Cape Town, South Africa

African Penguin

After the time we spent on safari, returning to civilization was a cultural shock.  Besides not being prepared for the cars, people and buildings, we were unprepared for the economic situation in Cape Town.  To view the high density slums surrounded by portable toilets because two million people have no running water was shocking and terribly upsetting.  

On the other hand, Cape Town and the surrounding areas were filled with beauty.  We ended our African adventure in Cape Town by sharing a guide for two days with two couples from our safari group.  We crammed in as much as we could in that short amount of time.

The African Penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Africa.  We were fortunate enough to visit the Boulders Penguin Colony in Simon's Town.  It was great to see even if it is a huge tourist attraction with many people vying for a spot to view and photograph these endangered birds.  It is believed that the African Penguin may become extinct in the next 15 years.

Time for a little sunshine.

They are amazing at swimming and fishing but not so graceful on shore.

Why would I include this rodent looking animal with the penguins?

This is not a rodent but actually called a Hydrax which is the closest living relative to an elephant.  We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him on the beach with the penguins.

Magnificent views.

 We visited the Cape of Good Hope where people were lined up waiting to have their picture taken with this sign.  This is a national park with busloads of tourists and some interesting animals.

An Eland

Ostrich and babies

Light House at Cape Point

 A must see on our list was the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.  It was stunning with unusual flowers, bird life, and changing scenery.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

 

The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway was beautiful.

Even though we live in France 6 months a year we never tire of wine tasting and viewing the magnificent scenery that goes along with the growing of grapes.  South Africa was no exception.

We did some cheese sampling along with the wine tasting at Fairview Winery.

 After an amazing trip to Africa it was time to return to our "home" in France.  People say Africa is "The Trip of a Lifetime."  We hope to be fortunate enough to have a return visit to Africa.  The animals are calling us.  The sights, sounds and smells have filled my soul.  The bush calls to me and I shall heed the call.

Zambia

Victoria Falls in Zambia

Victoria Falls.

Us at Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

View of Victoria Falls with a swimming area on the left.

After having a wonderful time on safari, returning to civilization was a shock.  We left  Kruger and flew to Livingstone, Zambia.  Traffic, lots of people, run down dilapidated buildings, and scruffy landscape all assaulted and insulted our senses.  The main drag was designed to attract tourists with  honky tonk shops trying to sell variations of the same things.  

We were there to see Victoria Falls which is a World Heritage Site.  It was obvious that during the rainy season, or when there is no drought the Falls are magnificent.  Even without the normal flow of water we could see the beauty of the falls and how impressive they must be when they are at their peak.

There was plenty to do during our brief stay in Livingstone.  

We went for a boat ride on the Lady Livingstone where we enjoying drinks, appetizers and viewed the sunset on the Zambezi River.

Sunset on the Zambezi River

Crocodile relaxing along the Zambezi River

View from our room at the Royal Livingstone Hotel

At our hotel we were fortunate to see even more wildlife.  I love zebra.  They are such beautiful animals.  Tom wanted a picture of me with the zebras.

There were zebra grazing on the hotel grounds. We came across them just after leaving our room.

Tom kept telling me to get closer to the Zebra's

Nervously I cautiously approached the baby zebra.

Oops!  The baby didn't like my being so close.  I was lucky he missed me!  Another member of our group wasn't so lucky.

 While we were in Zambia we were invited to visit the Ebenezer Private School and Orphanage.  We did visit the school but didn't see the orphanage.

When we arrived at the Ebenezer Private School the children were there to greet us with singing and dancing.  We had the opportunity to meet with the founder Ranji Chara and visit some of the classrooms.  

Ever since I was young and my parents took me to developing countries I've had a difficult time dealing with poverty.  I was reminded again of the pain I feel in seeing poverty, hunger, and illness.

Royal Livingstone Express.  A beautifully restored train powered by coal.

The interior was very comfortable.

Next on our agenda was a chance to go back in time as we boarded the Royal Livingstone Express.  We saw some scenery, including viewing a small slice of local life, and enjoyed a delicious dinner.  Again, I found some of what we saw extremely disturbing.  There doesn't seem to be a method to properly dispose of trash.  It is simply strewn along the train tracks outside of the housing tracts.  This is where the children play, among the rubbish heaps.

Here you can see where the trash is piled up.  It seemed to go on for miles.  This is where the children play.

It is exciting for the children to have a train passing by.  Some kids try to catch the train.

 Halfway through our ride we stopped so the engine could be moved from the front to the back of the train. That's how we "turn around."  It takes a while.  A family came out to watch the show.  It looked like three sisters, each with a baby on her back.  Six other children came with them.  It appeared to be one family living outside of town.  It was very difficult getting even a smile out of the children.

A family came out to watch the train show.

One of the mothers.

A second mother.

Getting ready for dinner in the dining car.

Royal Malewane, Kruger Private Reserve in South Africa Part Two

The Cape Buffalo can develop a beautiful patina on their "shield or boss" from rubbing against trees.  This is a male cape buffalo.  The  "boss" is part of the horns which go across the forehead.  Notice the birds hitching a ride and getting a free meal.  The birds remove biting and sucking insects.  Apart from humans, cape buffalo are hunted only by lions and crocodiles.

Most everyone who travels to Africa want to see the "Big Five."  They are the African Lion, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, African Leopard and the Rhino both Black and White.  Members of the Big Five were chosen for their difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.  We were certainly hunting for the Big Five, but only to take their pictures.  We succeeded beyond our wildest dreams!  We had an amazing safari and brought home many memories and photo's that we will be enjoying for the rest of our lives.

We came across these Cape Buffalo  blocking the road.  No way were we going to argue with them.

 The Cape Buffalo have exceptional memories.  They have been known to attack people that have harmed them even years after the event.  The hide on a bull buffalo's neck can be as thick as 2 inches in places, which protects it during battles with other bulls for dominance.

Cape Buffalo have large ears that tend to droop.  This is a female.  She doesn't have the large "boss" over her head.

Cape buffalo enjoying a mud hole.

Do you know the difference between a White Rhinoceros and a Black Rhinoceros?  It isn't their color.  The White Rhinoceros has a wide mouth which is perfect for grazing.  They're like lawn mowers always with their enormous heads lowered to the ground eating the grasses.  The Black Rhinoceros has a pointed mouth.  They are browsers that get most of their sustenance from eating trees and bushes.   They use their lips to pluck leaves and fruit from the branches.

The extremely rare Black Rhinoceros.

Black Rhino

Black Rhino.

After a mud bath this Black Rhinoceros moved through the brush like he was on a mission.

This Black Rhino was moving fast.  We were lucky to snap a few pictures.

The White Rhino are always grazing.

Close up of the White Rhino.

Giraffe.

 The hippo is the world's third largest land animal after the elephant and the rhino.  Their predators are humans, lions and crocodiles.  They eat mostly grass.

A bloat of Hippopotamus.  

The hippo's look like stuffed sausage.  The hippo is considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

Warthogs.

We had a night of entertainment in the bush after a fantastic day of hunting animals.  Jane Lee Winters (our intrepid leader/travel agent) is kicking up her heels with the rest of the troop.

The entrance to our  tent dining room in the bush.  The Royal Malewane treated us like royalty.

I loved the scenery of Africa.

Haunting

Royal Malewane trouble maker always trying to steal food.

The elephants came to visit our room.  I'm on the deck by our pool.

We enjoyed lunch on our patio/pool deck one day at the Royal Malewane.  This was after the elephants came to visit our camp.

We had a beautiful dinner at the Royal Malewane.  This dinner was at the camp.

This concludes the safari portion of our travels.  But I'm not done yet!  Next we headed to Cape Town for a completely different experience.