Africa

I went to Africa in August of 2015. I traveled through South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. I was supposed to go with a small group of ten people, but due to several cancellations and some negotiation, I ended up going solo with just a driver/tour guide. He and I got along, so it worked out. We spent a lot of time on the road, and I explored the countries by air, land, and sea.

Before the tour officially began, I spent a day in Johannesburg. I was able to see the main sights via a hop-on, hop-off bus.

On the first day of the tour, my guide and I drove out of the big city and through the countryside. For the next few days, we stopped to see some waterfalls, a cave, and a town called Pilgrim’s Rest.

We eventually made our way to Kruger National Park. We saw some pretty amazing animals there, including elephants, lions, zebras, baboons, hippos, impalas, waterbuck, kudu, and a leopard.

I also went on a night safari at the Kapama Game Reserve. I saw buffalo, a rhino, and a common duiker. I also saw hyenas and jackals, but didn’t manage to get any pictures of them.

We made our way into Botswana, and to the Okavango Delta. I was able to soar over the delta in a small airplane. We cruised around the delta in a mekoro, and I went swimming. We camped on a small island in the delta. Another group joined us there. It was fun meeting new people.

We saw lots of animals, including hippos, wildebeest, and elephants. We had a semi-close encounter with an elephant, but thankfully no one got hurt. We were on foot in the delta, so we had to keep a safe distance from the wildlife.

Although the wildlife was spectacular, the thing that took my breath away was the sunsets.

After leaving the Okavango Delta, we spent some time along the Chobe River and in Chobe National Park. There we saw buffalo, hippos, elephants, warthogs, antelope, and lions.

We made our way into Zimbabwe, and to Victoria Falls. I rode in a helicopter and saw the falls from the air. Then we walked around the edge of the falls. “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, or “The Smoke that Thunders” (as Victoria Falls is known in the Lozi language) is truly a sight to behold. It is bold and breathtaking.

We only stayed in Zimbabwe for a day. Then we drove back through Botswana and back into South Africa. At this point, the tour should have been over (ending in Johannesburg), but my tour guide suggested that we drive down to Cape Town, where he could provide me with a place to stay. I jumped at the chance to keep exploring, so to Cape Town we went. In Cape Town, I visited the V&A Waterfront, Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned), and Table Mountain.

I saw some unique animals in Cape Town and nearby Simon’s Town: Rock Hyraxes, Southern Right Whales, and African Penguins.

While I only saw glimpses of the continent, it gave me a greater appreciation for its beauty, and a desire to someday return and see more of what Africa has to offer.

If you have any questions about my travels in Africa, feel free to contact me.

To make it to Africa, I went on a 21-day tour with Tourradar. Tourradar has lots of awesome tours to Africa. Check them out!

Another operator that I often use when traveling is Viator. Viator has lots of awesome tours, too. Check them out! To view a collection of the experiences that I have personally partaken in and highly recommend, go here.

Many of the photographs displayed on this website were taken with a Nikon D3400 digital camera. I use a 70-300mm zoom lens. You can find this camera for sale on Amazon by clicking here. NOTE: The link provided is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.