Dear Friends and Family-
Yes, we're finally doing it: going to Africa, well South Africa and Zambia to be more precise. One of our friends said it was just too vague to lump all 50+ African nations together and say 'we're going to Africa'. Her observation makes great sense when you look at a map of Africa:
Of course that also takes some of the mystery and, dare I say, danger out of the 'excellent adventure' as South Africa is often dubbed the United States of Africa (a compliment, I presume) and Zambia is currently the only really safe and reasonably priced way to see Victoria Falls. I confess, I briefly lobbied for a 21-day boat trip up the Congo River but was otherwise persuaded by my very sensible husband. The fact that I could not find any reviews of this trip after 2012 also played a part.
Truth be told, we were both a bit daunted by the prospect of an Excellent African Adventure on our own. For a while we toyed with the idea of a full-on, top (or at least middle) of-the-line safari experience - not for our typical three or four month trip - but a mere three weeks (even that would be a budget buster). Our well-traveled neighbors were a generous source of information and encouragement, and we were close to signing on the 'just do it' bottom line . . . when the gods smiled, the stars aligned, and our dear friends, Debbie and Paul, decided it was time for them to see Africa - and see it with us!! Oh joy of joys!
Just a quick refresher. We met Debbie and Paul in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India in early 2014, and it was one of those 'we're going to be friends and friends for a long time' encounters. That doesn't happen very often with us, and the four of us still marvel at it. We met again in Savusavu, Fiji the following Christmas/New Year and after three weeks sharing accommodations were even better friends. And the bonds were absolutely cemented when they came to the States this past Spring (near the end of their 3-year travel odyssey) and spent almost two months with us. In a couple of days sitting around our patio table in Tucson, we planned and booked the entire African trip.
Then to celebrate we went on a 10-day driving tour of our beloved New Mexico . . .
Back to our Excellent African Adventure. . . Our middle-of-the-range, 3-week guided safari idea morphed into a near three-month, self-guided driving tour taking in some of the length and breadth of South Africa. Cue the map, complete with 'stickies' of our stops:
And this isn't all of South Africa; the rest of the country is on the flip side! South Africa is three times the size of Texas with far more varied topography, spectacular scenery, and archaeological riches. Throw in whales and giant sharks in the southern oceans and the Kalahari Desert and Bushmen to the north and this is one amazing country! We start in Johannesburg and make our way to Kimberley, Graaff Rennett, Sunland (Addo), The Crags, Knynsna, Oudsthorn, Swellendam, Franschoek, Cape Town, Tulbach, Cistrusdal, Pater Noster, and Hermanus where we will welcome in 2017. Then the four of us part company. Debbie and Paul take a deluxe train back to Jo'burg, and Tim and I head off for an adventure on our own. The first four days are at a horseback safari resort (our one BIG splurge) in Limpopo Province just south of Botswana (the other side of the map) and then back to Jo'burg for a flight to Zambia and five nights in Livingstone and Victoria Falls before coming home on January 13th.
How blest we are to be able to have another Excellent Adventure and to have such wonderful friends and traveling companions! I hope you all enjoy blog traveling with us once again.
Yes, we're finally doing it: going to Africa, well South Africa and Zambia to be more precise. One of our friends said it was just too vague to lump all 50+ African nations together and say 'we're going to Africa'. Her observation makes great sense when you look at a map of Africa:
Of course that also takes some of the mystery and, dare I say, danger out of the 'excellent adventure' as South Africa is often dubbed the United States of Africa (a compliment, I presume) and Zambia is currently the only really safe and reasonably priced way to see Victoria Falls. I confess, I briefly lobbied for a 21-day boat trip up the Congo River but was otherwise persuaded by my very sensible husband. The fact that I could not find any reviews of this trip after 2012 also played a part.
Truth be told, we were both a bit daunted by the prospect of an Excellent African Adventure on our own. For a while we toyed with the idea of a full-on, top (or at least middle) of-the-line safari experience - not for our typical three or four month trip - but a mere three weeks (even that would be a budget buster). Our well-traveled neighbors were a generous source of information and encouragement, and we were close to signing on the 'just do it' bottom line . . . when the gods smiled, the stars aligned, and our dear friends, Debbie and Paul, decided it was time for them to see Africa - and see it with us!! Oh joy of joys!
Then to celebrate we went on a 10-day driving tour of our beloved New Mexico . . .
The ever-adventurous Debbie and Paul Irvine!
And their fellow adventurers in training!
Such a lovely, sweet friendship!
Back to our Excellent African Adventure. . . Our middle-of-the-range, 3-week guided safari idea morphed into a near three-month, self-guided driving tour taking in some of the length and breadth of South Africa. Cue the map, complete with 'stickies' of our stops:
And this isn't all of South Africa; the rest of the country is on the flip side! South Africa is three times the size of Texas with far more varied topography, spectacular scenery, and archaeological riches. Throw in whales and giant sharks in the southern oceans and the Kalahari Desert and Bushmen to the north and this is one amazing country! We start in Johannesburg and make our way to Kimberley, Graaff Rennett, Sunland (Addo), The Crags, Knynsna, Oudsthorn, Swellendam, Franschoek, Cape Town, Tulbach, Cistrusdal, Pater Noster, and Hermanus where we will welcome in 2017. Then the four of us part company. Debbie and Paul take a deluxe train back to Jo'burg, and Tim and I head off for an adventure on our own. The first four days are at a horseback safari resort (our one BIG splurge) in Limpopo Province just south of Botswana (the other side of the map) and then back to Jo'burg for a flight to Zambia and five nights in Livingstone and Victoria Falls before coming home on January 13th.
How blest we are to be able to have another Excellent Adventure and to have such wonderful friends and traveling companions! I hope you all enjoy blog traveling with us once again.
With love,
Carol & Tim
PS - the pink shirt is already packed!
Carol & Tim
PS - the pink shirt is already packed!
