Back from Africa
Ray and I just got back from a trip to Africa. We spent two weeks in Botswanna "on safari" and two weeks on our own in South Africa. It was a great trip. I will post some photos if I every figure out how to do it! I also have about 4 hours of video that I can't figure out how to replay yet. :)
In Botswanna we saw incredible animals and birds. Each day we would get up at 5:30 am and head for the "truck" after a quick cup of tea. We'd drive around for about 3-4 hours catching the animals in their morning ablutions. Then to the lodge for breakfast (huge), nap (brief), lunch (huge) and tea (with cakes). Then off into the truck for the evening game "drive". Back for a shower, drinks and dinner (huge buffet). In one month, we gained a combined total of 18 pounds! The lodges were beautiful sites. At night we weren't allowed to leave our "camp" without a guide because of the wild (and potentially dangerous) animals wandering around!
It was thrilling to see the wildlife in their natural habitat. Since there is no hunting in Botswanna, they don't see us as predators (or dinner) and, therefore, just go about their business. We got quite close, actually really, really close to elephants, lions, giraffes, every variety of impala, kudu, wildebeest, wart hogs, and the most beautiful birds imaginable (over 150 varieties!).
We were own our own for two weeks in South Africa. It was totally unlike anything we prepared for. It is very European, quite cosmopolitan (in Capte Town and surrounds). Both Botswanna and SA are very oriented toward tourists - extremely friendly and welcoming. We always felt comfortable and safe. We did the Apartheid Museum, a township tour and went to Robbins Island where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. The effects of colonialism and apartheid are stunning...the poverty of the black people cannot be described in the townships. At the same time, the policy of reconciliation truly seems to have taken hold. We sensed an openess and friendship - not resentment or hatred. The country was truly blessed to have the leadership of people like Mandela and Tutu. Now they are working on black empowerment and affirmative action but there is still not much black middle class. While housing is open to all, in reality because of economics (rather than race), most black people live in townships (shanty towns on the edges of cities).
Our experiences were quite paradoxical - taking a wine tour (accompanied by gourmet lunch - of course), driving in the Klein Karoo (desert and mountains), gorgeous beaches, and visiting a school for over 500 poor children in shipping containers, literally. It's hard to know how to think about it. We certainly want to go back and would love to figure out how to be helpful.
Kathy and Ray
In Botswanna we saw incredible animals and birds. Each day we would get up at 5:30 am and head for the "truck" after a quick cup of tea. We'd drive around for about 3-4 hours catching the animals in their morning ablutions. Then to the lodge for breakfast (huge), nap (brief), lunch (huge) and tea (with cakes). Then off into the truck for the evening game "drive". Back for a shower, drinks and dinner (huge buffet). In one month, we gained a combined total of 18 pounds! The lodges were beautiful sites. At night we weren't allowed to leave our "camp" without a guide because of the wild (and potentially dangerous) animals wandering around!
It was thrilling to see the wildlife in their natural habitat. Since there is no hunting in Botswanna, they don't see us as predators (or dinner) and, therefore, just go about their business. We got quite close, actually really, really close to elephants, lions, giraffes, every variety of impala, kudu, wildebeest, wart hogs, and the most beautiful birds imaginable (over 150 varieties!).
We were own our own for two weeks in South Africa. It was totally unlike anything we prepared for. It is very European, quite cosmopolitan (in Capte Town and surrounds). Both Botswanna and SA are very oriented toward tourists - extremely friendly and welcoming. We always felt comfortable and safe. We did the Apartheid Museum, a township tour and went to Robbins Island where Mandela was jailed for 18 years. The effects of colonialism and apartheid are stunning...the poverty of the black people cannot be described in the townships. At the same time, the policy of reconciliation truly seems to have taken hold. We sensed an openess and friendship - not resentment or hatred. The country was truly blessed to have the leadership of people like Mandela and Tutu. Now they are working on black empowerment and affirmative action but there is still not much black middle class. While housing is open to all, in reality because of economics (rather than race), most black people live in townships (shanty towns on the edges of cities).
Our experiences were quite paradoxical - taking a wine tour (accompanied by gourmet lunch - of course), driving in the Klein Karoo (desert and mountains), gorgeous beaches, and visiting a school for over 500 poor children in shipping containers, literally. It's hard to know how to think about it. We certainly want to go back and would love to figure out how to be helpful.
Kathy and Ray
posted by bollerud at 4:17 PM
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