Out of Africa 3 Kruger, Okavonga, and Victoria Falls

We left you as we arrived in Johannesburg by train, picked up our VW polo hatch and headed for Kruger NP. Overnight in Middleburg in a nice BNB and then 6 nights in Kruger. On the first game drive (on our own) we saw a very fat, well fed, leopard sleeping in a tree,  and later we saw a leopard's kill hanging in a tree, but missed seeing the leopard. We stayed at 4 different camps during the stay, and every day we drove around seeing gazelles, kudu, hippos, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, cape buffalo, vultures, honey badgers, and more. Had to backup on one road, to give the elephant, who was pawing the ground,  right of way.

Fat Leopard

Elephant Crossing

One morning, we had a personal guided walk with armed rangers thru the park. Most animals were scared of us, and stayed far away. We did, however, see fresh lion tracks as we were returning to our vehicle - disappointing as we didn't see any other lions in Kruger.

Next stop was Johannesburg again, over some potholes caused by coal mining trucks,  and then off to the Okavonga Delta.  Gunn's Camp was without Wi-Fi but otherwise 4 star. Excellent food, (and lots of it--5 meals a day!!) with morning and afternoon boat or mokoro (poled fibreglass dugouts) trips thru the Delta. Sundowners, one evening next to 3 hippos in a pool, were a highlight of the day. The nights were also interesting with elephants wandering through the camp, knocking down trees and railings. We were obviously not allowed to go out of our tent at night!

Okavonga Sunset

Hippo Pool

We were sad to leave the tranquil green marshes and rivers of the Okvango Delta,  but our next adventure beckoned.  We flew from our camp to Kasane in Northern Botswana,  and from there by car to Zimbabwe and the famous Victoria Falls.

We are now about to leave Victoria Falls, after 2 nights here. Seeing the falls took about 2 hours and US $30pp, but even now, in the dry season - spectacular! The rest of the time we checked out all the shops, watched the adventure tourists white water rafting and zip-lining, beat off the street sellers with a stick, swam in the hotel pool and ate. Dieting is going to be required, on returning home!  Victoria Falls was also the worst place for mosquitos that we have encountered.  And they are totally silent,  no high pitched whine to give you an early warning they are about to attack.

Victoria Falls

2 more days in Johannesburg to see Soweto and the apartheid museum, and 2 nights in Perth, and we will be home. Final blog will probably be from Yamba...