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. ;)

Botswana – Sepopa & Seronga

Like an airboat in the everglades, so easily gliding through the water, at such a rapid speed -- making quick and fun s-turns from one tall delta grass channel to another... this was our 1 1/2 hour trip, basking in the sunshine... to get us and our gear from Seronga to Sepopa in Botswana... plus a few stops to check out some crocs and fish eagles we spotted at various points along the way and a fun bench-backed truck ride through the sand streets in the heart of the village to our campsite at the Okavango Delta's edge.

Upon tossing our things into our tents a handful of us walked into the main part of the village to check out the composition of daily life here. We handed out lollies (lollipops) to kids we encountered along the way, creating an extra level of excitment as we wandered past their homes and market stands. Women walk with large tubs of all sorts of things on their heads, and kids carry chairs, bags, and other items in their trail... on a simple journey into the village center. Colorful birds fill the telephone wires above -- quite a change from the typical brown dove we often see in the U.S. The sand roads are quiet -- more filled with foot traffic, than vehicular traffic.

A few of the kids walked the long road 'home' with us (dodging a herd of cows on their way back from getting water, along the way)... they took quite an interest in us, and a lot of the items we were wearing -- as I shared my sunglasses with one of the girls, she took on a very stylin' look... and a big smile.

Ovambo Village & Mayana School

A school yard filled with camera-happy kids... as they run around chasing each other, and doing their best to consume miele or corn with their hands before having to return to class. The water spicket outside the principal's office -- the school's latest (and much needed) addition, is also very popular, as the kids huddle around it to rehydrate themselves.

As the bell was rung -- by one young boy running around with it -- the kids went scurrying in multiple directions to line up in front of their respective classrooms. It wasn't until they were in a single file line and calmed down that the teacher would allow them to enter into the room and resume class.

Our group had the opportunity to enter two of the classrooms (1st and 3rd grades,) where we proceeded to read with the kids, sing each other songs in groups, and look through their classwork and get to know them a bit.

The principal met with us in her office afterwards and shared more info about the school and some of the struggles they face... Kids make necklaces out of the local plant in seeds in an effort to sell them to make the funds they need to attend school... it was a joy to purchase & wear some of these precious creations.

The Ovambo village is filled with smiles, song and dance. Local people invite you into their home. They invite you to sing and dance with them in their church. They invite you to wander freely (for many kilometers I might add!) - you are a part of their village. Kids cross paths with you in the vast corn fields, interspersed between village homes and linked with sandy trails, as they walk to and from school -- some in uniform, some not. Some skipping school, some not. Either way -- you are greeted with a friendly smile and a curiosity to know you that matches your own.

Kavango River – high waters & sinking boats

Where the sun and moon reflect equidistantly off the water... the Kavango River is side-lined by tall, golden grass fields swaying in the wind and filled with crocodiles who surface their appearance on occasion. Angola lines one side of this river, and Namibia lines the side we're on... the Angolan border/guard station can be seen far off in a diagonal direction, and the curiosity to set foot into this Portuguese-speaking region stretches far beyond setting foot on the river islands.

The area was currently flooded, which forced our group to be boated in & out from our campsite, vs. being able to drive across a small bridge to get there. One was a power boat, and the other was the slow wooden platform, atop two canoes boat... the latter became our sunset cruise later on our first evening in the area... which sprung a hole upon 'docking' in Angola, and then took in so much water that we all had to shift to one side to balance the weight as we attmepted to make it back to the lodge before sinking... the real problem here didn't seem to be the non-existence of life jackets on board, so much as the crocodiles that would be happy to have a little extra dinner this particular evening -- ahhhhhhhh, the beauty of adventure! :)