Final Entry:
Our last drive in Chief's island was spectacular. Thanks to our guide's animal calls, he coaxed 3 baby lions out of thier den. Mama had been hunting so they were alone. It was a rare sighting in that they were 3 and they were less than two months old. Two males and a female. One of the males was a tough brave lil s.o.b. As our guide immated lion calls, he came to our truck growling. When mama showed up, she was P.O'd.
She grabbed each one by the neck and hid them in another den (we also found).
The amount of wildlife was incredulous. This is no Zoo nor are there fences or borders.
In the the early morning, wild baboons awoke us as they were on our thatched roof going crazy. We had coffee and goodies delivered around 5:30 and as I had my 'hit' a wild male elephant came to our entrance and starting eating in fron of our door. Barb wasnt too thrilled that I went outside to share my 'hit' with "Tantor".
When we finally departed camp, our old puddlejumper was there taking friends of ours to another camsite. our friends were worried as the pilot was repairing belts and other electrical issues but I assured them, that was "normal".
When OUR puddle jumper arrived I was impressed. A working euro plane. large single engine. I sat upfront and halfway during the trip, Barb got a little nervous when she saw the pilot was not actually doing the flying. She then looked at me and saw I was doing the flying and had a good laugh. Ya, I actually "flew" over the Okavango Delta.
Unfortunately, the rest of the exchange was not as smooth. In Botswana, it was a bit of a nightmare. A plane missing fuel, an unscheduled stop, got "deloused" on a plane for a second time and in Johannesburg, we literally RAN nonstop as agents from two different airlines tried to get us in time to our South African Airlines flt.!!
Our B&B in Capetown was impressive. For a mere ten dollars upgrade, we had the BEST view of Table Mountain.
Unfortunately, our firstday was a total washout. Rain, rain, rain, fog and mist. At least, we had a nice lunch and I walked among slippery boulders on a wet and windy afternoon in a spot where the Indian and the Atlantic met. Waves and sea spray hit you in a roaring welcome.
Whales, penguins and other assorted life was fun to watch.
We did the winelands and stayed in an incredible B&B that was the creme de la creme of our entire trip.
The Sharkcage experience was actually better above the cage. There were four groups of four to each and unless the Shark came directly to the cage, you couldn't see them due to poor visibility.
Still, we had great shots from above. The water was a little cold but wetsuits made it a more comfortable experience.
Oh, and our GPS; a psychotic neurotic female computer that on several times, put us either in the wrong part of town or literally on our last day, with mere hours to go AND while searching for a place for a steak and a beer put us in the Port of Capetown!!!! They actually let us in the port with only a signed paper. When inside, we realized it was identical to the POrt of Miami and no, there was no Steak and Beer joint. We finally were able to get out but believe you me,,,,,,,,,we had an experience.
Many more things to share but for now, I end my blog log with this:
Dulema!!!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
Chiefs Camp
Our last night on Chief ISland. On the Okavango Delta. We have another game drive tommorow morning then a puddle jumper from Maun to Johannesburg then Capetown.
NUmerous wild dogs, Lions on both drives today and Spotted Hyennas. Two adult females and thier young male cubs have entered the campsite. Looks like they had been in a battle as they had numerous injuries. We were 3 feet from these beautiful wild animals. Our Island has no fences and animals cross the Delta into our campsite.
The wildlife is better than I imagined. At night, our tent is filled with all kinds of movement and cries from the wild.
It's a strict 'never walk alone policy' here during the night. Totally isolated and unimanagable.
Tonight, we're having a traditional Boma dinner. Kinda like an ol USA BBQ but in the wild with a fire to keep the animals at bay. Food is cooked over a wood fired grill.
We have eaten everything from warthog to Crocs to impalas and other delishus critters.
The borders are unfenced and the experience leaves you awed.
"Sanctuary Retreats" are bar none the BEST holiday (vacation) one can take.
The traveling part does suck but I'd do it all again w/o question.
Many many stories to share.
Goodnight for now,
Manny
NUmerous wild dogs, Lions on both drives today and Spotted Hyennas. Two adult females and thier young male cubs have entered the campsite. Looks like they had been in a battle as they had numerous injuries. We were 3 feet from these beautiful wild animals. Our Island has no fences and animals cross the Delta into our campsite.
The wildlife is better than I imagined. At night, our tent is filled with all kinds of movement and cries from the wild.
It's a strict 'never walk alone policy' here during the night. Totally isolated and unimanagable.
Tonight, we're having a traditional Boma dinner. Kinda like an ol USA BBQ but in the wild with a fire to keep the animals at bay. Food is cooked over a wood fired grill.
We have eaten everything from warthog to Crocs to impalas and other delishus critters.
The borders are unfenced and the experience leaves you awed.
"Sanctuary Retreats" are bar none the BEST holiday (vacation) one can take.
The traveling part does suck but I'd do it all again w/o question.
Many many stories to share.
Goodnight for now,
Manny
Chief's Camp - Day 2
Barby here reporting once again from Botswana - mainly Chief's Camp in the Moremi Game Reserve - Chief's Island.
Last night was somewhat eventful because we had a troop of baboons and vervet monkeys that were acting...well...like monkeys at around 3:32 in the morning...running all around outside our tent and on our roof and making their calls. It was quite an exciting feeling to sleep in a tent hearing the sounds of the wilderness throughout the night - you certainly don't get THAT in Miami! No worries, we weren't exactly roughing it - this is unlike any "tent" I've ever seen!
We had an exciting game drive this morning - saw lions, african buffalo, elephants and impalas....all in one area! Then we decided to have some fun with hippos and I got some great open-mouth shots.
The scenery here is indescribably beautiful and drastically different from one area to the next....with marshes, lagoons and wetlands in one area...savannah and bush fields in another....and forest-like canopies in another....unless you see it for yourself, the pictures really won't do it justice.
Just got off a mokoro ride where we basically took a canoe trip down the delta (kind of like those gondolas in Venice but without the striped shirts and all the italians). I was a bit nervous given that the pathways that are used for the mokoro trips are literally pathways that hippos create, but we were in good hands so I decided to stop worrying and we survived!
Right now we are just relaxing a bit, updating the blog and Manny is reading, waiting for high tea before we set off for another game drive. Hopefully this one will be as eventful as the one from this morning.
Tomorrow we are off to Cape Town and the winelands.
Signing off from the Okavango Delta.....Barby
Last night was somewhat eventful because we had a troop of baboons and vervet monkeys that were acting...well...like monkeys at around 3:32 in the morning...running all around outside our tent and on our roof and making their calls. It was quite an exciting feeling to sleep in a tent hearing the sounds of the wilderness throughout the night - you certainly don't get THAT in Miami! No worries, we weren't exactly roughing it - this is unlike any "tent" I've ever seen!
We had an exciting game drive this morning - saw lions, african buffalo, elephants and impalas....all in one area! Then we decided to have some fun with hippos and I got some great open-mouth shots.
The scenery here is indescribably beautiful and drastically different from one area to the next....with marshes, lagoons and wetlands in one area...savannah and bush fields in another....and forest-like canopies in another....unless you see it for yourself, the pictures really won't do it justice.
Just got off a mokoro ride where we basically took a canoe trip down the delta (kind of like those gondolas in Venice but without the striped shirts and all the italians). I was a bit nervous given that the pathways that are used for the mokoro trips are literally pathways that hippos create, but we were in good hands so I decided to stop worrying and we survived!
Right now we are just relaxing a bit, updating the blog and Manny is reading, waiting for high tea before we set off for another game drive. Hopefully this one will be as eventful as the one from this morning.
Tomorrow we are off to Cape Town and the winelands.
Signing off from the Okavango Delta.....Barby
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Chief's Camp - 1st Day
Barby here reporting directly from Chief's Island in the Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.
We finally had our first safari drive in Chief's Camp and have quickly realized that these guides have the best off-roading skills EVER!!! We saw plenty of species and some rare birds. We even saw a pack of wild dogs (which are rare to see in Africa) and a lioness and her cub walking along at night.
Have a bunch of resident bats that like to hang out at our tent and baboons that like to just hang out at the camp! I've heard they cause quite a riot at night so tonight's sleep should be interesting!
I've taken WAY too many pictures.....lost count....and have many more to go!!!!!! Can't wait to share most of them with you (I fear if I share all of them, it may be overkill....).....
The view from this camp is AMAZING (right on a bend of the Okavongo Delta and in the middle of swampland). The sounds of wildlife are never ending and we even spotted some red lechwe and elephant without even leaving the camp!
Having a great time.....Africa has lived up to all our expectations and exceeded them in many ways!
Off to dinner and drinks. Will check back soon....
Signing off.
Barby and Manny
Signing out...gonna go
We finally had our first safari drive in Chief's Camp and have quickly realized that these guides have the best off-roading skills EVER!!! We saw plenty of species and some rare birds. We even saw a pack of wild dogs (which are rare to see in Africa) and a lioness and her cub walking along at night.
Have a bunch of resident bats that like to hang out at our tent and baboons that like to just hang out at the camp! I've heard they cause quite a riot at night so tonight's sleep should be interesting!
I've taken WAY too many pictures.....lost count....and have many more to go!!!!!! Can't wait to share most of them with you (I fear if I share all of them, it may be overkill....).....
The view from this camp is AMAZING (right on a bend of the Okavongo Delta and in the middle of swampland). The sounds of wildlife are never ending and we even spotted some red lechwe and elephant without even leaving the camp!
Having a great time.....Africa has lived up to all our expectations and exceeded them in many ways!
Off to dinner and drinks. Will check back soon....
Signing off.
Barby and Manny
Signing out...gonna go
CHOBE CHILWERO!!!!
We survived the lion walk. The "girls" were a tad angry at having to interact with us but at least they were small lions.
Once we ended up in "Chobe", the game drives were phenomenal!!!!! We also saw numerous Hippos and all sorts of wildlife on the Chobe River. A few got mad and started to charge us but we got out of the way.
Saw herds of Big elephants and an angry mom that wasnt happy about us being near her baby.
Lots to tell but now at Chiefs Camp headed for a Safari.
The puddle jumper was like home. Small Cessna missing parts, radios and other goodies.
More later.
Headed out! Oh, been bit by many different things and a bunch of bats live outside our tent looking at me as I use the inside toilet. No locks on our tent but more on that later.
This is Manny and Barb signing off!
Once we ended up in "Chobe", the game drives were phenomenal!!!!! We also saw numerous Hippos and all sorts of wildlife on the Chobe River. A few got mad and started to charge us but we got out of the way.
Saw herds of Big elephants and an angry mom that wasnt happy about us being near her baby.
Lots to tell but now at Chiefs Camp headed for a Safari.
The puddle jumper was like home. Small Cessna missing parts, radios and other goodies.
More later.
Headed out! Oh, been bit by many different things and a bunch of bats live outside our tent looking at me as I use the inside toilet. No locks on our tent but more on that later.
This is Manny and Barb signing off!
Monday, September 20, 2010
ZAMBIA!!!!!!!
Mosi O Tunya!!!!!
From Sussi and Chuma
3 days here and Barb and I are in LOVE!!! We did Devils Pool, HIgh Tea in LIvingStone, Cruised on the Mighty Zambizi, rappeled a Gorge, Rode the LARGEST elephant, named Bop and made so many new friends. This afternoon We walk with Lions!! Our treehouse overlooks the Zambezi river and we wake to thundering waters and Hippos!! I share a tree house with weird animals, a pack of wild monkeys and things I have never seen before.
Barb and I ALMOST chickened out of the rappeling gorge but we said, HECK GO FOR IT.
We did a heli through Victoria Falls and flew through the gorge and Bop also crossed the might Zembezi with us on his back!!!
It has been NONSTOP since we got here. Took us 3 DAYS and oh, yeah, the plane had fflap problems getting into LIvingstone so Barb and I were told to standby on the emergency exit. We ALMOST went off the runway, in a B737!!!!!!
The puddlejumper is tomorrow. To Chobe Chilwero.
MUCH MORE awaits including safaris!!!
Hello to all our freinds IN MIAMI!!!!
Mosi' O' Tunya means "The Smoke that Thunders"!!!! Lots learned about Doctor Livingstone!!!!
This is Manny and Barb, signing off for now.
From Sussi and Chuma
3 days here and Barb and I are in LOVE!!! We did Devils Pool, HIgh Tea in LIvingStone, Cruised on the Mighty Zambizi, rappeled a Gorge, Rode the LARGEST elephant, named Bop and made so many new friends. This afternoon We walk with Lions!! Our treehouse overlooks the Zambezi river and we wake to thundering waters and Hippos!! I share a tree house with weird animals, a pack of wild monkeys and things I have never seen before.
Barb and I ALMOST chickened out of the rappeling gorge but we said, HECK GO FOR IT.
We did a heli through Victoria Falls and flew through the gorge and Bop also crossed the might Zembezi with us on his back!!!
It has been NONSTOP since we got here. Took us 3 DAYS and oh, yeah, the plane had fflap problems getting into LIvingstone so Barb and I were told to standby on the emergency exit. We ALMOST went off the runway, in a B737!!!!!!
The puddlejumper is tomorrow. To Chobe Chilwero.
MUCH MORE awaits including safaris!!!
Hello to all our freinds IN MIAMI!!!!
Mosi' O' Tunya means "The Smoke that Thunders"!!!! Lots learned about Doctor Livingstone!!!!
This is Manny and Barb, signing off for now.
Friday, September 17, 2010
One more thing,
FOrgot my freaking jacket so I was freezing my a@@ on a freaking double decker open air bus that had no heat. Barb felt this was her contribution. Seeing me freeze. Mr. Be Prepared the never forgets crap.
Well, time for another Single Malt. Neat AND Trim. Then we're off on that dreaded 11 hour flt.
Well, time for another Single Malt. Neat AND Trim. Then we're off on that dreaded 11 hour flt.
COOL BEANS, MAN
Peps got us to MIA in record time so in spite of snooty attitude from SOME BA reps, we got on an earlier flt. Have not slept since Wednesday. Had the Fish and Chips. Kinda, man, suckiest suck that ever sucked.
Having a few single Malts while waiting for the next flt from hell. 11 freaking hours on a freaking 747 with freaking idiots.
Our flt down was sleepless and if not for SOLDIERS and wine, it would have been even suckier. A "soldier" is a nice cold beer for those not in the know.
Our next stop is Johannesburg and we arrive there tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. THEEN another flight on a puddlejumper to Livingstone. Will try to update in the Savannah but Barb's blackberry sucky sucky.
Peace to my family and friends!
Having a few single Malts while waiting for the next flt from hell. 11 freaking hours on a freaking 747 with freaking idiots.
Our flt down was sleepless and if not for SOLDIERS and wine, it would have been even suckier. A "soldier" is a nice cold beer for those not in the know.
Our next stop is Johannesburg and we arrive there tomorrow at 6:00 a.m. THEEN another flight on a puddlejumper to Livingstone. Will try to update in the Savannah but Barb's blackberry sucky sucky.
Peace to my family and friends!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
We're OFF
All my bags are packed! Having a Warsteiner as I await my bud to pick us up!!! We blast off at 8 P.M. for London. We get there at 5:00 A.M. 17Sept10 Miami Time. Think I'll have the OL' Fish & CHips at the Sherlock Holmes Pub.
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