Africa - a favourite destination
I keep returning to Africa. It is a place that realigns body, mind and soul. It all started in 2013 with my first trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa, where we found leopards, rhinos, witnessed two massive male hippos in a bloody fight, and at one stage got out of our jeep to follow on foot, a female cheetah with her litter of four cubs, all this in three short days and I was hooked!
Fastrack to 2018 and I’ve just returned from Africa trip #5. I finally got to see the famous Victoria Falls, known as the smoke that thunders. You can hear the falls thundering, long before you see them. I saw the falls from the Zimbabwe side, but you can also visit from the Zambia side. A private guide will walk you through the park and tell you all the facts, but honestly, it is just so easy to follow the path on a self guided walk to enjoy the view from the sixteen lookouts.
From Victoria Falls it is an easy drive across the border into Botswana. I spent a week here in 2016, but really wanted to squeeze in a quick safari on this trip also. Without getting on a charter flight, you can stay in many places along the Chobe River, or go somewhere like Muchenje Lodge, about an hour drive from Kasane airport. They are keen to please and we even did a late night game drive after dinner using headlights and torches.
The views were astounding from this lodge and you could see Namibia in the far distance!
Far too soon I was leaving Botswana, but next stop…. Uganda!
The airport in Uganda is Entebbe and you can fly from Johannesburg or even Doha, Qatar. It is a small airport, and having arranged my Electronic visa in advance, they take your photo at immigration and you are on your way.
We were to cover a lot of ground in Uganda over the next nine days, so it was a delight to have our Safari jeep and personal driver there to meet us. A pre planned tour is the way to travel as your driver knows the roads and speaks the local language. The esky onboard was always overflowing with bottled water and they arrange picnic lunches for any day that requires a long drive.
Entebbe is more of a rural city, planted on the banks of Lake Victoria.
We stayed at a brand new hotel with an easy to remember name: ‘Hotel 5’. It was boutique and first class.
Our Uganda adventure starts with our drive to Kibale National Park.
We had a lovely Eco lodge nestled in the Primate Forest area. We were on the doorstep of numerous species of monkeys and the wild chimpanzees that are the drawcard for the Forest.
Uganda was so much more beautiful than I could have imagined.
The driving was through green rolling hills, dotted with palms or tea plantations. The villages along the way selling everything under the sun. Our next camp took us to what the locals refer to as ‘Top of the World’ in the Mount Rwenzori region, where extinct volcanoes have created stunning scenery and crater lakes! Plan to spend several days here as there are walking trails and plenty of birds to photograph.
The next day we entered the vast Queen Elizabeth National Park and to Kazinga Channel where we were whisked away on a comfortable river cruise on the waters between Lakes George and Edward. Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of this cruise and the immense wildlife plying the shores. Our captain got us up close to everything including elephants, hippos, crocs, and many species of birds. It was a National Geographic setting, but we were the only ones there! Sssshh, let’s hope it stays that way
After our amazing cruise we journeyed onto our Wilderness camp for the next couple nights, tucked away in Queen Elizabeth NP right on the rivers edge. A small luxury, all inclusive camp, with welcoming staff, and extremely comfortable canvas tents.
Now we are in lion country and the highlight of this National Park are the rare tree lions! Found only in a couple places in Africa, this is one spot where the lions climb trees and sleep. Included morning and evening game drives ensure the best chance of seeing this rare sight first hand.
After a couple glorious days here, we were off to Bwindi, for yet another highlight of this incredible journey.
Arriving in the Impenetrable forest was really one of the breathless moments where you’ve heard so much about this place, you’ve seen pictures, but now you are really here! We are on the doorstep of the Mountain Gorilla, highly endangered and living in the forest.
Accommodation is first class, and views of the mountains from your room. A permit is required to be allowed to trek to see these creatures in the wild, and only a limited number of permits are available per day. It is recommended to book a year in advance if possible. The organisation is meticulous and well planned.
You are virtually guaranteed to see gorillas. I’m often asked ‘How close do you get to them?’ Well I was using a wide angle lens for this shot and they can come within a couple feet of you.
Hopefully you’ve read this far and enjoyed the story. I would love to assist you with your Trip of a Lifetime to Africa and hopefully you will be able to see this amazing continent more than once. A lot of planning goes into a trip such as this, so please contact me to arrange your holiday