Southern Africa Top 10
Here are 10 highlights from a 3-week excursion through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, the Kalahari Desert and Victoria Falls, Zambia, with Great Adventure People (225 Franklin St., 26th Fl., Boston, MA 02110; 800/676-4941, www.gapadventures.com). The land price for our Jan. 30-Feb. 19, 2007, tour was $1,695 plus $400 local payment.
1. South Africa’s fascinating Cederberg Mountains, near the Namibian border, with their unique sandstone formations.
2. The Namib Desert of Namibia, arguably the oldest desert on Earth. The spectacular, apricot-colored Sossusvlei sand dunes, which dazzle both the eye and the mind, are over 1,000 feet high.
3. The Fish River Canyon of Namibia, second only to the Grand Canyon in size and scope.
4. Swakopmund, Namibia, which gives you a sense that you’ve taken a wrong turn and ended up in Deutschland.
5. The Cape Cross seal colony, farther up Namibia’s Atlantic coast — quite a change from the desert environment.
6. The rock sketches of Bushmen at Twyfelfontein, Namibia, which depict early tribal history.
7. Etosha National Park near Namibia’s border with Angola, where we saw three of the “big five”: lion, elephant and Cape buffalo.
8. As we prepared to enter Botswana, we visited with families of Bushmen. They entertained us with music, dancing and other activities — a wonderful experience.
9. Flying into the Okavango Delta in a 4-passenger airplane, then experiencing the sights and sounds of Botswana’s pristine wilderness. It must be seen to be appreciated.
10. Chobe National Park in Botswana, with its thousands of elephants along with its many hippos, Cape buffalo, lions and other animals and birds. We were able to view the park by boat, and that presented us with a wildlife-viewing experience from an entirely different perspective.
This all set the stage for our final adventure: Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia. We viewed the phenomenal falls from the Zimbabwe side, also.
My hat is off to G.A.P. for providing such an unforgettable experience for my wife, Judy, and me, my brother-in-law, David, and the others in the group of 17. Ages ranged from late 20s to upper 60s, with no affiliation except a love of adventure.
What made this trip all the more amazing is that G.A.P. was able to give us a wonderful and true Africa adventure — with clean, comfortable lodging and good, tasty food — at a price below the prices of their competitors. I was left completely satisfied.
Our guide was Gerhard Swanepoel from Pretoria, South Africa — a priceless gem of a person. He showed us what it takes to be a great adventure-tour leader: knowledge, compassion, understanding, efficiency and a fine sense of humor. Well organized and with energy to spare, Gerhard made sure no one was neglected and everyone enjoyed themselves.
We, as a group, came away with a greater understanding and appreciation of Southern Africa and its magnificent and ever-changing scenery, wildlife and cultures.
If you are looking for a truly real and unforgettable experience and adventure in relative comfort, this is definitely it!
RON STRAMPE
Muskego, WI