water to check on us... along with a couple of his friends, who you don't see in this given moment. Hippos are known to trample humans who make the mistake of taking a walk on one of their land trails and coincidentally block their path to the water... I was liking the mokoro!

After a night of pure bush camping -- no fences, no nothing -- just the sound of the surrounding wildlife and the hope that my dear tent mate would join me for any middle-of-the-night restroom runs! One of us would watch for the glow of eyes... and I kind of wonder if we would have really wanted to know if we were actually being approached!

We crossed the delta the following morning to go for a walk on the edge of the big island for about 1 1/2 hours. We managed to see a bunch of kudu, a spot where an elephant slept, and actually have a huge elephant cruise right by us (we did move out of the way, well beforehand, of course!) The biggest event of this journey was quickly learning how to escape lions, water buffalo, and other wildlife should they charge us! Basically, you better be faster than the others and be able to climb a tree like a monkey! There were no guns in hand or any other type of protection -- it was just us... out for a morning walk. ;)