Here is the final part of the holiday epic!
"After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working. " - Kenneth Grahame
We arrived in Zambia and were at the mercy of the Kwatcha - ever tried to work out what something costs when there are 7896 kwatcha to the pound? - at the same time as trying to convert in to Namibian Dollars? - which I am now used to.
We stood outside the bank for 20 minutes trying to work out what was going on. Finally took 1.75 million out of the bank and went and bought 2 cans of pop from the supermarket for 30,000! Once we got to the campsite I spotted a bag I liked in the shop - but refused to pay £100 for it, upon closer inspection of the maths I realised it was actually £13 which was fine! Argh flaming kwatcha!
We pitched camp, had a rest and headed to the stunning Victoria Falls.
"The point is that when I see a sunset or a waterfall or something, for a split second it's so great, because for a little bit I'm out of my brain, and it's got nothing to so with me. I'm not trying to figure it out, you know what I mean? And I wonder if I can somehow find a way to maintain that mind stillness." - Chris Evans
We pitched camp, had a rest and headed to the stunning Victoria Falls.
Amazing rainbows - saw a couple of double ones also
What Livingstone had to say....
On the other side and near the edge...
Right on the edge! and that infamous bungee bridge.
"The point is that when I see a sunset or a waterfall or something, for a split second it's so great, because for a little bit I'm out of my brain, and it's got nothing to so with me. I'm not trying to figure it out, you know what I mean? And I wonder if I can somehow find a way to maintain that mind stillness." - Chris Evans
We discussed going over to the Zimbabwean side to see the falls from there, but with time and expense in the end decided to take part in a couple of activities instead. After some intense negotiations between doing a lion walk and a rhino walk - we each more tempted by one than the other - it was decided to do both!
"Love is like a Rhino, short-sighted, but always willing to find a way." - Anon
"Love is like a Rhino, short-sighted, but always willing to find a way." - Anon
The morning started with our rhino walk. We were taken by armed guards to the edge of a national park where the rhino reside. As it was an early morning pick up we got a mini game drive also and saw buffalo and ellies...
The guide was really knowledgeable and very interesting.
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -Benjamin Franklin
We set off on our walk and he knew all about the spoor (footprints) and scat (poo) and which animals they came from etc. He started to test our knowledge a little and to everyone's surprise I discovered I knew quite a bit- some things must be transferred by osmosis from those around me at the farm - either that or sometimes I actually listen?!
I picked out giraffe spoor, zebra spoor and scat (not so difficult for me), hippo scat and knew the answers to a couple of his other questions, I also taught him a thing or two about zebra.
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." -Benjamin Franklin
We set off on our walk and he knew all about the spoor (footprints) and scat (poo) and which animals they came from etc. He started to test our knowledge a little and to everyone's surprise I discovered I knew quite a bit- some things must be transferred by osmosis from those around me at the farm - either that or sometimes I actually listen?!
I picked out giraffe spoor, zebra spoor and scat (not so difficult for me), hippo scat and knew the answers to a couple of his other questions, I also taught him a thing or two about zebra.
Speaking of zebra, on this walk we saw a little herd, and this little fella in particular caught my eye...
"For an actress to be a success, she must have the face of a Venus, the brains of a Minerva, the grace of a Terpsichore, the memory of a MaCaulay, the figure of Juno and the hide of a rhinoceros." - Ethel Barrymore
Mama and baba
baba
We walked on and found another rhino - the dominant bull, absolutely stunning with a really long horn, as we watched him another bull came into view, the two eyed one another and we moved back, our guide a little nervous they might start a scuffle, but the sun had started to come out and it was getting warm, the young bull moved off, knowing the effort it might take to fight.
"He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious. "-Sun Tzu
After our walk, we were driven to the river for tea and cake, was pottering around on the rocks at the shore when all of a sudden the armed guard came running towards me reminding me that there were crocs in the water and really I shouldn't get so close! We had all forgotten for a moment what could be lurking beneath!
That afternoon we headed to a lion project where they raise and release second generation lions back into the wild. We took two lions on a walk. Beautiful females who are not too far from being taken off their interaction with the public as they are getting bigger and stronger and more playful, this will also ready them for the next part of their programme where they can breed and their cubs will be the ones to be released.
After some ground rules had been established....
we went off into the veldt where we met the lions and the volunteers. Very odd being the 'guests' on a similar project. We were told we could walk next to and stroke the lions, everyone else was a little nervous, but I was straight in there, they were amazing to interact with and watch play.
we went off into the veldt where we met the lions and the volunteers. Very odd being the 'guests' on a similar project. We were told we could walk next to and stroke the lions, everyone else was a little nervous, but I was straight in there, they were amazing to interact with and watch play.
"The one excellent thing that can be learned from a lion is that whatever a man intends doing should be done by him with a whole-hearted and strenuous effort." - Chanakya
Two ladies (lionesses not the vols) on a walk
.
Having a lie down and a stroke in the sun.
Having a wash.
Just after a bit of play fighting and thinking about chasing a vervet monkey on the other side of the river.
Is that a vervet I see again?
We waved goodbye to the rest of the group as they were all flying out of Zambia / Zimbabwe and we set off from Zambia and headed back into Namibia. Our camp was on the banks of the Chobe river and we had views of Angola just 100 meters away. Apparently the children wade / walk/ swim or canoe across the river to come to school.
We had a lovely dinner with the guides and the next day continued our long drive back to Windhoek.
On the way we fed mums inner geek and went to look at the worlds biggest meteorite.
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. " - Jack London
Many of the villages along the way in all three counties looked like this...
A warning sign about smoking at a petrol station!
"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. " - Jack London
Eventually the tour was over and we were back to the farm. Sad to end the holiday, but happy to be back on the farm with friends and my little herd! especially as I had the chance to spend the last couple of weeks with Mr Benjamin before we had to say goodbye to the little stripey fella.
“Of the gladdest moments in human life, me thinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands.
Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Home, one feels more happy.
The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood…
A journey, in fact, appeals to Imagination, to Memory, to Hope – the three sister graces of our moral being.” - Sir Richard Francis Burton
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