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Jim & Cynthia | profile | all galleries >> Letters from Africa - Travel Stories >> Chapter 5: Africa 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Chapter 5: Africa 2007

"Crying in the beloved country" or "3 weeks with one pair of pants"
Within 10 days of returning home from our trip to Africa last year, we were already planning this year's trip. We knew we wanted to go back to the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) to visit the owners of Chiawa, who have become good friends, and spend more time in their glorious safari camp . . . as well as volunteer at the conservation group, Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ). And of course if we were in the LZNP we simply HAD to go back to Chiawa's "bush camp" Old Mondoro".
So we already had the outline of a trip.
. . . . . . .

Please see Cynthia's book of travel essays that accompany these beautiful photographs:
http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Africa-Travel-Stories-Adventuresome/dp/0595531237/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233348001&sr=1-2
In front of our house: ready to go!
In front of our house: ready to go!		 Cindy and Patty visit to give a very sweet gift to Cynthia
Cindy and Patty visit to give a very sweet gift to Cynthia		 Heathrow: vodka, scrabble, and chocolate
Heathrow: vodka, scrabble, and chocolate		 Joberg airport enroute
Joberg airport enroute		 In line at Joberg
In line at Joberg
In line at Joberg
In line at Joberg		 Landed at Windhoek, Namibia
Landed at Windhoek, Namibia		 Very excited to be here!
Very excited to be here!		 Our smaller plane to the Namib desert
Our smaller plane to the Namib desert		 Jim, en route to Namib desert (not sick, yeah!)
Jim, en route to Namib desert (not sick, yeah!)
Cyn holding up the rear in the small plane
Cyn holding up the rear in the small plane		 Looking down at fairy circles, Namib desert
Looking down at fairy circles, Namib desert		 The plane on the runway at Wolwedans
The plane on the runway at Wolwedans		 And, a jeep was waiting to pick us up
And, a jeep was waiting to pick us up		 Our chalet at Wolwedans Lodge
Our chalet at Wolwedans Lodge
View out the front of the chalet (I cried, it was so beautiful!)
View out the front of the chalet (I cried, it was so beautiful!)		 Lounging chairs on our deck
Lounging chairs on our deck		 Elegant beds
Elegant beds		 Another view of our chalet
Another view of our chalet		 Breakfast at Wolwedans Lodge
Breakfast at Wolwedans Lodge
Romantic lunch on the deck of Wolwedans Lodge
Romantic lunch on the deck of Wolwedans Lodge		 Our next tent, at Wolwedans Dunes Camp
Our next tent, at Wolwedans Dunes Camp		 The tent is right ON the dunes!
The tent is right ON the dunes!		 Lounge chair on our deck
Lounge chair on our deck		 The loo at Wolwedans Dune Camp
The loo at Wolwedans Dune Camp
A loo with a view!
A loo with a view!		 Rocks on ledge (we had used to hold undergarments to dry)
Rocks on ledge (we had used to hold undergarments to dry)		 Breakfast in the main room at Dunes Camp
Breakfast in the main room at Dunes Camp		 View from our tent at Dunes Camp!
View from our tent at Dunes Camp!		 Dune that we climbed for sundowners
Dune that we climbed for sundowners
Cyn on top
Cyn on top		 Jim on top
Jim on top		 Sundown!!
Sundown!!		 Looking back at our chalet from nearby dune
Looking back at our chalet from nearby dune		 Cyn on top again
Cyn on top again
Jim enjoying the dune
Jim enjoying the dune		 Jim poses too (our tripod was in lost luggage)
Jim poses too (our tripod was in lost luggage)		 Posing for pretend couple photo
Posing for pretend couple photo		 Fire circle at Wolwedans Dune Camp
Fire circle at Wolwedans Dune Camp		 Enjoying the fire circle before dinner
Enjoying the fire circle before dinner
One of the amazing dishes for dinner
One of the amazing dishes for dinner		 Main course at Wolwedans Dune Camp
Main course at Wolwedans Dune Camp		 Off for a safari drive in the Namib desert
Off for a safari drive in the Namib desert		 Morning sunlight on the dunes
Morning sunlight on the dunes		 Bushman's grass on the dunes
Bushman's grass on the dunes
Colors are amazing
Colors are amazing		 The sun reaches higher as we drive
The sun reaches higher as we drive		 More dunes with sunlight
More dunes with sunlight		 Steenbok
Steenbok		 Gemsbok oryx
Gemsbok oryx
Dunes with mountains behind
Dunes with mountains behind		 Oryx prints on the sand
Oryx prints on the sand		 Oryx against the sand
Oryx against the sand		 Sand dunes with island hills in the Namib desert
Sand dunes with island hills in the Namib desert		 Our winding track through the grass and dunes
Our winding track through the grass and dunes
Springbok
Springbok		 Out into the bushman's grass
Out into the bushman's grass		 Bat eared foxes
Bat eared foxes		 Ostrich
Ostrich		 Pale chanting goshawk taking off
Pale chanting goshawk taking off
Ground squirrels
Ground squirrels		 Yellow mongoose
Yellow mongoose		 Gemsbok oryx group
Gemsbok oryx group		 Springbok group
Springbok group		 Picnic lunch on safari
Picnic lunch on safari
First time in Zimbabwe! (for only 30 minutes in transit)
First time in Zimbabwe! (for only 30 minutes in transit)		 Our next chalet, at Islands of Siankaba, Zambia
Our next chalet, at Islands of Siankaba, Zambia		 Trees with huge lianas surround the camp
Trees with huge lianas surround the camp		 Luxurious bed in our chalet
Luxurious bed in our chalet		 Our deck looks right out on the river
Our deck looks right out on the river
The loo is behind the bed and quite elegant
The loo is behind the bed and quite elegant		 We like the tub!
We like the tub!		 Various islands connected by rope bridges
Various islands connected by rope bridges		 Are we on Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland?!
Are we on Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland?!		 Fire circle in deck at main lodge
Fire circle in deck at main lodge
This is the life!
This is the life!		 School kids, Siankaba village
School kids, Siankaba village		 Typical Zambian home, Siankaba village
Typical Zambian home, Siankaba village		 Local eggs for sale
Local eggs for sale		 Young women in the village
Young women in the village
Cyn tries the local beer (eeuw)
Cyn tries the local beer (eeuw)		 7th grade curriculum
7th grade curriculum		 7th grade teacher with some school work
7th grade teacher with some school work		 One of the 7th graders
One of the 7th graders		 School kids in high jump competition
School kids in high jump competition
On board the mokorro, to get back to camp
On board the mokorro, to get back to camp		 View out the front
View out the front		 Picnic lunch out on the island
Picnic lunch out on the island		 Walking along the pathways at camp
Walking along the pathways at camp		 Sunset cruise for sundowners
Sunset cruise for sundowners
Cyn in microlight flight over Victoria Falls
Cyn in microlight flight over Victoria Falls		 Jim in microlight too
Jim in microlight too		 The happy couple at Victoria Falls
The happy couple at Victoria Falls		 Amazing mist!
Amazing mist!		 Cyn with rainbow
Cyn with rainbow
Jim with rainbow
Jim with rainbow		 The happy couple again (minus rain ponchos)
The happy couple again (minus rain ponchos)		 Royal Airstrip, Lower Zambezi National Park
Royal Airstrip, Lower Zambezi National Park		 Our chalet at Sausage Tree Camp
Our chalet at Sausage Tree Camp		 Our scrumptious bed at Sausage Tree
Our scrumptious bed at Sausage Tree
Lovely outdoor loo
Lovely outdoor loo		 Sundown on the deck
Sundown on the deck		 Lunch IN the river!
Lunch IN the river!		 On game drive, with Moses, our guide
On game drive, with Moses, our guide		 A favorite: baobab trees
A favorite: baobab trees
Another favorite special bird: forked tail drongo
Another favorite special bird: forked tail drongo		 Sacred ibis and great egret
Sacred ibis and great egret		 Brown-hooded kingfisher
Brown-hooded kingfisher		 Kaingo!! (leopard)
Kaingo!! (leopard)		 Our next chalet: at Old Mondoro Bush Camp
Our next chalet: at Old Mondoro Bush Camp
View from our room
View from our room		 Another comfy bed
Another comfy bed		 Cyn, recovering from dysentery
Cyn, recovering from dysentery		 Feeling good enough for an outdoor shower!
Feeling good enough for an outdoor shower!		 The main building at Old Mondoro
The main building at Old Mondoro
Snuggling with Scott Cumings (son of camp owners)
Snuggling with Scott Cumings (son of camp owners)		 Jim at the lunch table on the river
Jim at the lunch table on the river		 Sweet table settings
Sweet table settings		 Jim in front of the main building
Jim in front of the main building		 The staff prepared special rice for Cyn (to recover from being sick)
The staff prepared special rice for Cyn (to recover from being sick)
Outdoor loo alongside the river
Outdoor loo alongside the river		 Another beautiful sunset
Another beautiful sunset		 Wonderful dinner out under the stars
Wonderful dinner out under the stars		 Tea time during game drive
Tea time during game drive		 Jim enjoys his tea and the view
Jim enjoys his tea and the view
Lion tracks!
Lion tracks!		 The kudu that the lions killed
The kudu that the lions killed		 Hippo (hyacinth decorating back)
Hippo (hyacinth decorating back)		 Hippos retreat to the water
Hippos retreat to the water		 Nice elie
Nice elie
Bull elephant reaches high
Bull elephant reaches high		 Bull elephants eating acacia pods
Bull elephants eating acacia pods		 Elie scratches eye with trunk
Elie scratches eye with trunk		 Bull elie leans trunk on tusk
Bull elie leans trunk on tusk		 Elephant removing termite soil for eating
Elephant removing termite soil for eating
Reaching for the yummy foods
Reaching for the yummy foods		 Arrowmarked babbler
Arrowmarked babbler		 Impala
Impala		 Impala leaping HIGH
Impala leaping HIGH		 A breeding herd of elies
A breeding herd of elies
Baby elie!
Baby elie!		 Mother makes sure we stay back
Mother makes sure we stay back		 Mother gives a flare of ears as warning
Mother gives a flare of ears as warning		 Another baby elephant!!
Another baby elephant!!		 Mother and infant kudu
Mother and infant kudu
Emerald-spotted wood doves
Emerald-spotted wood doves		 Warthog
Warthog		 Zebra in tall grass on Jeki plain
Zebra in tall grass on Jeki plain		 Zebra prance across the grassland
Zebra prance across the grassland		 Hippos eyeing us
Hippos eyeing us
Hippo getting nervous ...
Hippo getting nervous ...		 ... and diving into the river!
... and diving into the river!		 Cyn with her trusted binoculars
Cyn with her trusted binoculars		 A beautiful dambo of water hyacinth
A beautiful dambo of water hyacinth		 Viewing elephants arriving
Viewing elephants arriving
Elephants drinking from the dambo at sunset
Elephants drinking from the dambo at sunset		 Jim enjoying the spectacle
Jim enjoying the spectacle		 Elephant with egrets
Elephant with egrets		 Baboons rogering
Baboons "rogering"		 Male and female bateleur eagle locked together
Male and female bateleur eagle locked together
Buffalos with egrets
Buffalos with egrets		 Hadeda ibis in flight
Hadeda ibis in flight		 Sacred ibis
Sacred ibis		 Jim recording our trip
Jim recording our trip		 Hippos in the Zambezi
Hippos in the Zambezi
Open-billed storks take off
Open-billed storks take off		 White-crowned lapwing
White-crowned lapwing		 Impala herd
Impala herd		 Waterbuck in a dambo
Waterbuck in a dambo		 Lilac-breasted roller
Lilac-breasted roller
Black egret ... umbrella fishing!!
Black egret ... umbrella fishing!!		 We loved watching him
We loved watching him		 Flitting from spot to spot, and spreading his wings
Flitting from spot to spot, and spreading his wings		 Elephant says goodbye, crosses the Zambezi full of hippos
Elephant says goodbye, crosses the Zambezi full of hippos		 Boat ride up the Zambezi
Boat ride up the Zambezi
To Conservation Lower Zambezi
To "Conservation Lower Zambezi"		 Main building of the conservation group
Main building of the conservation group		 Our guest tent
Our guest tent		 Helping prepare food for orphan elephant
Helping prepare food for orphan elephant		 Sprucing up the classroom for the Environmental Education Centre
Sprucing up the classroom for the "Environmental Education Centre"
Re-painting the walls
Re-painting the walls		 Jim paints too
Jim paints too		 And paints even more
And paints even more		 Jim's tatoo fits right in
Jim's tatoo fits right in		 The finished room looks great
The finished room looks great
The CLZ truck (we contributed funds to repair)
The CLZ truck (we contributed funds to repair)		 Lunch with the safari guides in training
Lunch with the safari guides in training		 Trainee safari guides watching Planet Earth series!
Trainee safari guides watching "Planet Earth" series!		 Orphaned elephant, Zamma, with his keeper
Orphaned elephant, Zamma, with his keeper		 Cyn falls in love!
Cyn falls in love!
He's just 4 months old ... very cute
He's just 4 months old ... very cute		 And quite rambunctious!
And quite rambunctious!		 Enjoying the Chongwe River Falls
Enjoying the Chongwe River Falls		 Our next chalet, at Chiawa Camp
Our next chalet, at Chiawa Camp		 Fantastic bed
Fantastic bed
View out the chalet
View out the chalet		 Honeymoon tent includes an outdoor bathtub!
Honeymoon tent includes an outdoor bathtub!		 Elegant loo
Elegant loo		 Safari guides (Laura, Lynsey, and Grant Cumings) enjoy Jim's iPhone!
Safari guides (Laura, Lynsey, and Grant Cumings) enjoy Jim's iPhone!		 Cyn with vervet monkeys
Cyn with vervet monkeys
Cyn is clearly allergic to tsetse bites
Cyn is clearly allergic to tsetse bites		 Another glorious day
Another glorious day		 Chatting with Dispencer at breakfast
Chatting with Dispencer at breakfast		 Baobabs are big!
Baobabs are big!		 Wonderful baobab trunk
Wonderful baobab trunk
A typical safari jeep
A typical safari jeep		 Jim with baobab
Jim with baobab		 More beloved elephants
More beloved elephants		 Not certain he likes our being there
Not certain he likes our being there		 Elephants along the Zambezi River
Elephants along the Zambezi River
Kudu in Grand Canyon of the Zambezi
Kudu in "Grand Canyon of the Zambezi"		 Hippos on shore
Hippos on shore		 Jim in the canoe
Jim in the canoe		 Evil croc
Evil croc		 Cyn's photo of egrets
Cyn's photo of egrets
Sundowners at Chiawa
Sundowners at Chiawa		 Douglas! The local reigning male lion
Douglas! The local reigning male lion		 Sunrise at Chiawa
Sunrise at Chiawa		 Jim enjoys sunrise at Chiawa
Jim enjoys sunrise at Chiawa		 Cyn loves game drives!
Cyn loves game drives!
Saddlebilled storks
Saddlebilled storks		 Crowned lapwing
Crowned lapwing		 G. W. Baboon
G. W. Baboon		 Warthog
Warthog		 Elephant saying go away!
Elephant saying "go away!"
The lionesses and cubs
The lionesses and cubs		 Young male subadult lion
Young male subadult lion		 Douglas by day
Douglas by day		 Champagne lunch on the river
Champagne lunch on the river		 A goodbye from the elephants
A "goodbye" from the elephants
A large group of several families
A large group of several families		 Enjoying the Zambezi
Enjoying the Zambezi		 So many babies!
So many babies!		 Running when trumpets are heard in the forest
Running when trumpets are heard in the forest		 Flying home
Flying home
Visit with our lovely hostess Jenny Cumings in Lusaka
Visit with our lovely hostess Jenny Cumings in Lusaka		 Heathrow again with vodka, scrabble, and chocolate
Heathrow again with vodka, scrabble, and chocolate		 Home!
Home!

comment | share
Gary Hall29-Sep-2012 16:27
I really enjoyed the trip. Loved the 'extra' photos of the simple and personal things that people never include. Composition and story telling excellent.
Gary Hall29-Sep-2012 16:22
I really enjoyed the trip. Loved the 'extra' photos of the simple and personal things that people never include. Composition and story telling excellent.
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