The Most Luxurious Safari we ever took (Thank you Barbara)

There are times in our lives that happenstance - a question during dinner -

brought us a vacation we never had and may never have again. (Although Sandee does refer to it often when I start a new project)

We asked our friend Barbara during that now very memorable dinner what her dream vacation would be and she answered: a “luxurious” safari “first class” and organized by Erik, to which Erik replied: Barbara, you realize that that would cost us twice what you would pay. To which her answer was: And???

Well for you readers here follows, mostly in the form of pictures, the story of that safari in June on 2022.

As mentioned not much text and more nature and animal pictures with explanatory text.  Thus here follows the itinerary we had:

Flight from Amsterdam to Johannesburg. Limousine from Joburg Airport to our hotel in Pretoria (2night stay). Limo to Rovos Railwaystation in Pretoria.

4 Night train trip with excursions and Tuxedo dinners on board to Victoria Falls, a 1 night stay in hotel near the falls with guided tour of falls and an evening boat trip on the Zambezi River. Flight from Livingstone Zambia to Lusaka from where our private guide collected us and drove us to our first camp for a weeks stay. Then a privately chartered bush plane flying us to our 2nd camp and after a week there flying us back to Lusaka airport.  From there we flew to Johannesburg for a one night stay and a guided tour, before flying back to Amsterdam.

Well here are the pictures that go with the above itinerary:

(We had lunch at a golfcourse in Pretoria, with Ibis birds below)

(Next day to Rovos Station in Pretoria a private railroad owned by the Vos family)

(From here this company does tours throughout Africa)

(For breakfast and lunch no specific clothing requirements)

(Last railcar was an open “vista” car for more expansive views)

(As we rode northwards these were the views, cows or baobab trees below)

(Dusty villages that seemed empty)

(the evenings were a festive affair with open bar and dressed to the nines)

(The next morning we visited the Matobo Heritage site)

(There we visited the grave site of Cecil John Rhodes. I could have a whole historical episode about him)

(We had of course to make a pit stop to a market selling colorful items)

(Cecil was buried at his chosen spot high above the surrounding area he loved.

As always one of our tour had to climb even higher to survey the environment)

(His crypt is a simple one with him shown on each side)

(From my viewpoint, all I saw was rocks and bush all around us)

(I had the sneaky feeling they carted a lot of boulders up to spread out around Mr. Rhodes)

(the evening set in an eerie color on our way back to the train)

The next day after dinner and a restful night, we were transferred for a safari drive in South Africa’s Hwange National Park.

(6 people per safari vehicle we spent several hours seeing park residents)

(Drinking for long legged animals is a less than charming stance)

(Other animals should not enter beauty contests)

(But among themselves they seem to have less ugly to almost beautiful)

(These guys are hefty but with a certain charm)

(Now here is a beaut)

(and here a shy one- for those among you that ask: a kudu)

(Family on the move, with right of way)

(We ended the day with drinks in the wild near a watch tower in the park)

(final evening with celebratory dishes)

(we are nearing the Victoria Falls and hear the roar and see the misty spray)

(And there she is - do waterfalls have gender?)

(I need protection against the spray and maybe earplugs against “her” thunder)

(She drops 355ft/108m over a width of 5500ft/108m)

(It is difficult to imagine, that in the quiet winter low water time, swimmers are staring here over the ledge down)

(After settling into our hotel we had a cruise)

(With wonderful sunsets - Africa brings very colorful sunsets)

(Our hotel lobby is sometimes visited by elephants)

The next day we flew to our first camp, where we and Barbara each had our own villa on the premises of the Chinzombo Safari camp compound at the edge of the Zambezi River, across from the Valley of the Leopard National park.

(Bathroom)

(Bedroom)

(Veranda with pool)

(Seating area)

(Common Space for guests of the 6 chalets in the camp)

(Evening sets in as we drink our cocktails around the fire pit and enjoy our dinner as darkness comes)

(the melody of nightly noises is revealed in the morning as 

we stare at the Rhinos on the opposite river bank)

(The safari outings included picnics)

(The mighty River has calm flowing water in the dry season)

(A fisherman in a dugout canoe)

(hippos are everywhere)

(Parks have a roadsystem developed by the government to avoid 

unnecessary damage to the ecosystem, although guides often veer off )

(These birds can catch fish and hold them in their beaks before swallowing)

(These cannot. And that is most of my avian knowledge)

(These guys are all over the park and play seems to be their life style)

(Although the result of play brings motherhood)

(Julius our driver and guide during our stay would

 not rest till he found something to tell us about)

(Like this male warthog - a herbivore- living alone till mating time, unlike the sows who live in large groups)

 

(Pukus live in groups, their only way to survive predators, as they run for their

 lives sometimes seeing a friend fall prey)

(These guys are the lazy ones if they have a full tummy. 

And when not the females have to do most of the hunting)

(The real lord of the savannah is the roaming elefant)

(This park, The National Leopard Park has this area named after him or her)

(Kudus are larger antelopes primarily living in southern African woodlands)

(The Kigelia or Sausage tree grows a poisonous fruit sometimes 2 ft long and 15 lbs heavy, 

But monkeys, pigs, elephants, giraffes and hippos are known to eat them anyway)

(Leopards were easy to be found here in the park)

(Crocs were also abundant in the river and surrounding pools)

(It was baby time in the Park)

(And we were lucky to spot this African Fish Eagle)

(The white bird on the rhinos are oxpeckers, digging

 into hippo flesh for ticks, bugs or flies and

 they are warning their host in case of danger)

(Giraffes are almost never solitary)

(this leopard had a puku for dinner, 

his table is a tree so others can not easily join the meal)

(At the end of the week Barbara got herself a buddy for life)

(Just a nice group photo)

(The camp staff organized a local story telling performance by nearby villagers)

(An old bull elephant who had found

 a place to die in peace is being consumed by lions)

Buffalo is a common species in Southern Africa, always on the move for greener grass)

(It is baby time for buffalos too)

(Vervet monkeys grooming each other- above and below)

(I do not remember the name of this elegant bird)

(I thought this was the most beautiful Boabab Tree I would ever see, but no just keep on scrolling)

(Hyena waiting for scraps after the big boys are finished)

(Julius took is on walking safari’s, but always with a park ranger)

(Typical woodland scene)

(Loved these mama scènes)

(Antilopes have such beautiful horns)

(We visited an orphanage  

where Barbara forged a special connection

A story in itself)

(A kudu bull)

And then the week had flown by and we were to fly to our second camp

Chongwe Royal Suites

(Our sky trails plane and pilot ready to bring us to Royal Airstrip in the Lower Zambezi National Park)

(The mighty Zambezi River Delta)

(Above and below the Royal Airstrip in the National Park)

(Our first view of the new environment)

(Sandee and I took a canoe excursion and here was our first animal) 

(We were being paddled past hippos and elephants)

(Barbara declined as she feared hippo’s might attack)

(Elephants ignored us)

(Kudus warily eyed us)

(Hippos we “friendly” that afternoon)

(During that week we got visited by elephants roaming our camp)

(Above and below pictures taken from within our suite at 5 ft distance)

(Our suite wall taken from the outside)

( this is our private “lounging and dining area)

(Our en-suite bathroom)

(One of our two bedrooms each with the above en-suite bathroom)

(Sandee in our private lounge area)

(Our private guide Sam preparing a luncheon stop in the park)

(We often drove off-road looking for another animal)

(Encountering this guy enjoying a snack)

(meeting a rare male twin couple that hunts and mates females together)

 

(Elephants galore mostly led by matriarchs)

(Zebra’s and cape Buffalo’s stare at us: are we dangerous?)

(My knowledge of birds is nil but they are goodlooking)

(Lilac breasted Roller)

(Guinea Fowl roaming the tracks)

(This one to finds his food in clay ground)

(As does this Nile Monitor Lizard)

(Do not know name of this competitor, vying for the same food)

(The largest Boabab tree we ever saw, 

hundreds of years old.  All Boabab trees are hollow, 

therefore succulents and technically not trees)

(Crossing streams in the park, hoping not to get stuck)

(These females are beautiful to look at and from so close by)

(They absolutely ignore us)

(During the week we took another walking tour, meeting marching ants)

 

(Antelopes use a common spot for their “bathroom” in order to mark their herds area.)

(Sam showed us plants and nuts villagers use for medicinal treatment

The above thistle when pulverized and eaten causes an abortion)

(This hard core dropping contains the seed for new plants)

(He showed traps by spiders woven for prey to loose footing and slide in the hole)

(Termites build mounds the size of small houses, in which millions live till they move for new housing)

(Also fig-like berries from the “strangulation fig tree”

 that are enjoyed by baboons and elephants)

S

(Here was a fishing village, abandoned after the government

 relocated all the indigenous tribes to create the National park)

(Our personal chef created a brunch outing at the River bank)

(Of course, our butler Michael came along to serve)

(In the evening we cruised the Zambezi River during cocktail hour)

(Our guide Sam joined us with a soda - no drinking on the job!)

(At the end of a wonderful week a SkyTrails plane took us from Royal airstrip to Lusaka)

(Sam joined us to take a few weeks off to see his family)