I know… I'm terrible at this whole "regular blogging" thing.  I have so many amazing stories and photos to share, not just about Africa, but other less exotic adventures as well.  I've not given up- I'll get to them in due time.

Right now I feel I need to jump forward in the African Adventure for just a moment.  I just learned that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has declared Africa's western black rhino officially extinct.  It's extinction is mainly due to poaching for trophies and for their horns, which superstition holds is a cure for cancer, and to a general lack of conservation measures.

While in Tanzania, (the second half of our trip) we were fortunate enough to observe a solitary black rhino while on one of our game drives.  It was a spectacular moment- I remember our guide being very excited.  He said they were rare and extremely shy.  They tended to chase off any other species in their general vicinity, and really didn't even like the company of their own kind.  Our group was in awe of this majestic creature standing alone on the plain, browsing on leaves and twigs.  We stayed and watched for a good half hour, until she disappeared into the brush.

I feel so incredibly saddened that another animal has been wiped off this earth, and so blessed to have had the opportunity to see one of these beautiful creatures with my own eyes, to have shared the experience with my father and step-mom, and now to be able to share my experience through this blog.

After reading of the fate of the black rhino, I went searching for my photos of that day.  Poring through the photos of the rhino, I felt the weight of my experience and my eyes teared up.  I remembered the peace on that plain, and the warm, dry wind that carried the faint sound of the black rhino as she lumbered slowly through the brush.  I remembered how our camera shutters clicked wildly for a few moments and eventually tapered off to silence, amazement and a sense of gratitude for being able to view this animal that most may never see outside of a tv special, zoo.

My heart is heavy now knowing the black rhino will not be a part of our world any longer.

Back to Botswana

Over a year later I'm finally getting back to blogging about my African adventure with my father and step-mother.  The memories are still so vibrant in my mind- I miss the sounds and smells of the African landscape.  I would like to go back someday.

When I returned from my trip last year, I told many people about my experience (okay... anyone who would listen).  The owner of the company I work for is a fantastic photographer, and so I told him he should go.  Then I told the woman who had hired me for the job 15 years ago.  She and her husband loved to travel, but had yet to experience a tour, much less one of such wild proportions.  I gave her the website of OAT and they began planning.  They've just left for their trip last sunday and I'm quite excited to hear about their experience in Africa.  I hope it's as amazing as mine was.

So back to Botswana...

Game drives are fantastic.  The whole experience is fantastic.  At this camp we would have two guides and two vehicles divided among 14 travelers.  After a hearty breakfast at dawn, we would head out.  Our guides, Tuelo (Mr T, is what we called him) and Julius, were knowledgable and happy to answer any quesions we had about animals, Botswana, the culture, you name it.  They loved what they did and it showed.

Mr T on the lookout.

Many animals crossed our path as we drove.  The sandy roads were not only traveled by us- elephants, baboons, warthogs, what-have-you.  They used the  heavily treaded trails to cut through the sharp, brambly terrain.  It was not uncommon to have to stop and wait for passing families.

First spotting of a black backed jackal.  Shy little guy... he steered clear of our noisy vehicles.

When this little one crosses, you wait for the others to follow.  Last place you want to be 

is between a mother elephant and her calf.

Mid morning we stop in an open area to enjoy a snack and a cup of tea or coffee.  It's getting warm, and soon the animals will all find shade and lounge until the evening.  Morning break gives us an opportunity to stretch our legs, find a vacant termite mound to relieve ourselves and get to know our fellow travelers.

After our break, we would take a leisurely drive back to camp, stopping to view impala, baobab trees, and many, many birds.  The views are so different from what I'm used to.  Everything is so much bigger, so much wilder, and so much more obviously dangerous.

 It's difficult to gauge the size of this termite mound, but chances are it's bigger than you think.

A young male impala strutting his stuff.

Baobab trees jutting from the landscape in the distance.

Returning from our morning game drive, we freshen up and return to the common area to talk, have cold beverages and eat an amazing lunch, provided by the cooking staff.  We were never left hungry, and  the food was always delightful.

Dad takes a moment to flip through his photos and share some of the gems with the rest of the group.

Botswana

In the morning we officially embarked on our Ultimate Africa experience.  We flew from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe where we were met by our trip leader, Vitalis, who would be with us for the next 15 days.

This is Vitalis saving us from a falling tree.  Okay, not really- but he would if the situation arose!

From Victoria Falls, we boarded a bus headed across the Botswanan border to the Baobab Safari Lodge.  There we were greeted by the staff with a song and a warm washcloth to wipe the day's travel and dust from our brows.  The main lodge was open, with a thatched roof, comfortable furniture and a beautiful view of the Chobe River.

The sun was low in the sky as we drove up and by the time we made our way to the main meeting area in the lodge, it was beginning to set.  Suddenly the weight of that moment in time brought such joy to my heart.  I watched zebras come to graze and frolic, and cape buffalo wade across to the islands in the middle.  I heard the elephants grumbling and snapping young trees, and baboons calling to each other as they settled in the trees for the night.  That moment was a milestone in my world and a quintessential African experience.  I was suddenly very aware of where I was... and it brought a tear to my eye.

Johannesburg part II

Our first hotel (the broken shower one) was not to be where we would meet the rest of our party.  We had arrived a day earlier than the rest, and due to the hotel being full, we were shuttled to another for a night.  The next morning we arrived at the O.R. Tambo Protea Hotel where we would eventually join the rest of our group, who were just arriving from their layover in London.

Clean, simple rooms at the O.R. Tambo Protea Hotel

The whole hotel is designed and decorated around air transport with wooden packing crates, airplane parts, even a flight simulator in the lobby.  The bathrooms showed a hint of humor- I appreciated that.

There's an oxygen mask hanging near the toilet... NICE

Indeed- Oh Sheet!

We spent the afternoon hanging out by the pool and watching the airplanes come in to the airport across the highway.  This was just the beginning of our Africa adventure.

But first things first . . .  

Good Morning South Africa

And we're off!  Met my dad and stepmom Mary at the airport so that we could embark on a glorious adventure.  But first things first.  A sandwich and a beer.  Okay, Mary had a soda, but you get the idea.

 

Bright eyed and bushy tailed in San Francisco before the first 10 hours.

I watched the sun rise over the top of the world from the plane on en route to Amsterdam, our half-way point.  Watching the sun rise from a point of origin not officially on earth (thousands of feet above) while perhaps not what astronauts or space aliens experience, is a pretty phenomenal sight.  We spent all of two hours in Amsterdam, waiting for our flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.  It was overcast, but green and lush, from what I could tell looking from the airplane window as we landed.  I'll have to come back sometime.  Dad and Mary have done this before- they're seasoned travelers. I couldn't ask for better travel mates, thought the joke we all shared while awaiting our flight is that after our trip, we'll not want to see or hear each other for a bit.  Somehow I doubt that.

Post flight in Amsterdam, looking at the next 11.5 hours on a plane. Are we there yet??

Safely in Johannesburg, I slept like a baby in a plush, clean bed.  My shower spit brown water at me shortly before stopping altogether, but the problem was quickly rectified and I was able to wash the airplane travel stink off of me.  I'm sure dad and Mary are grateful.  I watched the sun rise again, this time over the city.  At first glance it is not unlike any sunrise I might have seen before, but upon careful inspection it is very different in subtle hue and intensity.  Probably a different flavor of smog over here.

Good morning South Africa- It's a pleasure to meet you.

Regarding Africa

So, a year ago I received a phone call from my dad, and the reason for his call was basically this (I'm paraphrasing, of course).  He says to me, "Hey!  Mary and I are planning a trip to Africa and we were wondering if you'd like to go with us.  Well?  Wanna go?"  Of course I gave it some serious thought for all of about 30 seconds and replied with a hearty YES.

And so began the planning process.  Having never left the U.S., with the exception of a few drives down into Mexico for a handful of possibly unsavory reasons, I needed a passport and a barrage of vaccinations.  Of course the passport was painless, a few forms, a few photos and a chunk of money later I received my first passport in the mail.  The handlebar mustache I had at the time really tied the thing together.  The shots were not as painless, though not horrible.  There were enough needles however, to warrant switching to the other arm after a couple jabs.  I asked if there was a vaccination against bazooka fire or at very least, bullets in the event a random pirate attack should occur.  The travel nurse was not amused.  

Packing made me anxious- especially packing for a place I've never visited.  The key to this was pack light, and make sure everything dries quickly.  I won't pretend I didn't fret for quite a while over what to have/not have, but it occurred to me that I could go equipped with my passport, a good pair of walking shoes, my camera and a spare change of skivvies (optional) and I'd be okay, because you know what?  I'M GOING TO AFRICA.  Once I settled with that, it was easy.

...and there it is- ready to go to Africa.  Of course my cat knows what happens when I start putting my things into bags... he was not pleased.  Augusto, or "The Goose" went through my stuff anyway just to make sure I didn't forget anything.  Apparently I forgot the cat hair, so he helped me out in that department.

Yes, the Brilliance of Living...

... it really is, isn't it?  Seeing, smelling, touching, hearing, breathing, feeling... living.  I'm guilty of not properly living on occasion, but then I'm reminded somewhere in my day that I've been complacent or lazy.  That is not to say that living requires being always on the go.  Quite to the contrary, one can stay completely still and immerse themselves in the LIVING of that one moment, however long it may be.  This however, shouldn't be a free pass to NOT embark on fantastic adventures (big or small) when opportunities present themselves, and they really will present themselves if you just PAY ATTENTION.  So this is what the universe wants us to do.  Welcome to The Brilliance of Living.