“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