We were talking about the highlights of our holiday a few nights ago and I had a revelation, other than the siting of the leopard, and being immersed in wildebeest, no other siting of an animal rated as highly as so many other things we experienced. I had expected the animals on the game drives to be the highlight of our holiday. But our holiday has been so much more than that. We loved the game drives, and did many but other activities rated as highly if not higher in some instances.
Table Mountain is stunning, and the view of it from our hotel room will be etched in our brain forever.
Kirstenbosch botanical Garden and our guide Andrew had me in my happy place.
Sharing the Rugby game with Greg was good, as was our team the Stormers winning the last game at the stadium.
Our day down the Cape and seeing the African penguins.
Sundowners in Sussi & Chuma, Zambia.
The power of Victoria Falls.
Being on the Zambezi River was special, it found a place in my heart.
Our guide Zoya, for 4 days in Tanzania, his gorgeous smile, easy way and knowledge were all appreciated. Our picnic lunch overlooking the elephants on the marshland, was a pinch me moment.
Being at dinner at our camp at Swala in Tanzania and the roar of the lion 20 metres away as he pursued the lioness on heat, then the long walk to our tent, heart pumping, amazing African experience. I felt very much alive in those moments.
Our visit to Gibbs Farm, the gardens were beautiful, it was an oasis.
Seeing Ngorongoro Crater for the first time, it’s size and the animals coexisting together. We loved seeing so many different animals together on our game drives and the way they lived harmoniously together.
At Lemala there was the charming Bosco, who had prepared a table with morning tea for us upon our arrival. And found us our leopard within 90 mins of landing, we were close and had the leopard to ourselves for the 30 mins we were there. Magical.
Being on the Serengeti.
Our full day game drive with Bosco, the vultures, the wildebeest, the lions, but mostly being surrounded by wildebeest for as far as the eye could see. It has to be seen, to comprehend the enormity of the migration. The picnic lunch overlooking the Mara River.
The view from Angama overlooking the Masai Mara, breathtaking. Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Mara. The Maasai Warriors. Our nature walk with Kerika. Photography lesson with Adam, sundowners, bush barbecue.
Seeing the snow covered top of Mt Kilimanjaro on our flight to the coast was special.
The views of the Indian Ocean from Alfijiri, the sound of the ocean, walks on the beach with Athuman, massages and of course Harrison, he will be missed when we get home.
The small 13 seater plane rides. There were 6 altogether.
All flights take off early, the odd one, on time. That was a marvel and does not happen in Australia.
Greg’s birthday celebrations, the cakes, the singing, the people, the talking stick. And sharing it all with him. ???
The people we have met, especially the locals.
The landscape is stunning, has been a standout in our holiday.
Sunrises, sunsets beautiful.
The beautiful birds, so many different species and sizes.
Driving through villages, enlightening.
How much we learnt and wanted to know.
We have enjoyed the food and especially the vegetables. This will be the first holiday we will go home not craving vegetables.
Many of the places here have a heavy push on being ecologically friendly. We have decided to put a bigger effort in and try to remove plastic from our lives as much as is practical.
The bad
14 flights, didn’t mind the 6 little ones, a long flight to and from Australia, that is never fun.
The roads and tsetse fly in Tanzania
The car accident
The princess at Angama
The numbers of vehicles at some animal sitings, will only increase next month
The hard bed at Alfijiri 2 nights, then softer bed for last two?
The pillows, everywhere
This has been a trip of a life time, feel lucky to have spent time in such magical places. Hopefully we will return one day to discover other parts of Africa.
Number of Views :2346
CAR ACCIDENT!! ?? ??????
Oh, I might have welling in my eyes reading your highlights (no onions at 11pm!!)
It was a fabulous holiday Jenni, thank you for your help with it. You have done a little bit of reading tonight ?
Wow! Just wow.
What a fantastic holiday you’ve both had….and a fantastic “virtual holiday” I’ve had in sharing your holiday.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading of each and every one of your experiences.
I thought you couldn’t possibly top your Indian holiday, but alas, you have 🙂
Amazing.
I just wish my Mum was still here, she would have so enjoyed reading your travel blog.
Thanks for sharing with us all, Deb & Greg.
So, where to next? 🙂 🙂
Hi Mandy, glad you enjoyed our holiday, yes it was fantastic. Only been back one day but I miss the landscape, hopefully one day we will be able to go back and explore some other countries in Africa. You are right, we have not had a holiday since India (2013) that matched it, until this one. I guess it is the difference that we enjoy so much.
Next year we are off to the UK for a driving holiday, so not so different ? but something I have wanted to do for a while.