Sunday, March 30, 2008

“Want to go fast - travel alone; want to go far - travel with others.” ~African Proverb.

How do I sum up our travels in South Africa? On Safari, I often was at a loss for words - which is a rare occurrence! But I will try. The surroundings: vast and beautiful. The animals: awesome, very exciting to see (although a few were elusive). Our hosts: very knowledgeable and wonderfully hospitable. The food: fabulous. The weather: rainy and chilly at first, but it improved daily! Cape Town: too much to see in 3 days but we sure had fun trying! I asked a friend here in Zurich her impressions of South Africa after a recent visit, and she said, “I loved it, I would go back in a second. I would go back right this moment if I could.” Now I know what she meant. It’s an amazing place and we took so many photos, it’s going to be hard to narrow them down for you. But we will try! Scroll down to enjoy. In the photo here you see two oceans, the Atlantic on left and the Indian on the right. (Oh, and if you think an African Safari is in your future, we heartily recommend Hawkeye Safaris!)

Two mothers and two babies, one not visible. We watched one mother teach her baby how to wallow.
Giraffe journey
Babboons
Our luxury safari tent
This rhinoceros was seen chasing two others in his territory
Male impala and his harem
Hippos taking a lunch break out of the water.
Where's Waldo, the elephant? He never read the book that said elephants don't climb mountains.
Red Hartebeest
This big elephant is alpha. He later chased us down the road
This big guy was showing us who was boss
Giraffe with a mouthful of scrumptuous shrubbery
Two adolescent elephants wrestling each other. The rest of the family was coming down the hill
Some people say a wildebeest was assembled by committee
Susan took this photo of the elusive cerval

Rhinoceroses climb mountains too
The zebras coming down to the plain from the hills
On safari
Playing chicken with a jackal
This is not a suggestion
Elaine and Kevin, Hawkeye Safaris, our guides
Chapman's Bay Hout BaySusan hopped on a pedicab and shot this self-portrait
View of Cape Town from Table Mountain
Cape Flats - what was formerly called a shantytown is now an "informal settlement."
Dornier Vineyard - winetasting in Stellenbosch
Picnic after winetasting at Muratie Vineyard
The vineyards of Stellenbosch
No butts about it - South Africa has views
False Bay at moonrise - the view from Moon Bay Guest House
All dressed and no place to go - African penguins used to be called jackasses
Ostriches going to the beach to put their heads in the sand
Jesse setting up at the Cape of Good Hope

Peter and Tina Davies, hosts of Moon Bay Guest House, gave us a guided tour of Cape Point

Brush fire at Cape Point
Cape of Good Hope