Safari Summary

 Friday=Saturday, March 17-18, 2023

Our South African Safari comes to a close today as we pack up to head home.  We left Indianapolis 36 days ago for our first trip overseas, not knowing what to expect.  Well, it's been an amazing adventure!

Leaving Victoria Falls, we had to go through the immigration process once again, through Zambia to Zimbabwe, and through the disinfection machine.  

We boarded a plane to return to Johannesburg one more time. 

Our group retrieved luggage from the hotel and repacked and changed from shorts to long pants, as many are headed home to colder climates.  Some are staying a few more days, others a few weeks!

The goodbyes and hugs began--we've made a lot of good friends after being together for the past 33 days.  These three guys, John, Bill and Karl lasted 33 days without shaving! I wish I had a before and after pic.  The beards don't look too bad! 

 It has been another trip of a lifetime!  We survived a UV index of 12!  The sun is so intense in Africa, we have tan lines from our watches, just from our arms hanging out in the safari vehicles!  (In comparison, I checked the UV index in Arizona and it is 6.)

We have traveled 18,243 air miles, and driven about 4500 kilometers on the wrong side of the road, (fuel cost about $450).

We've been to 6 different countries and have had a real education on border crossing and the immigration process. 

We have seen everything from cosmopolitan Cape Town to the poor Mukuni Village.  We've been to the southernmost point of Africa, and stepped in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.  We've learned about aparthied, and how politics have affected the countries. We have learned a lot about not only geography but the culture of different people and different countries. And we've seen one of the 7 natural Wonders of the World!  We've sampled African cuisine, most of it really good.  We tried crocodile, Kudu, Ostrich, Pap, Malve Pudding, Biltong (jerky), but didn't elect to try termites or worms.

We have been through 8 national parks, and visited 6 private game reserves.  And we've seen the animals...so many animals.  Seeing them up close in their natural habitat has been exciting, eye-opening, and quite a privlege.  It gives a real appreciation for conservation and protection of their species and their space.  When we asked a guide at one of the reserves about releasing animals to the wild, he remarked "Where is the Wild?   There really is no wild left today!"

We arrived home 33 hours after leaving Victoria Falls.  My pillminders and toothpaste tubes are empty, and my suitcases are full (mostly dirty laundry and shopping treasures) but most importantly, we are filled with wonderful memories of a wonderful trip.

Our daughter and 2 grandkids met us at the airport with hugs and happy faces and dinner...who could ask for a better homecoming?  So long Safari...It's good to be back home.