November 2007
Intro
Aside from Egypt, this was to be my first time in Africa, and I wanted it to be epic. Before I even stepped foot on the continent, somehow I knew I would fall in love with it.
The classic “epic” journey in Africa is the well-trodden ‘Cape Town to Cairo’ overland route, made popular by early explorers and independent
travelers. Having already been to Cairo, and itching to see Ethiopia, I chose a slightly different, though no-less epic, route – ‘Cape Town to Addis’.
Highlights from this journey include –
The incredible views of, and views from, iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa; being ripped off by a souvenir vendor to the tune of $27,000,000 dollars (Zimbabwean!); experiencing the sheer might and cooling mist from the majestic Victoria Falls in Zambia; taking in the sight and sound of hundreds of elephants roaming around Botswana’s Chobe National Park; the crazy urban bustle of Nairobi juxtaposed with the serenity of Karen’s ‘Out of Africa’ plantation in Kenya; the most amazing personal safari experience ever (just me, my guide Joseph, and our jeep) in Tanzania – complete with lions, cheetahs, leopards, black rhinos, and the incomparable wildebeest migration in the Serengeti (AND my awe-struck guide, who couldn’t believe what we were seeing, literally swore to me that he’d never had a safari like this in over 20 years of guiding!); relaxing in laid-back and legendary Zanzibar, the exotic spice island off Tanzania’s coast, with its beautifully preserved architecture and culture; exploring mind-blowing rock-carved underground churches and bustling markets, and savoring the best injeera and homemade ‘tej’ (honey wine) you could ask for, in Ethiopia.
My original feeling proved to be true, I loved Africa. As crazy as it all was, the minute I left, I missed it – and couldn’t wait to plan a trip to return!
Journey Map
Featured Image
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Sketches
Blog
Zimbabwe: Falling For It
Zimbabwe: Falling For It An excerpt from my Journal, AFRICAN SAFARI 2007: Day 7 – November 13, 2007 – VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE The Victoria Falls Hotel is a grand old building, reminiscent of the days of true safaris and European colonization – it was the perfect backdrop to a scene from “Out of Africa”, I […]