Day 5 Travel Day to Boswana

 7/4/22 - Happy 4th of July.  They don't do fireworks in Africa.  Wake up call at 7:00.  Got picked up by our friend Michal from yesterday.  It was nice to see him.  I showed him that he made the blog.  He smiled and said we were running late.  Quick pic?

Go Michael. Go. 

We are driving to the airport in Zambia on our way to Boswana.  This bridge connects 4 different African countries at one point.  We didn't go on the bridge.  We didn't drive there.  I'm not sure why I added this. 

We saw some friends along the highway.  Again, not the 405.  I found out that these are Impalas.  I feel like animal pics are like food pics on a blog.  Maybe they don't translate well online?  But seeing these animals live is not my normal day at the office.

He's a nice guy.

We have to take a plane to the Chitabe Camp where we are staying.  We also have to make two stops along the way.  It's like the flying subway of Africa.

Hope We Make It Air.  No Parachutes?

The runways are small landing strips.  Pretty cool.  Our pilots were very nice.  One was still in training getting her hours.  Not a fact you'd want to know in advance. Only one of us used the barf bag.  Not bad.  I bet the over at 3.  

We were picked up by Goodman.  He's our guide for the next 4 days.  People in Africa are so nice.  

This was our first greeting on the way into camp.  We watched him drink for 5 minutes.  Incredible.

He put the E in Big Gulp

Welcome #2 from our friends at Chitabe Camp.  

In all honesty, I wouldn't call it a camp.  I'd call it a Camp+++++

Room View.


Our Cabin #2.  Fame Rocked It.  WOW.

Chitabe means place of zebra.  I have not seen a zebra ever.  Our hostess is Momma Joe.  I'm going with MJ.  Feels better.  She already knows all 8 of our names by heart, and uses them when speaking to us.  "Jeff, don't go out at night without a guide."  Ok MJ.  "Jeff, don't use the outdoor shower at night."  Ok MJ.  Outdoor shower?

After our orientation.  We had a nice lunch and then a 3:45 tea before going out on our first safari.  Our guide for the next 4 days is Goodman.  He seems like a good man.  "Jeff, don't stand up in the car."

"Goodman, I can't see over Lisa and Josh"

Goodman showed the girls a special type of African fruit that is specially grown for women, if the man is unable to perform his manly duties.

Rob?


Brad?


Josh?

Wendy didn't feel like she needed one.  Hurray for Blogger!

Ok.  Never been on anything like this.  My Mom took me to the zoo a couple times and I was more interested in the popcorn.  But this is a "wild" no pun.  We spent the majority of our first safari watch a Leopard hunt for its next meal.  Goodman said she was about 2 and her Mom is making her find her own food.  
Hi.  You look hungry.

Watching her eye the Impalas was fascinating.  It was 100% safari voyeurism.  She didn't get her prey, but I would not want to be an Impala.  I kind of felt bad for the Impalas, but still wanted to see it happen.  We later found her brother that was also looking for food.

Mom.  The kids are hungry.


We spent about 3.5 hours in the wild and it felt like 30 minutes.  Way better than the zoo.
Safari's Rule. Goodman's Gang.

Ended the first trip with an amazing sunset and a Goodman star gazing lesson.

Goodman, where's Uranus?


Kumbaya My Lord.  Kumbaya. 

















































Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  6/28/22 - Hi.  It's blog time.  I'm pumped up about this one.  Quick shout out to my good friends Brian and Elliot who I saw at my 40 year high school reunion on Saturday.  Elliot has the same mustache he had when we were both 15.  Still has it 40 years later. He also still has the same shirt from high school.  It's a collector's item.  But ride prices have increased. I couldn't sleep last night in prep for the long awaited AfriCAN trip.  I don't know what I'm most excited about.  Seeing gorillas?  Traveling with Sunshine, Pearls, Fiances, and Taubs or the anticipated travel day(s).  Whayyyyyy Jeff, it's a long flight.  Whayyyy you get to see gorillas.    LAX to Dohu.  Dohu to Johannesburg.   Lot's of talking about when to sleep?  When to eat?  When to drink?   Never been to Africa.  Never been on a Safari.  Never spent this much money to go to the zoo.   S...
Read more

Goodbye Africa

Image
 7/13/22 - It's time to say goodbye.  We are checking out today. All I need is this hat, and this speaker, and this coffee machine.... After we checked out we decided to pay tribute by visiting the Genocide Museum.  In summary, it sucked.  Ethnic cleansing of one race that started in the late 50's and then escalated unbelievably in 1994 by killing over 1,000,000 people in 100 days.  The silver lining is the country has rebounded an a huge way over the last 28 years RIP Our last stop was an art gallery/restaurant.  Our host was another Emanuel. Restaurant Choose Kigali Hoop Lights.  Very Creative. We had a great dinner outside and then starting our trekk home.   I have a lot of feelings spiraling around.  In no particular order, I have learned a lot this trip..... 1.  People can come together.  Heart 1st. 2.  Cherish what you have.  Many have less. 3.  One life.  Make the most of it.  Go deeper.  Pu...
Read more

Day 11 (Gorilla Trek #1)

Image
7/11/22 - Day 1 of Gorilla trekking has begun.  At breakfast, it feels like the beginning of the finale.  We have 2 days of Gorilla trekking ahead.  Here is what I've learned so far...  We've been talking to some people who already trekked.  First, you have to go to the Volcano Park.  Second, the Park Ranger gives out the Gorilla family assignments and the guide.  This seems important.  Where the families are located, will dictate driving and trekking distances.  This seems really, really,  important.  We decided to do a pool for at what times we will see our 1st Gorilla.  Amy - 9:03 Lisa - 9:18 Josh 9:32 Brad - 9:38 Jeff - 9:45 Wendy - 10:28 Bethie 10:36 Rob - 10:43 After breakfast, we headed for the park, about 15 to 20 minutes late.  I'm screwed already. Real or fake? I think we might have been the last car in the park.  There can only be 8 tourists per family, and once you first experience the family, you have an ...
Read more