Each game drive is different whether morning or evening, as well as around the Lodge and Bushcamps. We’ve learned to expect the unexpected, to see what unfolds. We’re in the 4WD’s, comfortable and safe because of our guides who have encyclopaedic knowledge of South Luangwa, the animals, geography and history, and have amazing driving skills. This even applies to Mulengha who has a wonderful sense of humour.
Read MoreEach day has been full of new experiences as well as wonderful sightings of animals. The places to be explored on the morning game-drives are based on information that our guides have brought together in their discussions with each other. We start with a general idea of what we’ll be looking for, and then see what unfolds.
Read MoreWe arrived at this amazing lodge in the afternoon yesterday, following a 1 hour flight from Lusaka. Our guide, Malenga, met us at the small airport and drove us to this beautiful place. Sue M and I are sharing “Elephant” room, a very comfy stand-alone room with a thatched roof, a veranda overlooking a meadow with grasses and small water holes that attract elephants, hippo, zebra and birds.
Read MoreOur flight from the Magkadikgadi Salt Pans was very pleasant (a Gippsaero GA8). Flying into the airport in Kasane, we could see the mighty river systems that feed into the Zambezi River, before many kilometres before Victoria Falls. We stopped at the border between Botswana and Zimbabwe, received a very handsome visa in our passports, and having transferred our luggage to a Zimbabwean vehicle and driver, were soon on our way to the Victoria Falls Hotel.
Read MoreThis morning I was up early for a last game drive before coming back to Splash Camp to collect my bags ahead of the 40 minute drive to the Kwara Airstrip, or as Godfrey refers to it: “Kwara International Airport”. We were due to fly to San Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans of the Kalahari Desert.
Read MoreIt’s 1:00pm on day 3 of our visit to Splash Camp in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I’m sitting outside on my balcony overlooking a grassy plain, zebra way off in the distance, birds flying overhead and Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto playing on my iPad.
We’re back from our morning game drive (& mokoro/canoe ride) having spent time watching some lion cubs lounging around in the sun.
Read MoreOur short stay in Namibia is nearing its end. I’m writing from Windhoek where we arrived a couple of hours ago. Our last few days have been spectacular, particularly Wednesday’s adventure drive to Sandwich Harbour, south of Swakopmund.
Everywhere we go, we see the impact of the dunes, the sand constantly pushing out into the Atlantic as well as the various harbours along the coast around and south of Swakopmund.
Read MoreFirst an update on Sunday evening’s nigh sky photography. Our wonderful guide, Taedza, found a great spot not far from Dead Valley Lodge – safe from prowling animals and free from light from the Lodge and passing cars.
The sky was magnificent – the Southern Cross stood out from the mass of stars behind it, and the Milky Way was stretching across, a little high to photograph it as a whole, but we should have a better view next week in Botswana.
Read MoreThis morning was a very early start to ensure we’d get to DeadVlei in time to watch the sun fill the clay pan. We were on our way at 6:20am, and arrived in the car park about 30 minutes later.
DeadVlei (“dead marsh”) is inside the Namib – Naukluft Park, the part of Namibia known for its massive red sand dunes.
Read MoreWe’ve made it to Africa! After multiple flight delays and two overnight stops, we landed in Windhoek, Namibia on Thursday. Today I’m writing from Dead Valley Lodge, Sesriem, looking south west across grasslands with purple mountains in the distance, an acacia tree outside my “tent’, and the odd oryx ambling by.
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