african adventures

so i embarked on my three week adventure to southern africa not knowing what to expect. all that i knew was that it would be hot, according to my friend jason, africa hot.

and it was, although the trip was kicked off with more cool weather and rain. little did i know that the weather that awaited us was a blessing for the three day safari drive experience.

here is the trip in a nutshell:
>sabi sans, south africa (djuma bush lodge) 4 days of incredible viewing of the big five (leopard, elephant, lion, buffalo, and rhino)
>bazaruto island, mozambique (bazaruto lodge) 3 days of nothing but laying around and about on untouched white sand beaches wrapped in green and blue waters. did i mention africa hot? let's just say it was not safe for the body and mind to be in the sun for too long. i am still peeling here!
>victoria falls, zimbabwe (victoria falls hotel) i think we had 3 days here...anyway, can i start by saying i felt out of place here? i had not a single thread of propriety or formal dress that this establishment exuded. i learned to just be me and not let the propriety of the brits put me in a stitch. but it was in this beautiful surrounding that i test myself. i went white water rafting down the zambezi river - the 4th longest river in africa. this river meets with the phenomenally impressive victoria falls. here my group and i embarked on a class 5+ rafting experience.
wow
>chobe national park, bottswana (name of hotel is forgettable) we SO missed the private game reserve experience here. let's just say we came to see, hear and smell more dushbags human variety more than the local animals.
>cape town, south africa (de waterkant house) here now until another couple days. this is the longest leg of the trip as well as the end of the road. this is where we celebrated the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008 with a four course FOUR hour meal. it was tremendous. it was more than satisfying. more than anything it felt very adult. i am not sure how i feel about that. and yes, i am 30. sometimes it just doesn't feel that way. on january 2nd i tested myself yet again. i thought why not...shark diving could be interesting. so i did it. no fear (yes, i was in a cage with 5 others gasping and choking on gross stinky salty fish bait water. let's just say when in rome...

the adventures and stories continue. some with more vivid details. but more than anything the pictures will tell more.