This is when we first started our safaris .. in Botswana .. all raring to go! The weather was great but they'd had an unusual amount of rain and the Okavango was flooded more than usual.
Day 2 and we got stuck in the water and mud. Another Landrover came by but he couldn't get any traction on the dirt road. Because tractors were out rescuing other stuck vehicles, the only option was to transfer us to another Landrover. One look at the water we were in and "I'm not putting my feet in that!" So two heavenly hunks came and carried us one by one to another vehicle. This is Paula!
This is me, Babs and Paula - aren't we dressed alike? Yes, we are - convertible pants, safari vests (12 pockets) and T-shirts - the idea is to blend in with the landscape around you, which is varying shades of browns and greens.
At Victoria Falls, the name of the game was staying dry - a mission impossible! Our guide took this of we 4 - Me, Paula, Babs, Mary - the four soaking smurfs. The spray was blowing up, down and sideways and walking under the trees was like walking in a tropical rain forest.
We really enjoyed our two 'cruises' along the Zambezi with Capt. Donald! What a lovely man he is. Here's Babs, me, Donald and Mary having our sundowners! I must say, everyone was so meticulous about making sure we stopped mid-morning and mid-afternoon for our tea/coffee and sundowners.
We had another boat expedition with Capt. Sparks one afternoon on the Okavango Delta. He stopped and pulled a flower and stem out of the water then showed me how to break the stem partway through, every inch or so then he pulled the pulp out at the end and tied the skin around the stem near the flower and .. voila .. a necklace.
Here we are - me, Mary, Babs at one of our sundowning spots - we usually stopped around 6pm and would get back to camp at 7 or 7:30 pm. This was a watering hole and as the sun went down we had a beautiful view of the red sky through the trees.
I have to laugh when I look at this one! When one of us had 'to go', the guide would find a big bush and park nearby - then he'd check out the area behind the bush to make sure there weren't any snakes or animals - and we'd proceed to take our potty break. The vehicles carried supplies (as did I) and we'd have to rough it. Sometimes it would be close to sundowning time so we could have our break while we were waiting. This is Mary with her supplies and Babs in the background checking out the bush!
The mornings were pretty cool so we'd layer our clothing and slowly peal them off as it warmed up. This is the morning tea stop as you can see, we're still wearing a couple of layers. Our guide here is Lazi - from Duma Tau.
At Toka Leya, they brought in a local combo to entertain their guests - the music was lively and the drinks were flowing and Mary and Babs decided to join in and dance!
On the 20-seater plane that took us from Mala Mala to Johannesburg, Mary and I sat in the rear seat and Paula and Babs stayed near the center - there were only 6 seats available. Here's a pic of Mary and I at the back and on your left is Rosalyn Carter who was traveling with her grand-daughters and was on her way to meet Jimmy in JoBurg.
I'm jumping back and forth here but this is Mary, me, Paula and Donald by his boat - we'd just returned from a lovely sail on the Zambezi.
Still at Toka Leya, here I am standing next to a metal sculpture - they had a lovely one of a baby elephant too - and various other native pieces of art.
Here's Mary with one of the women who worked at Vumbura Plains, our first stop. Her fiance is ST, our guide there - and her name was OP - together they spelled STOP! I wonder what that was all about.
After visiting Victoria Falls, we went to a local crafts market and walked around. Everyone was so desperate for us to buy something - it was their only way of making a living. Here are Mary, Babs and me with John - from whom I bought a wall hanging. We took his photo with the promise to send him a copy - which I have done.
Also not far from Victoria Falls is the world's largest Baobab tree. As soon as we pulled up across from the tree, about a dozen men came out from the bushes with various crafts to sell us - the local police chase them away if they find them hustling, so now they hide.
When we drive along the back roads heading through towns, there are so many people walking - they walk for miles - no cars, no bikes for the majority. Everything is carried on the person.
This lady is carrying a child as well as the sheaf of grasses.
This woman was carrying a baby on her back and a bucket on her head. This was at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe - there were trucks lines up waiting to cross and several of them were carrying scrap copper and other metals.
The yellow tubs look like water containers and I am assuming these ladies are carrying babies on their backs but I'm not sure at all.
Everywhere we stayed, the food was fantastic. This was taken at Toka Leya on the Zambezi River - I ordered a Caesar Salad for lunch and it was so beautiful, I didn't want to eat it!
Every evening before dinner, we met in the bar and had a cocktail - and recounted our experiences of the day. This one is at Rattrays camp, Mala Mala.
Like the first picture in this posting, here are the four of us on the last day of safaris - at Mala Mala. We're parked in front of the fountain and statues that greet visitors just inside the gated entrance.
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