Friday, January 27, 2012

AND SO THE RAIN CAME!!!

Having had a fabulous last night in Namibia at Joe’s Beer House chowing down on the famous game dishes we headed forth to Botswana. Having crossed the boarder we spent our first night in Ghanzi staying on old Bushmen land at Trail Blazers Camp where the guys got involved in the bushmen walk. For me, this is one of the best value for money activities you can do on tour, everyone ALWAYS comes out raving about it, not only do you get an awesome insight on how the bushmen live but you get to hear that san language (you know, the clicky one) trickle through your ears.
From Ghanzi we headed to the place of reeds i.e Maun where we spend stay before and after the Delta. This is when it happened…….the rain….the warm downpour. So I always tell people that they must be a little greatful for the rain at this time of year otherwise you battle hard with the humidity. However, I must admit the storm that hit the Delta is one of the biggest I’ve experienced….the thunder felt like it was lifting me off the ground and the lightening was blinding, but everyone kept smiles on their faces and put it all down to the adventure which was great!
From Maun we headed to Kasane, the Chobe region which was a touch dryer….the 620 km drive was eased somewhat but the enormous amount of elephants we saw on the drive, beasts that didn’t make an appearance in Etosha so everyone was chuffed to bits. The Chobe game drive was an absolute success with the peeps not only loving the wildlife but the beauty of the park made a huge impact on everyone which is so wonderful to hear.
And now I am writing to you from Livingstone. We have said good bye to a few and hello to some more and from here we will start our East African leg of tour. Soon we will be soaking up the views from Lake Malawi

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

IS THAT A TIGER??

Having left Swakopmund we headed straight to Spitzkoppe where we visited the bushmen paintings and arrived at camp in time for lunch. We decided (as it seemed we were the only ones camping here) to mix things up a bit and try a different camping spot (crazy i know!!). Our camp was nestled inbetween two tall rocky outcros which priveded the perdect climbing to pass the afternoon.
So i guess you're wondering about the title huh?!? Tigers in Africa??? Well not quite (fact of the day: there's no tigers here as it's beleived they couldn't cross the Sahara Desert?) However, one of my pax Dave decided to bring along a tiger suit!! Having set up the prank with myself and TJ he kept dropping commentns to the others like "hey guy's, you recon we're going to see a tiger?" to which everyone replied no way! Spitzkoppe provided the perfect setting and oppourtunity and whilst everyone was other wise distracted Dave slipped into the bush and slipped on his disguise.
It went something like this:
TJ: Hey Loz, you see that bush moving?
Me: What the hell? (trying so hard not to laugh as Dave pops his tiger donned head above the bush)
(pax now beginning to show some interest)
(Dave begins rustling bush)
Pax: Oh my god,,,is that a cat??
Pax: Holy shi* is it a leopard???
Pax: What the hell, it has stripes!!!
Pax: What??
(Dave continues bush rustling)
Pax: (now getting a little nervous) oh my God!!
(Me and TJ are trying so hard not to laugh)
Pax: What the (Dave no exposes his tiger suited bu,) HELL!!!
Everyone: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

So after Spitzkoppe we headed North to Etosha where we stay for 2 nights ...It's always amazing to visit here in January, not necessarliy for the game viewing (which to be perfectly honest wasn't huge with only 1 of the big 5 being spotted as the recent rain meant that the animals are now free to roam instead of being tied to the man made watering holes), but insuch a short amount of time the park has been transformed from dry dusty and arid to lush and fragrant with this seasons rain fall!

Now we're on our merry way to the countries capital Windhoek where we will spend our afternoon mooching around the city and tonight (our last night in Namibia) will be celebrated at Joe's Beer House!!

Until next time...

P.S When my internet connection is better i PROMISE phot'os of the only tiger in Africa :)

Friday, January 13, 2012

FEELING HOT HOT HOT


Well I must start by saying I can’t believe we’re already 1 week into the tour, it has gone so quick, but I guess time does fly when you’re having fun! J

So lets go back to the beginning. Saturday morning saw our fresh faced pax head off on their town ship tour and to have lunch at popular mizoli’s.having been returned to us we began the first journey of the tour to Highlanders campsite where everyone broke the ice with Sparky’s famous wine tasting…..without giving too much away (what happens on tour stays on tour) everyone was well bonded by the end of the evening (and a little soggy from the pool!). Up next was our trip to the Orange River where temperatures reached roughly 45 degrees, thankfully the river is totally fine to swim in and easily accessible from our camp Umkulu so needless to say the afternoon was spent frolicking in the watery no mans land between South Africa and Namibia.

The following day saw us crossing the boarder into Namibia and saying goodbye to the tar roads for a while. After a bumpy journey we arrived at our camp in time for lunch and a quick swim before setting out for Fish River Canyon. Beers were sipped and snacks were nibbled as everyone took in the burning sunset over the desolate canyon! That night tested everyone’s ‘bug’ limit as we were visited by first a red roman (sun spider) and secondly a thick tailed scorpion! Next up we were desert bound. More bumpy roads delivered us to the heart of the Namib where we hiked up dunes and walked deep into the arid landscape to discover more about this incredible land and the little (and many) creatures it homes.

For the last 2 days we have been spoiled yet again at Amanpuri Lodge (Swakopmund) to some creature comforts. Last night we nipped to Napolitnas for dinner then danced the night away at the local bar/club grunez. Today regardless of some delicate heads lanes have been jumped out of and dunes have been boarded however I think tonight will most definitely be an early one.

Tomorrow will see us once again heading back into the wilderness to beautiful Spitzkoppe for one night of hopefully incredible star gazing and then off to Etosha for 2 days for some (again, hopefully) awesome game drives, and the of course Windhoek where our last night in Namibia will be spent at Joe’s Beer House. . . Will keep you posted!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

LETS GO ROUND AGAIN





Well folks, it's that time again where we find ourselves back in the office and workshop preparing for another tour. Having had 2 weeks off to refresh (although it was over Christmas and New Years) we find ourselves chomping at the the bit to get back on the road again.
Tomorrow is our pre departure meeting where we will meet our new bunch of 'pax' who hopefully are all geared up for a trip of a life time. Some may only be doing an 11 day tour with us, some 19 days and maybe a few wild enough to do 41 days all the way to Nairobi, which ever decision has been made i can guarantee some amazing adventures are waiting to be had and even better memories are waiting to be made as we travel through this incredible continent!


But, in the mean time its's another few days in sunny Cape Town helping the workshop prepare our truck (MARA is back!!) and helping the office to finalise our paperwork and some of our bookings and let us not forget the enormous bulk buy that I am gearing up for today to make sure we're all well prepared for the tour. What a great way to celebrate the New Year!!