Happy World Giraffe Day on June 21!! Did you know that giraffes are on the IUCN’s Red List, meaning they are endangered? I cannot imagine a world without giraffes, can you?!🦒 If you want to help, go to Giraffe Conservation and donate. Enjoy the photos of giraffes from our many safaris, photos by Randy Minton and Alexandra Minton Photography!
[Read more…] about HAPPY WORLD GIRAFFE DAYThrowback Thursday: Boulders Beach, South Africa!
Outside of Cape Town is Boulders Beach, a beautiful spot where a South African Penguin Colony lives. They are the cutest …birds you can imagine!  They are birds, but of course, they don’t fly in the air, they fly underwater!  The penguins are nesting at this time of year…I had no idea that penguins made little dens and sat on their eggs.  These little babies are brown and furry!  We always hear about the Emperor Penguins, but most penguins do not live in such arctic conditions.  These penguins are known as Jackass Penguins.  I’m not kidding.  They are called Jackass because of the “heehaw” sound they make!  They really do sound like donkeys!  We walked among them, saw their nests and their young, then walked on the beach where a small group of them came out and swam. I sat near the water and enjoyed watching them in their little tuxedos! It was a cloudy day, and “winter” (to them) as well, so we pretty much had them to ourselves. The beach was pristine, with huge boulders (hence the name Boulder’s Beach), and tidal pools filled with sea stars and crabs and other little critters. Incredible experience!
We also met a new animal, the Rock Hyrax or “dassie”. Strangely enough, their closest relative is the elephant! They look like rodents….they are absolutely adorable. I’m sure you will agree that Ally took some wonderful photographs of them.
The Rock Hyrax, or “Dassie”!
We stopped for lunch in Simon’s Town where Ally took a bit of a tumble (fell on her ass, actually). It is usually me, but Ally took the fall on the continent of Africa! (Of course, I have fallen on Africa too….just not on that trip!)  Afterward we went up Table Mountain to see the view….endless vistas…
Another beautiful day in South Africa!
5 Things you Must do on an African Safari!
There is nothing as incredible as an African Safari. Nothing. Seeing these animals in the wild is not at all comparable to seeing them in a zoo or a “safari” park. The savannah goes on forever….truly, the Circle of Life is real. I expected to see Simba and his friends at any moment. I actually saw many simbas (simba means “lion”!). An African Safari is a trip anyone who loves to travel must take at least once in their lifetime! The best experience will include:
1. Staying at a Luxury Safari Camp. Tent? It is more like a well-appointed suite at a first class hotel. The guides and staff are attentive and make sure you have everything you want. Your guide, or perhaps a Maasai Warrior (at least in Tanzania) escorts you to and from your tent at night. Going back after dinner one night in the Serengeti our Maasai guide took a flashlight to our left and whoa! Â Hyena eyes, about 6 pair, were staring at us! What an adrenaline rush! The sound of the savannah at night is a symphony (except for the wildebeest who make a really loud, aggravating bleat…no wonder they get eaten, since they constantly announce their location!) The meals are amazing, cocktails before dinner and three delicious, fresh, chef prepared meals a day. Luxury camping is the only way to camp!
2. A private guide and viewing vehicle. Now this is a treat. You do not have to worry about “taking turns” getting the best view, or the best camera angle, because you are not sharing that view. It is perfect!
3. Watching the sunset from the Savannah. Sunsets are best viewed with a Sundowner (a cocktail) in your hand, hors d’oeuvres on a small table outside of the vehicle, while enjoying the growing silence. What an incredible luxury, having cocktails on the Savannah while the sun sets! Yes, it is as wonderful as it sounds!
4. Take your photo opportunities when they come! Always, always have a camera ready to shoot! Be ready. You will miss a lot if your camera isn’t ready to go.
5. Finally, you must not miss the Big 5, though there is never a guarantee. The Big 5 are Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Cape Buffalo. Having a great guide is the best way to make sure you have every chance possible to see these awe inspiring animals, many of which are endangered. It is just impossible to express the feeling you get when you quietly pull up in the middle of a herd, or a pride of lions. Just….incredible. Breath-taking. Exciting. Awe struck.
Going on an African Safari is always a thrilling adventure. I have done safaris in the African winter, when the foliage isn’t thick, and the animals are easier to see. Â So….when do we leave?
Tam’s Travel Tips for Africa
I went to Africa for many reasons last summer, to challenge myself, to experience another culture, for safari, to volunteer ….and I have some thoughts to share regarding travelling in Africa, or any developing nation. The developing countries are truly a different world for the western traveler. Know what to expect when you go.Â
1. Expect all services to be S L O W. Customer service has never been considered or taught in these countries. You will feel as though you are inconveniencing them at times just to ask a question or order a drink!Â
2. Plumbing, buildings, streets, etc will not be similar to conditions in the west. Be prepared. I still haven’t figured out the women’s bathrooms where one stall has a seat in the ground…I mean, what am I supposed to do? Not sure I even want an answer.Â
3. They have no social “space”, they will be right in your bubble. It can be disconcerting having someone so close to you, but they will stuff 30 people in one van (chappa or taxi) so standing 2 inches from you is not unusual.Â
4. Be prepared when you go to shop: they do not wait for you to look or browse, they start in “selling” you the moment you are within 10 feet. I have been told that unless I buy something their mother, family, child or infant will starve. This can be very upsetting. They will follow you to make the sale. I had two guys follow me from the market in Tofo to Fatima’s, a restaurant way down the beach. They are persistent. Keep walking and don’t answer questions. The minute you start talking, you are in trouble. ALL WESTERNERS ARE RICH IN COMPARISON to them, and are considered “fair game”.
 5. Don’t expect the same cleanliness standards. Many people in developing nations have no access to drinking water let alone water to shower in or to wash clothing in. Tiny villages have no water, often the women have to walk for miles to get it.Â
6. Social customs and mores are very different. I’ve had people bump into me or accidently hit me with something but they do not usually acknowledge it in any way. Also, many tribes and villages in developing Africa consist of one man and his wives. Each wife has her purpose: fetching water, firewood, gardening, cooking, watching the children. I had real difficulty with this one….
Casa Barry entertains children from the orphanageA Maasai Warrior told me that in his village’s tradition it costs ten cows for a wife. Also, the higher one can jump, the more desirable they are. Yes, the higher you can jump, straight up, the more desirable you are.  Shake your head on that one!  What you think is a small village may be one family for each wife has her own “boma” (hut). Often, children all live in the same boma.Â
7. You will see things that anger you, sadden you, horrify you, impress you and make you happy. But you will see cruelty and despair here as well.  Just re-read my blog An African Owl. There are many lovely aspects of traveling the developing world, you just have to accept that you will not be getting Western style living, eating, hygiene, or social graces.Â
These are the bewares. I happen to love Africa, and have now traveled in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya (Nairobi), and Tanzania. They are all different while having similarity as well….the poverty exists everywhere, some places are worse than others, but poverty is a constant state of being in these countries. Here are some of my favorite things about Africa:Â
1. The animals! Under the sea and on land, Africa’s animal diversity is exceptional. I have already written about my disappointment in the marine life in Tofo so I won’t go into it further. But the Serengeti! Lake Manyara! The Ngorogoro Crater! Wondrous. I have safari’d in many countries, but Tanzania is the very best. The crater and the Serengeti are unmatched in my opinion. (I have not done a safari in Kenya, so I can’t judge that, and my Nairobi fiasco was not a good introduction to the country.) The Savannah is vast, it goes on forever, there are herds of thousands of animals: instead of seeing 6 or 7 zebras together, you see a thousand or more together during the migration. Truly spectacular.Â
2. The terrain and natural beauty. Africa is stunningly beautiful, with mountains and lush gardens, oceans and forests of palms. There is so much to see and do, you cannot do it in a short period of time.Â
3. The guides and many of the English speaking staffs are informative and friendly. Our guide, Samson, taught us much about Tanzania, its poverty, the government corruption, the poverty, the beauty, the wildlife, its history and its people. It is all fascinating.Â
4. Service in the game lodges is excellent. Once you are in a lodge or camp you are treated very well. They make you feel very welcome, and have been trained as excellent staff and ambassadors. If you are staying in a good lodge or better, you’ll be well taken care of as far as service goes. Again, the physical environment (baths, showers, restrooms) take some getting used to.Â
5. One walks almost everywhere. The vast majority of people do not own cars, so they walk. The walking did me a world of good….I feel better physically than I have in many years.Â
6. The fresh fruits and vegetables! If you can find places not dependent on canned vegetables you are in for a treat, the produce is excellent. The pineapples are the best I’ve ever had, and the watermelon just melts on your tongue. I have eaten more fruit and veggies than I ever have (and I am a vegetarian!). Almost every meal here has rice or pasta….I won’t need to eat those things again for a very long time.Â
Africa is worth the trip. It is easiest to go to South Africa, of course. For safari, the private reserves at Kruger are excellent, you will almost certainly see the “big five” (lion, leopard, rhino, cape buffalo, elephant). Travel is much easier in South Africa,and I certainly recommend a nice long visit there. To get off the beaten path, it becomes more difficult, but I think the rewards are worth it. Kruger and Serengeti are the two best safari parks in Africa, and here is a major difference: Kruger gets over a million visitors a year, the Serengeti gets 60,000. Why? Convenience. From my perspective, the Serengeti and Ngorogoro are worth the extra effort and expense. The majesty of the Savannah is breathtaking, and can be very exciting! I have experienced many wonderful events, and as many saddening or horrifying events. My trip to Africa did not unfold as expected, but the journey was well worth it. I am a richer and better person for having experienced it, and a more confident woman than I was before.  I love midlife!
The Serengeti
June 11
Serengeti: THIS IS AFRICA! The Serengeti is what you picture when you think “African Safari”. The Savannah (Swahili for “endless plain”) with its umbrella acacia trees, waving golden grass as far as you can see, and HERDS of animals. I have never seen so many animals! It is the “Great Migration”, and Wildebeast and Zebras in thousands and thousands dot the landscape. THIS is Africa.Â
We have seen just everything here, from herds of elephants touching our car with their trunks to giraffes looking at us curiously from the side of the road, baboons in the trees, herds of zebra and wildebeest (they are almost always together, they apparently get along fine, and there is safety in numbers.) We have seen bat eared foxes (they are adorable), hyenas who were 5 feet away in the dark as we were escorted to our tent on the Savannah, eagles, dikdiks (the most incredible tiny little gazelle type of animals who always travel in mated pairs), a Cerval which is a smaller cat and a night hunter rarely seen in the day, we were lucky enough to see it just as the sun was rising this morning.Â
Yesterday we came upon a pride of lions….we counted 19 of them! They were relaxing at a creek, lapping up the water and hanging out. We found a wildebeest half eaten in a tree, but we didn’t find the leopard who must have put it there. The kill wasn’t fresh, but it wasn’t old. We have seen lions and lions and lions. Males who hang out on the rock outcrops (kropjes) and amazingly, lions in trees. I have heard that the lions of Serengeti and Ngorogoro are famous for their tree climbing, and now we have seen it firsthand. The Great Migration brings food a plenty to the lions.
We found 5 separate lions in trees yesterday, one was with a pride, and we even saw a male in the tree (unusual since the males are too lazy to climb trees). Randy took photos of each lion, and one of them had a belly so big he had to photograph just the tummy. These lions are fat and happy, their hunts are paying off and it seems they are eating every day. We did see a leopard in a tree as well, but too far away to even photograph it.Â
A very full belly! Time for a nap. On every safari drive in Tanzania I have been searching for the elusive cheetah. We never saw one in Sabi Sands (Kruger in South Africa), Botswana or Zimbabwe. The Serengeti and the crater are the prime spots for cheetahs, the endless flat plains of golden grass are perfect hunting grounds.
Samson, our wonderful guide, has been searching endlessly. He knows the name of every animal in Tanzania. He has been terrific. Â Samson met us at the airport in Kilimanjaro, and he has been with us ever since. We ride in our game vehicle, a four wheel drive, and he is our scout and ranger. He has also been an interpreter and has added greatly to our knowledge of the history of Tanzania and of the animals who live here. There are still tribes here, mainly the Maasai and the Suduku, and Samson tells us about their lives. As in Mozambique the life span of these people who live a rural or tribal life is short: about 45 for men, 55 for women. As I said, Samson has been a fountain of knowledge.
 The cheetah is the only animal I have never seen in Africa so Samson has been driving endlessly through the plains, the prime hunting grounds for cheetahs. Tonight, on our last game drive, during our last hour, I had my wish granted. Two cheetahs in a field surrounded by honking Wildebeest with a kill (a small Wildebeest). We did not see the chase but we saw the aftermath. I have never, ever, seen anything like it. The cheetahs took turns ripping at the kill, gorging as fast as they possibly could. Samson drove off road and put us within 10 feet of the cheetahs and their kill! One would rest, the other would eat. Then they would trade places. Samson informed us that cheetahs have to eat fast because lions, hyenas and even leopards will steal the kill from them as soon as they get a whiff of it. Cheetahs are absolutely beautiful, elegant animals. These cheetah’s faces were covered in blood. I filmed them until it started to get dark. The safari guides are supposed to be out of the park by 630p. It was 620p and we were 40 minutes from camp. We left the cheetahs dazed and ecstatic and around the next corner: LION. Lying in the middle of the road with no intention of moving. She did finally move, and came around to the back of the vehicle. She did look as though she might find us a tasty treat. A lovely couple from Canada, staying at our lodge, also was with us at the kill and were following us back to camp when we saw the lion. They must be in their 70s, and I certainly hope I am as curious and active and sharp when I am their age (which won’t be long, 20 years?). They have been delightful. We also ran into our pals from the camp of Lake Manyara here, along with an Australian couple and an aunt with two teenage boys. It has been a fun group to be with for lunch and dinner, excitedly discussing our game drives. It is like being with divers, always excited about the last dive, talking about what you’ve seen and how deep you’ve been and where you have gone diving. I LOVE safari. I can’t wait to post this blog and publish a few pictures of the cheetahs!Â
Eating…I guess this is what they mean when they say “you’ve got your head up someone’s ass?”
Tomorrow begins the journey home. Serengeti to Arusha. Arusha to Nairobi to spend the night (again). Then fly to Joburg, then fly to London, then fly to Dallas. 2 ½ days traveling, but fortunately we are in Club World on British Airways, the loveliest “business” class around. Club World is more like first class, you have your own “pod” with a private tv, drawers and a seat which turns into a bed. They do everything for you except tuck you in, and if you asked, I think they would do that. Anyway, I am very keyed up tonight from all of the exhilarating animal encounters. I will blog more on the long journey home.
The Wonders of Chobe
We left Zimbabwe for Botswana on the 21st. An interesting trip! We drove to the border where we had to exit Zimbabwe’s immigration station, then we drove to the Botswana immigration building which was a true eye opener. It was a tiny, tiny little building, jammed with people, and I won’t comment on the restroom except to say you would not want to use it. Everything was very primitive, and it was sadly apparent in the room that people from Botswana do not have access to daily showers.
The road to Chobe was riddled with potholes and donkeys and goats and warthogs were everywhere. Upon arrival at the Chobe Safari Lodge we chose our activities from a list of possibles and got ready for our first Chobe game drive. The Chobe National Park is on the Chobe River which separates Namibia and Botswana. It is known for huge elephant populations and justly so. The number of elephants is about 60,000 plus. They travel in big families, 30 to 50 at a time. The game in Chobe is plentiful and yet the elephants are so populous they are destroying the vegetation in the park. Botswana wants to “cull” them (kill them), but it is very difficult to do. Elephants are extremely intelligent and emotional with LONG memories which are transmitted generation to generation. The park cannot allow elephants to remember, and pass down, that humans hurt them. There are too many elephants in the area, but I am glad they will remain.
We saw towers of Giraffe!!! Ah, my favorites, they are so long and elegant! We hired a private boat to take us on the river and Ally took the most incredible hippo photographs. There were so many, I cannot even guess how many there were.
They were in the water, in the grasses, in the mud….just everywhere. The boat we hired is an air boat, very small and if a hippo really wanted us, there would be no problem at all. There are crocodiles on the banks and in the water.
We saw Sable Antelope (very rare find, few left) and they are incredibly gorgeous. Their horns are magnificent. We saw kudos, impala, elephants, and even water buffalo. Also, monitor lizards and tons of baboons. We glimpsed the rare Red Lechwe, a tiny water antelope, and a Sitatunga, another antelope type creature with great spiraling horns. We also saw a couple of lions snoozing under some bushes, but it was very hard to get a photo.
We saw elephants, and more elephants. We watched a couple of young males “fight”, and a couple of the younger males made some threatening movements toward our open air vehicle. Quite imposing….we certainly did not want to piss off elephants, so we slowly backed away. There were several young males around, letting us know we were not exactly welcome.  We also saw elephants dusting themselves, snorting up huge amounts of dust and then spraying the dust all over their bodies. Dusting keeps them cool, serves as a sunscreen, and keeps insects away. In Chobe they also visit mineral licks, or salt licks, and eat the dirt which is rich in minerals and sodium. Scientists hypothesize that elephants need to supplement sodium, which is lacking in the water and in their food supplies. Many other animals, including giraffe and zebra, also visit the mineral licks.
The lodge was nice, but the food mediocre and served buffet style. YUCK. Our room overlooks the Chobe River, and the courtyards are full of birds, warthogs, and monkeys. One woman wanted to pet the “wildebeest”, but I advised her not to. I mean, warthogs have some major tusk action going on I didn’t want to see anyone gored! We loved sitting on the balconies and watching the wildlife. Warthogs snort just like pigs do!
Please go to the Africa photo page for more Chobe photographs! Â There is just no way to put it all in a blog entry. Â Chobe is dense with wildlife!