Sept 28 last day of Africa Victoria Falls

 Well guess what, up early for our last tour to Victoria Falls. On the bus at 7am for short drive to the falls. A 2 mile hike around the national park to see the falls. First we watch monkeys fighting and then entered the park. Along our walk we saw several species of birds. Even spotted a turaco.  Next we watched the falls from 16 view points and we walked through a tropical rain forest.  They were awesome to see but this time of year they are less  impressive, but to us it was spectacular. In march there is 1000 times more water coming over the falls. That would have been incredible but here we are. Lol. After the falls we journeyed back to our hotel, packed up, and checked out of our 5* hotel. The rest of our group headed to the airport for trips home but we decided to stay one more night to chill before our 35 hour trip home. Ugh. Sooo we moved to the N1 hotel and hmmmm not like the classy places we’ve been but it’s ok for our budget. lol. On our way we watched warthogs on the side of the road. Checked in and went shopping in the local markets, stopped for beers at the local brewery and had lunch at the 3 monkey restaurant. Saw the wart hogs under the art gallery napping. Took a group photo. Hahaha! After a swim in the pool since it’s 36°c we walked to another market for more souvenirs. Brenda was in her element. Then on to the gin distillery for a new beverage.  Supper agin at the 3 monkey restaurant and now back to ours room to pack for tomorrow. Another bucket list completed. Absolute love Africa!

Entry to Victoria Falls 

Vervet Monkey by the park entrance 

Mist from the falls making a beautiful rainbow 

One view point from the falls

Brenda and garnet in front of the main part of Victoria Falls 

Victoria Falls Zimbabwe 

Another view of the falls 
Spectacular 

Turaco

wart hogs on main street 

3 monkeys
 Hahaha 

Local River Brewery 

Brenda at the gin distillery 

Sept 27 last safari to Chobe Park

 Again up early, breakfast and on the tour bus at 715 for a trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana. After an hour drive we were at the border. No problem and on to the safari jeeps for a tour of Chobe National Park. Only a few minutes on board and we spotted baboons and giraffes. Next elephants. Omg elephants. They were everywhere, most were coming out of the bush for a trek to the river. Elephants of all ages and sizes. The babies were adorable. Cape buffalo lined the river banks with hippos mixed in. There were impalas everywhere and a few Kudos mixed in. As we were travelling along we spotted a flock of vultures. Some in the trees and a huge group on the ground. Next we see a lion lying by a tree and a partly eaten baby elephant lying a few feet away. Our guide told us that the lion killed it yesterday and was sitting watching it since. The vultures were watching and waiting for the lion to finish and then they would take over. It was so so surreal and such a wild African experience. Once we moved on, we spotted about 7 hippos in the water. There were baboons across the river and soooo many different species of birds along the shore. Crocodiles were sunning on the shore with several swimming in the river. The elephants were the highlight for sure as we watched them in mud baths and playing in the river. We watched several elephants crossing the river with their babies. The water was so deep in places they had to swim and we watched the babies totally submerged with only their trunks above the surface. Then the giraffes came down to the river. At times we’d see 7 giraffes  drinking and strolling around at the same time. I was getting pics with giraffes, elephants, impalas and Cape buffalo at the same time. After our jeep safari we went to a resort for lunch. Monkeys joined us at dinner. Following lunch we boarded a small boat and cruised the river. Again we saw sooo many elephants. On this tour we saw hippos out of the water grazing on the shore and Cape buffalo by the hundreds grazing. Crocodiles were swimming around our boat and were sunning among the birds on shore. After a spectacular day by the river we loaded back in the bus for our trip back to Zimbabwe. First a group of ringed mongoose crossed our path, we saw wart hogs in the parking lot. Just when we got to the highway a huge group of baboons were seen playing on the side of the road. I can’t believe all the animals we saw today. It was like something out of a movie. Unbelievable for sure. Telling the story and seeing my pics just don’t do it justice. It was a see to believe kind of day. Back to the hotel and out for a nice supper with our group for their last night. We have one more night to relax before our long journey home. 

Baboons 

Crocodile near elephants 

Kudus

Elephants crossing the river

Hippos with elephants 

Cape buffalo

Monkey at lunch

Giraffes with impalas

Trekking towards the river

Crossing the river

One happy lion 

Lion watching his kill 

Giraffe 

Elephants heading through the bush towards the river

Sept 26 Flight to Zimbabwe

 Another early morning for breakfast and checked out of our hotel in Johannesburg. About a 1 1/2 hr bus ride to the airport. Left South Africa at 1110 and flew to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe. Had no trouble getting us our Kaza VISAs that we need for dual entry into Zimbabwe. A whole new experience. We were upgraded to a new hotel called Waterfalls Lodge. Beautiful decor with lovely gardens. After a quick Zimbabwean beer we took the shuttle to the local handicraft market. There were many +++ tables and shops of “home made” stone carvings jewelry etc. The people are persistent but not rude. Picked up a cute giraffe statue and we moved on to other shops in the area.  After about an hour we boarded the bus back to the hotel. At 5pm we met up with 7 new travellers from different parts of the states. Nice people but no Emma and Attila. ❤️ lol after our meet and greet we took a bus to a local vegetable market and bought groceries to take to the home of a local women who cooked up a traditional Zimbabwe supper. Most was very good, but as always some things you need to acquire a taste for. They use lots of peanut butter in their cooking. Back to the hotel by 830pm and to my room to relax as tomorrow we will be up before 6am for our last Safari to Chobe National park in Botswana. Zimbabwe is a country with an 84% unemployment rate so we have already witnessed people asking for money and wanting to sell us stuff. However the crime rate is extremely low apparently. One guy wanted to trade Brenda’s socks she was wearing for a statue. lol. It’s adventure for sure. 

My room at the Waterfall Lodge 

Gardens and pool 

First Zimbabwean Beer 

Brenda and Garnet at the local handicraft market 

Me at the entry to the market 

Local Zimbabwean women grinding corn for supper 

Supper at a local home, outside in the yard. 

Sept 25 last safari in South Africa

 We were up early again with another wake up call at 5:30. No critters so Coffee at 5:50 and on the jeep by 6am for our last South African safari. BUT WOW!!!! All the checks for my Africa bucket list are met. Lions and more  Lions today. First a couple male lions out and about walking in the bush. They walked right up beside the jeep but never paid any attention to us. They were within about 30 feet from us. We watched the majestic animals walking through the bush, across our path, and deeper into the trees. It was again so surreal. BUT! Then we came across a male and female together.  They were definitely hunting for food. As we watched them walk along, the baboons were going crazy in the trees overhead warning the nearby impalas that they were being hunted. The impalas took off running and the noise from the baboons was indescribable. The lions never relented and kept on tracking along the paths and through the bush. A pair of kudus minding their own business were clearly on the lions menu. Omg I thought we were going to see a take down. Not sure my heart was ready for that. Luckily we moved on before the lions made their kill. Apparently it takes about 2 min for a lion to take down a kudu. ( which is about the size of an antelope). The entire morning of watching lions absolutely made my entire trip. After the lion sightings we ventured deeper into the bush and watched from afar as an elephant broke branches from trees for breakfast. Last animals to see on our trip was a leopard tourtoise and a red beaked horn bill. Back to the resort for breakfast at 9:30, packed up and walked around the resort. Spotted Nyalas and wart hogs before we left. The bus picked us up at 10am for our long journey back to Johannesburg. We spotted giraffes, rhino's, ostrich and Cape buffalo along the way. Once back to the hotel we all enjoyed supper together and complete with drinks in the lounge following. We said good bye to our new friends from Wales, Emma and Attila,  friend from Great British, Lewis ( the great photographer) and our friends from Australia, Mark, Sim, Keely, and Emily. We had the best group for our trip. Tomorrow with another solo traveller, Joan, from Pittsburgh we fly to Zimbabwe to see the great Victoria Falls. Another adventure!!!

Our G Avdventure group 

Lion on our trail 

Lion sharpening his claws 

Majestic male lion 

Unsuspecting Impalas 

Very hungry lion 

Duo out hunting for breakfast 

So close to our jeeps 

Red beaked horn bill

Leopard tourtoise 

Nyala by my tent 

Termite nest 

Sept 24. Safaris and bush walks

 This morning we got a wake up call at 5:30 and had to be down to the reception area for safari at 6. Someone actually comes to your tent and checks for leopards, lions etc and lets us know it’s safe to leave our rooms. Pretty quiet overnight but got up to use the BR in the night and the smell of animal urine was so strong I could hardly stand it. lol. Found out I had a friend sleeping right under my tent. Too funny. After a quick coffee we boarded our jeeps for another amazing safari. First animal today was a pair of zebras. NEXT!!! I could hardly believe that we got out of the jeep and walked through the bush to see 3 cheetahs lying in the grass. We were so close you could see them breathing. It was so surreal. When one stood up we all took a second look that’s for sure. All was good and after a few minutes we walked to the jeep and took off. Then we happened upon a lioness and her 2 cubs walking through the bush. We had many sightings of them around us. From here we spotted another leopard lying near some rocks and watched him rise and walk into the bush. I was unable to get a pic due to the under bush, but my new binoculars came in handy to observe this. Now we are on the watch for elephants, but saw giraffes, impalas, Nyalas, African buffalo, white rhinos, and hippos. Our guides said that a helicopter had landed in the park and they feel that the elephants fled to a deeper part of the park. Maybe we will see them tomorrow. After our morning safari we had breakfast and then went on a bush walk with our guide. He carried a huge rifle in case of trouble. We were shown many different plants, footprints, birds and even had a couple zebras come upon us. Oh and funny story,  apparently for fun the guides entice guests to have giraffe poop spitting contest to see how far you can spit the poop.  I was like WHAT? But when in Africa do as the Africans do. The guides went first and then Emma, Garnet, Attila and finally me.  I didn’t do so good but didn’t come in last. Hahaha. After our walk it was free time so off to the pool we go. Monkeys all around us with Nyalas and giraffes.  Then on to lunch at 1 and back to the pool to cool off before the afternoon tea and safari.  Omg the food here!!! Incredible! At 4 pm we were back on the jeep for more animal sightings. Tonight at dusk we stopped at a pond with crocodiles in the water and 2 lying on the shore. Hmmm guess this is a great place for cocktails, snacks and visiting. We watched the 2 crocodiles stand and turn to walk into the water. We saw at least 5 crocs while we were there.  So crazy. Once we arrived back to the resort we headed for supper. It was held outside under the stars with a fire pit in the middle. The frogs in the pond next to us were so loud we could hardly hear each other talk. Now I’m back to my room by a guided walk. No critters under my tent yet but the evening is young. lol 

Short hike through bush we came across Cheetahs 

Cheetahs

Looking so cuddly

So close to them 

Unbelievable 

Rhinos

 

Rhinos 

Beautiful giraffes 

Zazu
Yellow billed horn bill

Mongoose

Mama lion 

Baby lion cubs

Baby lion cub

Mama telling cubs to come 

Karongwe trails 

Morning bush walk with Zebras following 

Zebras on our walk 

Wart hogs out for stroll

Baby wart hog 

More zebras 

Sunset safari 

Our guide ready with rifle for bush walk 

The housekeeping staff

Monkey in flower bed by my room

Pumba the wart hog under my tent 

Monkeys on the pool deck 

Nyala eating flower blossoms by the pool 

Brenda and Garnet relaxing while watching the Nyala. 

African stork

Our guide 

Cocktails during safari with Crocodiles on the beach only a few feet away 

Crocodile at cocktails

Supper under the stars with fire