by Gail Gotto –
This is Africa – a dream that for us became a reality. Our trip took us through Kenya, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, a journey of almost two months. The diversity of the countries within this continent is nothing short of amazing.
To see those countries, as well as the people and the animals in their own environment, was magical. The people of Africa made us realize how privileged we are. Their happiness, kindness and the simplicity of their lifestyle was something to admire.
One can watch nature programs on TV and read books, but to be there and watch the animals – how they eat, play and protect their young – is something to behold. We were informed by our guide that the chance of seeing a leopard was almost impossible, as they tend to be secretive creatures, but we saw seven on five different occasions! We saw elephants by the hundreds, crossing the rivers, taking mud baths and looking after their young. We had the privilege of seeing a baby elephant that was almost two weeks old. These young calves are recognized by the pink edges of their ears and trunks, which turn grey when they reach a month old. At this age, they have to kneel and drink through their mouths until their trunks mature.
There was an abundance of lions: females, some with cubs; mature young males; and some who let the world know they were really close – usually around 4 a.m. There were rhinoceros, hippos, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, wildebeests, Cape Buffalo, meerkats, springbok and kudu, elan and many others from the antelope family. Also, hyenas, jackals, baboons and monkeys. We came too close to a spitting black cobra at our last camp in Kenya. With an array of birds, these countries are also a birder’s paradise.
Arriving at Victoria Falls, we watched the rushing waters with vapour clouds making their way into the massive ravine, making this one more incredible wonder. From the Falls, we made our way to the wetlands in Chobe, Botswana, where more elephants were in abundance. On to Namibia to the waters of the Okavango and into Etosha National Park, where the land is arid but the animals – still many – adapt to their surroundings. South from there to the coastal sand dunes, hundreds of feet high reaching down to the Atlantic Ocean, then inland to the red dunes – the highest in the world, where the sand is so fine that the landscape changes every time the wind blows.
From Namibia, we made our way into the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Desert and on through the vast valleys of South Africa to Cape Town. Here there were fewer animals, but the scenery of the land was breathtaking. Our time in South Africa included a trip to Robben Island, The Cape of Good Hope, where the winds were fierce and the ocean wild where we saw South African fur seals and penguins who were quite entertaining. We ended our time in Africa with a trip to the wine district of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, where we enjoyed some very impressive wines.
People ask us: “what was the best part of your trip?” Our reply? “Every part was the best.” Would we go back? In a heartbeat. Pure magic.
