Lilian
and Jim's
Africa Tour
Note to Mike and Sigrid:
We finally are back to reality! We had a terrific Botswana a La Hemingway trip. We returned on June 30. It was very cold during the night and early mornings. They had nightly hot water bottles for us.
We asked about your guide (Edward). He was promoted to camp manager. They radioed him and told him you had documented the trip on the Internet and his picture and story was published for all to see. Our bartender was Paul, he is a very bright young guy.
We were able to see all the animals you mentioned
except the wild
dogs.
We saw two Cheetahs from the distance, but we saw two leopards very close.
I took 39 rolls of pictures (36 frames each). Our camera has a long range
lens and some of the pictures are great.
The Savuti camp has been remodeled. They now have
a camp with the bathrooms inside the tent! It is unreal. The bathroom is
divided in three independent sections, shower, dressing and toilet. I will
send you pictures you will not believe. They are unbelievable for a home
and for a tent they are out of comprehension!
It is all teak. We did not care for that area that much - it was not real
Africa. Additionally it was the dry season and we could see the elephants
suffering for water while we were taking luxury showers. We only spent
two nights, it was very different. The Savuti camp managers are very nice.
They are concerned that Orient Express wants to build a swimming pool in
the resort while the animals outside are without water. It is a very ignorant
decision and they are fighting it.
I also sent you a picture of us with our AfroVenture guide (ET is his name). We enlarged the pictures of the lions and the elephants and they look terrific. Our favorite area was the Kalahari, it is so secluded and wild. Second was the Chobe. We saw four lions, very close drinking water while we took the boat trip.
The Falls are beautiful, but we missed the animals.
The
trip was a dream. I cried when we left Botswana.
I did not want to leave and would like to return in about 5 years. We are
now planning a trip to Alaska, but I am having a hard time. Every time
I try to do research on it I end up looking at trips to Africa....
Everytime someone asks about our trip I refer them to your site. It is the best way to describe it. I love the additions you made to it in the past few months and the new pictures from Sigrid.
Keep in touch,
