After a brief 2 night stay in Namibia along the Caprivi Strip we crossed back into Botswana and set out on our 2 night Mokoro trip on the Okavango Delta. We stayed at a tented camp on an island in the delta and went out on Mokoros (traditional dug-out canoes) for day trips. We also went on a walking safari on an island in search of big game. We didn't see much more than a couple elephants and some Zebras, but we ran into some others that had seen lions. So our guide decided to start tracking the lions to try and find them for us. It was a little un-nerving because the grass was so tall and nobody was armed. Doesn't really seem very smart does it. I know at home we wouldn't go out ... read more

Zimbabwe was probably one of the more interesting countries we've been to economically. It's really hard to describe the experience. When we arrived, the street rate for US dollars was 50,000,000 to one. However the bank rate was only 30,000 to one. So we were either forced to change on the street or use US dollars exclusively. Luckily we had a contact that could change the money for us so that we wouldn't get scammed. We changed $40 and instantly became billionaires! Although our $1 billion bar tab was a little scary... The political situation has been very damaging for the people expecially in Vic Falls which is built on tourism. The tourists have stopped coming and the street vendors are barely scraping by. You'd see one guy in the morning who would try and sell ... read more

Our first major stop in Zambia was the South Luangwa National Park. Our campsite was right on the bank of the Luangwa River and the Hippos came up into the campsite regularly at night to graze. It's only when one is about 20 meters away from the dinner table completely out of the water that you really begin to appreciate how huge these creatures are. We couldn't stop smiling every time we heard their noises; it's like living in a zoo (only way better). We went on a couple of game drives including a walking safari and a night drive which is supposed to be very good for spotting nocturnal animals including Leopards and Lions. Unfortunately we were in the wrong jeep as we missed the Leopard that everyone else saw; better luck next time. We ... read more

Before making the ferry crossing to Zanzibar, we had one important bit of business to attend to. On the Friday morning we got up bright and early and made our way to the Canadian High Commission so that we could complete our passport saga by picking up our brand new 48-page passports! What a relief! Our first night in Zanzibar, we stayed in Stone Town and went for a tour of the city the next day including the usual spice tour. We then drove to the north end of the Island and spent the next 3 nights at Nungwi chilling on the beach. The fish was excellent, and the water was brilliant (except for the pesky sea lice that nibbled away at us while we swam). Overall, it was really relaxing - just what we needed! ... read more

On the way into Serengeti National Park, we had to drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the rim of the Crater that we would come back to in 2 days time. It was an interesting drive because the conservation area aims to achieve a balance between the local Masai people and the wild animals. It was so strange seeing a herd of sheep in the foreground and then giraffes feeding on the trees behind them. It poured rain the night before and the morning that we drove into the Serengeti, but by the afternoon things seemed to be clearing up. Or rather they were gearing up for another go that night. Lucky for us, our balloon safari was set to sail the next morning. Something that we'd booked 13 months ago and have been anticipating ... read more