Sep 2019:South Africa/Botswana/Gorilla Safari Uganda

Stephen:

The Africa trip was awesome, and we can hardly believe we were there after being home a couple of days.

We saw the Big 5 in Kruger alone.  We counted more than 200 elephants on the boat trip on the Chobe River, and at one point there were 17 giraffe along the shoreline.

A Kruger highlight was watching a leopard eat an impala it had dragged up a tree the night before (we saw the impala the night before and went back the next morning).

Vic Falls wasn’t overwhelmingly spectacular because of the low water, but we did get a good view of it, and took a helicopter ride to see it from the air.  All the border crossings went smoothly, but were not terribly efficient.

I think Eliza and I both agree that the overall highlight of the trip was our interaction with the Bushmen at the Grasslands Lodge.  They took us out (with our host) to look at the plants they use, see how they get water from tubers, and how they start fires.  The second interaction was to watch their games and dances.  And, they came to see us off on the plane.  Apparently Paula (our host) had told them we really enjoyed the movie ‘The Gods Must be Crazy (which was our inspiration for this trip), and the elder Bushman presented us with a Coke bottle before we boarded the plane—such a sweet moment!

We also were very impressed with Robben Island and the Apartheid Museum.  We also saw gorillas in Bwindi Park, but it was more strenuous trek than we were prepared for.

The only glitches were minor.  Other than British Airways going on strike (they’re off my list), we had the confusion about payment at the Elephant Hills Resort, and we had to cut the morning tour of Soweto short because the guide was not aware our flight from Joburg to Hoedspruit had been moved up.  We did get to Soweto for a brief visit.

All-told, the accommodations were great and the guides, too, although the Soweto guide had such a thick accent that we could hardly understand him.

And we enjoyed the time with Ibra in Uganda, who said he met you at a retreat in India.

So, there are a bunch of random thoughts.  Would we do it again?  Absolutely!

 

Thanks.

Gordy

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