For the last 2 days of my tour, we had 1100 kilometers to drive left to Johannesburg. We stayed the night at a rhino sanctuary where we did more driving - a game drive in the evening. In all I covered over 6000 kms on my tour excluding the game drives and I ended up with just 5 photos remaining on my memory card when all was said and done.
...and I used those in Joburg for the sunset. Yes, it's kinda my thing, this obsession with sunsets. But man are they beautiful, much more so in Africa. It seemed fitting too that the one on my last night was equally spectacular.
So yes, I'm back in Toronto now safe and sound (wait, uh, no boss, I'm not back until 7am next monday, right before I start work again). It is raining but I'm working away on photos anyway (over 2000!!). I've posted a whole new set now on picasa in 2 different albums (one for the volunteering and our for the tour) - http://picasaweb.google.ca/pnoman3.
But despite the weather it is nice to be back (well, for now. Give me a couple more days). It is nice to have regular showers and know they'll be hot, to have electricity, drinkable tap water, mirrors (well, sort of), a computer, internet, and possibly best of all, a soft bed. Of course I miss the sky, the weather, the unbeatable scenery, the money I used to have before I went, the continuous adventure that every day presents, and, ok, I guess the people I met too.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Okavango Delta
From Livingstone my tour group split up. Half went on to Cape Town (via Namibia), half went to Joburg via Kruger, and a couple ended their tours there. I was heading for Joburg but I was on a different, and much smaller tour, because I had made a point of including the Okavango Delta in my itenerary. And I must say I made the right decision. The delta was stunning.
Botswana is extremely flat and the water coming down from the mountains to the north hits the flat land and creates the world's only inland delta. The rains take 6 months to get there, so they had not arrived yet, and correspondingly the wildlife was not as abundant as it would be come September. Nevertheless, it was so relaxing and beautiful. We got paddled into a campsite on flat-bottom canoes, through the reeds, an experience I will not soon forget. In fact, I do believe it was my favourite of the tour (although so different from Livingstone it is hard to compare).
Botswana is extremely flat and the water coming down from the mountains to the north hits the flat land and creates the world's only inland delta. The rains take 6 months to get there, so they had not arrived yet, and correspondingly the wildlife was not as abundant as it would be come September. Nevertheless, it was so relaxing and beautiful. We got paddled into a campsite on flat-bottom canoes, through the reeds, an experience I will not soon forget. In fact, I do believe it was my favourite of the tour (although so different from Livingstone it is hard to compare).
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Livingstone - Day 3
For my last day in Livingstone, I had to find something to top bungee jumping and a micro-light flight. So what could be better than 3 different activities in 1. We started with a flying fox or high wire, which is a tention wire strung across the gorge. You take a running start and launch yourself headfirst off the edge, and fly superman style over to the other side (or close to it). Surprisingly it was actually fun dangling 100 meters up in the air.
Next we went abseiling (rappelling) down a sheer cliff face. It was really fun bouncing out from the rocks and sliding down the rope but it got even better when we did it facing forwards i.e. looking straight down.
The third activity was a gorge swing. It's like a giant playground swing except you jump from the top of the trajectory and freefall for 3.5 second (53 meters, twice as far as the bungee freefall) until the rope goes tight and swings you out. I did it tandem twice, where you face backwards and lean back together, with the extra weight making you fall faster and swing farther. Then I did it facing forwards where I had to step off just like the bungee jump. Because of the extra free fall (and perhaps because I was slightly less scared when I did it) it was more exhilarating than the bungee.
And you'll all be glad to know my days in Livingstone are now at an end so I won't be jumping off any more cliffs, bridges, or other high platforms (sky diving will have to wait).
Next we went abseiling (rappelling) down a sheer cliff face. It was really fun bouncing out from the rocks and sliding down the rope but it got even better when we did it facing forwards i.e. looking straight down.
The third activity was a gorge swing. It's like a giant playground swing except you jump from the top of the trajectory and freefall for 3.5 second (53 meters, twice as far as the bungee freefall) until the rope goes tight and swings you out. I did it tandem twice, where you face backwards and lean back together, with the extra weight making you fall faster and swing farther. Then I did it facing forwards where I had to step off just like the bungee jump. Because of the extra free fall (and perhaps because I was slightly less scared when I did it) it was more exhilarating than the bungee.
And you'll all be glad to know my days in Livingstone are now at an end so I won't be jumping off any more cliffs, bridges, or other high platforms (sky diving will have to wait).
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Livingstone - Day 2
So for anyone who doesn't believe how much spray their really is, I got a look at the falls today...
Flying in a Micro-light...over Victoria Falls...check!
It was actually kind of scary, at least I thought so. You have a small car seat belt holding you in and as you can see, really nothing else. The wind buffets around such a small craft so much and to balance against the pilot moves the wings. So the carriage you are sitting in beneath the wings swings the opposite way and you find yourself suddenly thrown sideways and hanging out over nothing. That said, it was an awesome experience!
Other pictures from the game drives in Kenya and Tanzania were posted yesterday.
Flying in a Micro-light...over Victoria Falls...check!
It was actually kind of scary, at least I thought so. You have a small car seat belt holding you in and as you can see, really nothing else. The wind buffets around such a small craft so much and to balance against the pilot moves the wings. So the carriage you are sitting in beneath the wings swings the opposite way and you find yourself suddenly thrown sideways and hanging out over nothing. That said, it was an awesome experience!
Other pictures from the game drives in Kenya and Tanzania were posted yesterday.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Look Ma, No Brains
Bungee Jumping at Victoria Falls...check!So obviously from this I'm at Victoria Falls. They are so full right now that you can't actually see them because the spray the send up completely blocks your view. But you do get nice and wet.
The bungee jumping was so scary up until I put my toes over the edge, then I just stood up, they counted down from five and I jumped out. I don't even remember the first few seconds other than thinking "OK, this isn't so bad. I can enjoy this." As the bungee stretched and started slowing me it was really cool. After the first couple of bounces I stopped flipping upright when the bungee shot me back up (which was fun) so I found that the blood was rushing to my head and it wasn't as good. Finally, after they hauled me back up I had to wait for the next jumpers before I could get off the bridge and I was on a metal grid platform about 2 feet wide - plenty of space except when you can see through it back down the 111 meters and you're afraid of heights. Yes, I jumped off a bridge when I'm too scared to even stand up straight on it.
As the saying goes, "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Into Zambia
Malawi turned out to be very wet. It was the tail end of the rainy season and it was sunny only for our first day there. That night and for the past 3 it has rained heavily. We did manage to upgrade out of our tents for 1 night which allowed us to get clean and dry.
Yesterday we left Malawi and although it did rain it was much lighter and our tents manage to dry out as well. Since Malawi was so wet we didn't really do anything (hence there isn't a whole lot to write about). That said, we were camped at the lake side and it was quite beautiful and of course the whole country was really green from all the rain.
The excitement for me is building now as we get closer to Livingstone and Victoria Falls. I have big plans but I'll wait to see what happens. It is the end of the rainy season here too which means the falls will be in full flood but I'm missing the sunshine of Kenya.
Yesterday we left Malawi and although it did rain it was much lighter and our tents manage to dry out as well. Since Malawi was so wet we didn't really do anything (hence there isn't a whole lot to write about). That said, we were camped at the lake side and it was quite beautiful and of course the whole country was really green from all the rain.
The excitement for me is building now as we get closer to Livingstone and Victoria Falls. I have big plans but I'll wait to see what happens. It is the end of the rainy season here too which means the falls will be in full flood but I'm missing the sunshine of Kenya.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Malawi
I've now been in Malawi for a little over 24 hours. It poured last night, the first major rain all trip (I've had minor downpours before but never for long). Foretunately today is really sunny but not too hot.
Malawi is really green and lush and surprisingly hilly for such a small country that is dominated by such a big lake. It is even noticably greener than Tanzania, which itself seemed very green compared to Kenya. Then again, Kenya was at the end (hopefully) of a long drought when I was there while to the south in Africa there have been having heavy rainy seasons. The Zambezi is apparently quite full, which will make my view of the falls next week all the more spectacular.
But for now, it is nice to swim, dry out, and actually get on the internet for a few minutes. My opportunities to do so have been very limited as we drive such vast distances across such remote areas.
Malawi is really green and lush and surprisingly hilly for such a small country that is dominated by such a big lake. It is even noticably greener than Tanzania, which itself seemed very green compared to Kenya. Then again, Kenya was at the end (hopefully) of a long drought when I was there while to the south in Africa there have been having heavy rainy seasons. The Zambezi is apparently quite full, which will make my view of the falls next week all the more spectacular.
But for now, it is nice to swim, dry out, and actually get on the internet for a few minutes. My opportunities to do so have been very limited as we drive such vast distances across such remote areas.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Zanzibar
Well this place really sucks. I've spent 2 days lying on the beach, swimming in warm water, playing beach volleyball, reading, relaxing, getting a massage, partying... Yeah. It's a horrible life.
Actually, it is really really hot here. I have to avoid the sun because I'll be a lobster colour in about 15 minutes, even with sun screen on, as the sun is so scortching. I took a quick dip at midnight last night because I was so hot. It was glorious under the stars with the phosphoresence. The water is quite salty but very refreshing and a beautiful azure colour against the white sand. It is cheap by Western standards but quite expensive when you add it all up, and it is only off season here.
I have more pictures but due to the slow speed of uploading, limited local currency to pay for internet time, and more pressing things to do (see above), I won't be uploading any more for now. Sorry. I will try to post more soon.
Actually, it is really really hot here. I have to avoid the sun because I'll be a lobster colour in about 15 minutes, even with sun screen on, as the sun is so scortching. I took a quick dip at midnight last night because I was so hot. It was glorious under the stars with the phosphoresence. The water is quite salty but very refreshing and a beautiful azure colour against the white sand. It is cheap by Western standards but quite expensive when you add it all up, and it is only off season here.
I have more pictures but due to the slow speed of uploading, limited local currency to pay for internet time, and more pressing things to do (see above), I won't be uploading any more for now. Sorry. I will try to post more soon.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Safari
Finally a chance to blog for a just minute...
It has been a week now that I've been on my safari. I spent 3 days driving through the Massai Mara, a national park in Kenya that adjoins to the Serengeti in Tanzania. From there we travelled back to Nairobi for a night before heading down to Arusha in Tanzania and then on to the Serengeti for another 3 days. It seems like a long way around but there aren't really other roads, they would be so rough if there were, and the serengeti is so massive that it would take longer to drive directly through.
We saw all of the following up close: Lion (male and female), baboons, monkeys, eland, elephant (my personal favourite), a leopard (actually not that close, but still cool), girafe, zebra, emu, flamingo (ok, not that close either), hyena, black rhino (i.e. all of the so called |"big 5"), jackal, vultures, cranes, numerous other birds and of course, millions of wildebeast.
I also sold my first born to take a hot air balloon over the serengeti. It was stunning and so endless. We saw some amazing things from up there, but unfortunately while the 4 of us who did it were up in the balloon the others did a game drive and saw lions mating and hyenas devouring a kill. Either way, I would rather have been at my desk working...
We've now arrived in Dar Es Salaam after 2 long hot days of driving. We head straight over to Zanzibar in the morning for the next 3 nights. I'll be visiting stone town where the spice markets are, then heading to the beach to make sure my tan will not wash off in my first shower when I get home.
It has been a week now that I've been on my safari. I spent 3 days driving through the Massai Mara, a national park in Kenya that adjoins to the Serengeti in Tanzania. From there we travelled back to Nairobi for a night before heading down to Arusha in Tanzania and then on to the Serengeti for another 3 days. It seems like a long way around but there aren't really other roads, they would be so rough if there were, and the serengeti is so massive that it would take longer to drive directly through.
We saw all of the following up close: Lion (male and female), baboons, monkeys, eland, elephant (my personal favourite), a leopard (actually not that close, but still cool), girafe, zebra, emu, flamingo (ok, not that close either), hyena, black rhino (i.e. all of the so called |"big 5"), jackal, vultures, cranes, numerous other birds and of course, millions of wildebeast.
I also sold my first born to take a hot air balloon over the serengeti. It was stunning and so endless. We saw some amazing things from up there, but unfortunately while the 4 of us who did it were up in the balloon the others did a game drive and saw lions mating and hyenas devouring a kill. Either way, I would rather have been at my desk working...
We've now arrived in Dar Es Salaam after 2 long hot days of driving. We head straight over to Zanzibar in the morning for the next 3 nights. I'll be visiting stone town where the spice markets are, then heading to the beach to make sure my tan will not wash off in my first shower when I get home.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Knock On Wood
I'm pleased to report I have not had any medical issues of any kind short of a tickle at the back of my throat this past week which has not developed into a cold.
The food has been...basic. Breakfast is usually white bread with jam. Lunch varies from nothing to rice and sukuma wiki (kale) to beans to a feast of chicken, sukuma wiki, ugali (maize flour and water - incredibly bland!), and Fanta. Dinner is chapiti (half-way between a tortilla and naan), mashed potato, or rice and one of spagetti, crazy rice (rice with potatoes and spice), beef, or lentils, plus either cabbage or sukuma wiki. It is hardly balanced and can be very carbohydrate heavy but it does the job.
The food has been...basic. Breakfast is usually white bread with jam. Lunch varies from nothing to rice and sukuma wiki (kale) to beans to a feast of chicken, sukuma wiki, ugali (maize flour and water - incredibly bland!), and Fanta. Dinner is chapiti (half-way between a tortilla and naan), mashed potato, or rice and one of spagetti, crazy rice (rice with potatoes and spice), beef, or lentils, plus either cabbage or sukuma wiki. It is hardly balanced and can be very carbohydrate heavy but it does the job.
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