WATER FEATURE !!!

We flew into Livingstone and had a short drive to our resort - The Zambezi Sun. It is so wonderful to have space around us and a safe area to walk around. I took some time relax and change clothes - Twinkle and Annie took a helicopter tour of the area.........my luggage went on a trip of its own so I needed some time to regroup. Upon return - Twinkle and I went for a long, long walk - all along the great Victoria Falls

No comments needed.
( Pics are so slow in coming - may have to wait)

Mary

3 of these are picture of the falls late in the day, against the sun. please note that they feel that the falls are empty, having had no rain since March. but I realize that there is plenty of water for me, plus when the falls are this low, you can see the falls. Otherwise it's all mist. the aerial view gives you an idea of the pattern of the river flow. It is very hazy there because of the dryness, so these pics could use some photoshopping.

the 3rd picture is the Zambesi Sun resort. Such a great place to explore, and just steps from the Falls. But you have to watch out for the baboons, they'll snatch anything.

Twinkle

CAPE GOOD HOPE

Well, we’ve just finished our stay in Cape Town without writing a word on the blog. Same ole, same ole…. problems getting online and very little free time.

We arrive Cape Town to find it too windy to go on the gondola up to Table Mountain. So instead we toured the area til we could check into the hotel. The placed we stayed was on Bantry Bay, a Protea hotel that was quite nice. We walked down the street the beach to see waves that averaged 10 feet. And this is during the calm springtime!

As I think I noted earlier, the next day was to be Robben Island, but still too windy. Instead we went to the Botanical Gardens. It’s a HUGE park under the mountains that made us want to stay and picnic there. Then it was over to the waterfront, the Victoria and Alfred. That is an area that has lots of shops and eateries. As always, there are lot of boats that make it fun to watch the goings on. Diiner was out to a price-fixe, which ended up quite good. There were entertainers that sang and danced their native songs along with the local food. None of the waiters, singers, or dancers at any of the restaurants were from South Africa, instead from every other African country.

Thursday was spent going to Cape Point. It is a National Park at the Cape of Good Hope where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet . . . . . well supposed to meet. It’s actually a few kilometers down the road. It was a “cool” feeling knowing that one was standing at the cape. We climbed up to the lighthouse for some much needed exercise, then had to avoid the baboons. They are quite clever and can beat you into your car once you unlock it! They have workers that spend all day chasing them from the parking lot.

Further down the coast we visited the African penguins. They are small like those in the Galapolas, I guess cuz they don’t need to stay warm. Anyway, we got up close and personal so I should have some good photos. The road down to that area was beautiful interspersed with quaint seaside towns. We finally stopped for lunch at 3:30, and you’ve never seen so many people run to find a bite to eat.

Later,

Twinkle

WHERE ARE WE ?

This is one of the views from the incredible botanical gardens in Cape Town. It's an exquisite city - many say it reminds them of San Francisco...and it does a bit. The Bantry Bay area is very much like the Marina and Pacific Heights areas. It is a bit torn up in preparation for 2010 but we enjoy everyday.

















When we were visiting the District Six Museum - these angels were singing in the back schoolroom - giving thanks for their food.



Arrived to Durban in the rain. The sun came out shortly, but the wind has remained which means no Robbens Island or Table Mountain. Lots of other sites. . . . am trying to upload photos so I will write later. T

THOUGHTS ON SOUTH AFRICA

I want to try and take the time to give my opinion on the trip and South Africa. I must admit the trip was off to a slow start. Our guide and driver in Jozi were incompetent, nice but incompetent. She rarely told us anything, much less saying that too much was planned so we would never get to everything. Then folks got upset cuz we skipped their favorite part. Plus there was the van with its lack or room for us, much less our baggage.

You need to understand that this trip was put together by Carrolle Devonish. She owns an art gallery in Anguilla, and travels to here every couple of years. She is quite enamored with SA, and wants us to see it as she does, hence the problem. There are so many fabulous facets to this country that one can’t see them in a short time. It would be like me hauling a group to my favorite haunts . . . OK for AXA, but not a country this big. But she’s trying, and it’s incredible what we’ve seen and experienced. I hope the pictures give you a taste, since we don’t have time to adequately explain all we have done.

As for South Africa, it has many problems, just like every country, but they seem to be trying and moving forward despite a few steps backward. When the locals complain about spending outrageous amounts of money on preparation for the World Cup next year, I think of the same political graft and corruption at home. When they worry about the increase in crime, primarily thievery, I think of all the crime in Montgomery that occurs. The unemployment rate here in CT is 50%!!!! All in all, SSDC. . . the C being “country”.

Yet there are differences that I’ve noticed. The people are so friendly and polite. They don’t hound you in the outdoor markets, the dollar stretches further, and they don’t expect tips. They seem overly interested in the US since they don’t get too many visitors from there. And we got the BEST avacados ever from the outdoor market!

We have spent a lot of time on the art trail, including handicrafts. The Zulus are well known for their artistic skills whether baskets, paintings, ceramics, clothes, wood carvings, beads, wire sculpture, etc. The Cape Town area on the western coast is famous for its clever recycling skills. We have been quite fortunate in having been at the right place at the right time. We’ve met famous artists that happen to be passing through just checking on things, we got to see original collections that just got back from world tours, we met the throwers and painters from the most famous ceramic company, etc.

Our luck has been so good, I’m thinking about buying some lottery tickets. It started with the safari, seeing the big 5 in one day. We arrived in Cape Town today with the rain coming down hard. It’s been raining all week. By the time we got to out first destination, the sun was out. I hope that continues tomorrow since an outdoor day is planned. I must admit we didn’t make it to Table Mountain because of the earlier rain.

Well, I’m tired and will try to write tomorrow. Twinkle

DURBAN

AFRICAN CULTURE CENTER

JUNGLE LADIES

I know I have mentioned some of these cats before – but would like to write about them again.

We never saw a full grown male lion…and though they may be the “King of the Jungle” – the females are the backbone – they are certainly the Queens.

We saw three different prides while we were there:

The first night we saw a pride consisting of four adult females and five cubs – four female and one male. They were wandering and searching….the guide said they were “of the territory”; not staying in one place but certainly within the region. They are not named but recognizable …… the much larger male cub stands out – as does one of the adult females who has a bad hip and limps slightly as well as another with a nipped ear. With five hungry cubs - the moms are always on the hunt. The next morning we came across this pride again. We had just passed some giraffes having their breakfast when we encountered two females …….. slowly we passed another and we realized they had spread out and were watching the approaching giraffes. Motor off – we watched. Suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere appeared half dozen zebras coming right to us – only 75 yds away. It was AMAZING how all lions heads snapped simultaneously - in a nano second - to the zebras. It was surreal as we watched the cats silently stalk and surround …..…. in two seconds it was over - a snap, the pounce the flight ………it stunned us all to see every zebra escape. The cubs would go hungry awhile longer. The guide told us only 1 in 5 attempts is successful.

The next lioness we saw was alone with her single male cub. She was such a sad story; no one knows where she was raised –only that she appeared at Sandi Pitch with her three cubs last February. She is older and considered an enemy to all prides in the area . Sadly, she and her cubs are also considered fair game – in fact, I should say “were” as two have already been killed. The rangers and guides have deduced that it was hyenas that got them …..... a few act as a decoy for the mom – and because she is alone – she would have to leave her babies to hunt and the kill would be made while she was away. It is all very calculated – and very sad. They say there is little hope that either will survive. She broke our hearts.

The third pride we encountered was the largest …….

We watched this group for awhile, followed for a bit - photos were taken and then moved on. Later in the evening – on our second drive of the day we learned that there had been a successful kill and we drove to the area to find a giraffe being devoured by the pride. For some reason, seeing this happen in the wild is not so upsetting and all makes sense. …… and this is coming from one who cries every time Sarah MacLachlan sings on the t.v. ads for stranded hurt animals. Go Figure.

The leopards are the opposite of the lions - they are completely solitary..... well almost. It was very unusual for us to see a male and female together. BUT - it's all about food. The female had a successful kill the night before and the male moved in and took over. The group before us witnessed all this - and watched as the male actually pulled the impala UP A TREE and wedged it between two limbs - eventually allowing the lady to have some dinner as well,

And I already wrote about dear Sahara - a true story of survival.

That's all - I was just so impressed with these incredible woman and they're skills - had to write one more time.