Africa Journal

Off at 10:00 on an all day game drive with Ray as guide. It is Sigrid, myself, and a fellow named Herbert from Germany riding in a Toyota Landcruiser that could seat 10. Hwange is the crown jewel of the Zimbabwe wildlife park system. It borders on the Kalahari Desert and the dry dusty heat pulls the moisture out of you. The landcruiser is well stocked with refreshments, and Ray insures we are comfortable all day.

This was a great day of game viewing. We have many opportunities to get close up video and photos of zebra, antelope, elephant, giraffe and more. I believe we saw most of the animals listed in Andrea’s itinerary, plus some exotic birds, including an african eagle owl.

Larry, I mean Ray, serving lunch.

Ray served us lunch in a hide overlooking a waterhole. There were more than 50 elephants directly below us, drinking, taking mud baths, taking dust baths, stomping around, trumpeting, and looking us over while we were watching them. Sable, Ostrich, and baboons also visited. Ray chased a baboon out of another tourists car, who had left the door open while running into the loo.

We finish the day at a waterhole on the Chokamella propery watching the sun set behind a small herd of elephant. The elephants look like they are walking through fire and red smoke, as the dust they stir up is lit by the setting sun.

For best results, view while drinking a cold Zambezi beer