South Africa & Botswana

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Liz & John in Africa - August 2004 » South Africa & Botswana

We spent just a very short time in South Africa, flying into Cape Town then taking a train across the country to Pretoria, before bussing into the Botswana capital, Gaborone, and the real “Ahh-fri-cah”. Most of the photos are from the Okavango Delta in the north of Botswana where we went on a couple of safaris (yes, the photo kind!).

P7280012 Cape Town and its Twelve Apostles mountain range

P7270005 Cape Town Jazz

IMG_1979 Train from Cape Town to Pretoria - 31 hours

IMG_2061 One of many townships along the tracks

IMG_1978 A township with more modern accomodations (behind the shacks in front). Since Apartheid ended in 1994 more money has been invested to provide a better place to live. Not great but at least a little better.

P8010041 The Botswanan parliament. It was all fun until the guard

IMG_2327 Two Germans, a Frenchman and a Brit...deliciously displayed on the moving buffet.

IMG_2132 Rule of thumb: Elephants have the right of way.

IMG_2256 Two hyenas under a tree led us to this hidden leopard. We sat there for 1 1/2 hours, mesmerized. In case you're wondering...crunchy on the inside, those impala are.

IMG_2271 After accidently dropping what was left of the impala, the leopard raced down and back up before the hyenas could steal it.

IMG_2112 Only our dog, Kali, yawns bigger than this. Check out the crocs in front and to the right.

P8040086

IMG_2345 Four zebras and the legendary Impassable Tree.

IMG_2141 Giraffes are cool. Did you know...giraffes have valves in their carotid artery that prevent their heads from exploding when they drink. Now, THAT'S handy!

IMG_2487 We came across three lionesses and a lot of cubs - about 20 ft away. The guides told us that our scent was masked by the smell of the gasoline so we were safe. Hmmm.

IMG_2566 A swarm of red billed quela, the bird with the largest population in the world (10 billion or so). They travel in flocks that number in the millions and

IMG_2430 This is what happens when a buffalo accepts a dinner invitation from lions. Things can go terribly, terribly wrong.

IMG_2381 One of many spectacular sunsets. (You've been spared the multitude of similar shots. Same sun, different day...but always amazing.)

P8060101 Very dirty and damn pleased about it (and even more pleased about the hot showers later).

IMG_2585 Flight over the Okavango Delta

IMG_2599 Buffalo roaming the Delta

IMG_2602 A typical Kavango