Part 6 - Africa

Did an overland safari from Cape Town to Nairobi and had a great time. Click on photos to enlarge them. Pictures of animals will follow at the end.


South Africa

Cape Town viewed from Table Mountain




Table Mountain viewed from Cape Town



The Cape Flats Township on the outskirts of Cape Town. Decaying housing blocks such as these are still home to millions of South Africans, the most notorious probably being Soweto near Johannesburg.



Namibia

Namibia is vast and sparsely populated and mainly covered by desert and sand dunes which makes great scenery. One of the highlights was the Germanic seaside town of Swakopmund, where we did Quad Biking on the sand dunes. It was great fun although Brock and I slightly regretted not going for more powerful bikes.

Fish River Canyon, second biggest in the world after the Grand Canyon









I think this is the worlds tallest sand dune



These trees have been dead for 800 years but due to the conditions they don't wither away




Can't remember where this was. Think it may have been the Tropic of Cancer?


(Back row: Paul, Me, Adrian, Keren, Mel, Meg, Tom, Jo. Front row: Alice, Clair, Patrick and Alex)

Botswana

The Okavango Delta, largest inland delta in the world. The Okavango River starts in Angola but instead of flowing into the sea, just ends here in a vast series of channels and lagoons. We took Mokoros into the heart of it. And we had a lovely day...




People from the Bushman tribe, who are continuing an ancient way of life






Me, Adrian, Brock, Tom, Ben and Paul in front





back - Hannah, Sarah, Keren, Alex, Jo, Clair, Vic, front - Mel, Alice, Meg



Zambia

Zambia started to feel more like the "real" Africa, with its dusty roads, busy streets, hawkers, markets etc


Sunset on the Zambezi River




The Victoria Falls. Known as "the smoke that thunders" they are a spectacular sight. Part of visiting them involves a walk out to an island in the middle of the Zambezi. You cant see much and get soaking wet, but still seems worth it






The very top of the falls...



Malawi

An extremely well kept secret. I found Malawi to be a beautiful country with a very friendly welcome.

The countryside is very lush and green and covered in paddy fields and tea and tobacco plantations



These are from a village we visited





Chitimba Beach on the shores of Lake Malawi. The lake itself covers about a fifth of the country and is the jewel in the crown with some really nice scenery and beaches.





Tanzania


Zanzibar






Masai Village





Serengeti





Ngorongoro Crater





The animals of Africa

These photos are from the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, Chobe and Etosha National Parks

Starting with the Big Five:

Buffalo






Elephant







Rhino - This is the only picture I have of a Rhino, and its in Etosha. We saw quite a few Rhinos in Etosha at a watering hole at the campsite, usually at nighttime when they came down to drink. One time there was a family, and another time two of them squared up. It was a really good place to see animals and very atmospheric. A lot of people have never heard of Etosha National Park, but you'd know it if you'd been there




Leopard






Lion - Had to wait until the Serengeti to see one, but was absolutely amazing to see them in the wild







And the rest...

Hippos








Giraffe







Zebra





Cheetah





Wildebeest