Africa

by Marian Myers of WIlderness Safaris

Botswana has a well-deserved reputation as one of Africa’s best wildlife countries. The jewel that is the Okavango Delta offsets the unique dry central region of the Kalahari and the Makgadikgadi pans.  Its clear blue waters sparkle in the light of the warm African sun, its main watercourses and rivulets trickle and flow and spread out in the shape of a hand resting in the northern-most part of the country.  There is nothing quite like it in the rest of the world.  It is home to some of Africa’s best wildlife, birds, fish and flora too.

Austin-Lehman Adventures has teamed up with Wilderness Safaris, who has some of the most spectacular, wild and remote areas that the Okavango Delta has to offer which means guests have a diverse choice when compiling their safari itinerary.  Typically, one should mix up the areas by complementing a water experience with a land experience.  There are also various levels of comfort and adventure that can be considered.  The premier camps offer more in terms of luxury; whereas the classic camps offer a comfortable well-designed home-from-home atmosphere, the Explorations bring you closer to the wild with “comfortable camping”. 

The combination to look for when planning a safari, therefore, is: the area first, the level of comfort second and the time of the year third. July-October is southern Africa’s winter, which is dry, and game viewing is excellent.  The months on either side of winter are also very productive though and not as cold.  To witness the season of birth and renewal, December through March is the best time to travel – everything is green, spectacular and babies are being born.  

Botswana has so much to offer.  Let ALA and Wilderness Safaris help you build a safari that will be a life-changing journey.

A day in the life … well let me see.  Let’s start with a bit of history of who I am.  I am a Bison but a lot of people think of me as a Buffalo.  True buffaloes are my relatives but they live in Africa and Asia, the cape buffalo and water buffalo.  Only North American buffaloes are bison and two of the largest herds of bison live in Yellowstone National Park and in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park.  Below is a photo of me with my Mom when I was first born in Yellowstone National Park a few years back.  Am I not adorable!!

Figure 1:  Photo courtesy of Peak Photography of Montana

Anyway, back to my day.  We are a social bunch so you will typically find us in herds or groups and spend most of our day grazing.  We are the largest land animal in North America and therefore need a lot of food for energy.  We love to graze on grasses, herbs, shrubs and twigs for an hour or two and then we rest and "chew our cud" which is basically regurgitating what I have already eaten once.  I have 4 stomachs so I make sure that I get every nutrient that I can from my food before it moves along.  We are constantly eating and throughout the day can move 10 – 15 miles depending on how good the grazing area is.  If we are lucky we find a great spot and stay for a few days.

A couple of times a day I visit the local stream or pond for a drink of water, run and play with my friends, take several rests and occasionally take a dust bath which is my natural insect repellant! 

Since I live in Yellowstone National Park, I have a lot of visitors that want to view me and take my photo. I love to pose for photos but always remember that I like my space and to stay at least 25 yards away or more.  I may be big but I am agile and can run more than 30 miles per hour and pivot quickly!!  So please take photos but give me my space and stay a safe distance away.

A lot of people are curious about how our species survive what can sometimes be a brutal winter.  Well our thick, shaggy coat is so well insulated and we can have up to 2 inches of fat that snow can settle on our back without melting!  It can also help to keep us warm similar to how a blanket would.  We use our strong head and hooves in the winter to move the snow off of the vegetation below to eat. Did you know you can tell where we have been by our distinct hoof prints which look like 2 fat banana's facing each other!

Well there Old Faithful blows so better go!  If you would like to see a bison like me in our natural habitat, your best chance would be to visit Yellowstone National Park or Custer State Park in South Dakota!! 

Yellowstone National Park, our first National Park, is the only place in the continental U.S. where visitors can still see substantial herds of large mammals and the predators that hunt them. If you choose to visit the greater Yellowstone area this summer, you will likely see bison, elk, moose, deer, and big horn sheep. More rare, yet argueably more exciting are sightings of Grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes and the controversial Grey Wolf. Yellowstone has been called North America's Serengeti and although we cannot compete with the millions of migratory animals of South Africa, YNP is much closer to home.

With the reintroduction of the wolf into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, all of the large carnivores native to the region at the end of the last ice age, again roamed the forests and plains of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The decision to reintroduce the wolves has been surrounded by controversy. I have no desire to delve into the politics surrounding the decision to bring the much feared and equally revered wolf back into the Yellowstone ecosystem, but from a purely selfish perspective I'm hoping for a glimpse of a Yellowstone wolf this summer.

I've seen wild wolves many times, but for some reason its never enough. When I was a young girl, I lived in a small town outside of Anchorage, AK. My house sat on the edge of a large forest, a cold, clear stream ran through my back yard. I spent many hours during the long Alaskan summer days roaming through the woods with my friends. One late afternoon as we walked along a narrow animal trail on a bluff above the stream we noticed a family of wolves had come down to the stream several yards in front of and below us. The parents were bright silver with haunting yellow eyes. I remember thinking they were keenly aware of their surroundings, constantly sniffing the air and looking around for danger. Instinctually, we all ducked down behind some low shrubs growing along the trail and watched in wide-eyed silence through the branches as the parents led their litter of young pups to the bank of the stream to drink. They didn't drink for long before they disappeared into the forest again, but I was mystified, enraptured and intrigued. My mother didn't believe my story until the adult wolves showed up in our back yard a few days later trying to find an easy meal from the trash cans behind our house. Those two sightings left me forever changed.

If you've been considering a trip to the Tetons or Yellowstone Park this summer, we'd love to have you join us where the wild things still live. There are several packs of wolves now residing within the borders of Yellowstone Park, with many of the wolf sightings concentrated in the Lamar Valley. Catching a glimpse of these elusive predators is an encounter you will not quickly forget.
 

Have you ever had an experience where you knew, at a cellular level, that its very essence would impact you and stay with you for the rest of your life?  My recent experience guiding 14 dignitaries from Namibia, Africa through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park is one of those special moments that I will carry with me forever.  The name of our adventure was called "No Borders" and the foundation for the visit was to share ideas, through group discussion about sustainable tourism with representatives from our beautiful national parks and the concessions within them.

What is Sustainable Tourism? I learned this week that sustainable tourism is like a three-legged stool; the legs being economics, environmental and cultural preservation. It's the understanding of, and commitment to, the enduring value of conserving wildlife and wild places for the sake of human-wildlife coexistence.  Namibia has dedicated nearly half of its landmass to National Parks, Conservancies and private protected land. Conservation of land is even written into their constitution. So make no mistake about it, Namibians understand and are committed to sustainable tourism. And, they do it well. The "No Borders" adventure covered almost 700 miles in ten days and I had the privilege of spending all those miles hearing and joining in on discussions of Sustainable Tourism and how their model has manifested over the years.  I discovered that our Namibian friends are people of action; they move forward and get things done because they truly care. It is their way of being in the world, I believe, that brings this model to life. They truly care!

Dan Austin said, "They came as friends and left as family". That statement sums it up best. Their warm, caring ways are authentic and infectious, which creates a space of openness and flexibility and we bonded immediately. A special moment that will always be with me is when we all witnessed the Crow Indians perform traditional tribal dances. We all were drawn in by its ancient sound transporting us back to a time when there were "No Borders;" leaving us all a feeling that the tribal dance was coming from a long line of proud ancestors. It was especially inspiring when members of our Namibian family were motivated by The Crow and responded with their own ancient traditional dance.  This was spontaneous and genuine. Little did I know, the entire ten-day adventure would go this was; spontaneous, genuine and inspirational.  You see, at our core, humans have "No Borders," we just need to communicate and be vulnerable enough to share. To me, this tour was a perfect storm of genuine humanity.

By the second day, I was adopted by Hilda ( the manager of Sheya shu Shona Conservancy) and called her mom for the rest of the adventure. Gustaph ( chairman of Omatendeka Conservancy) was referred to as "Pastor" as he blessed all of our meals. As I recall all of our Namibian family members, I realize I have a unique bond with each and every one of them. Trust me, I will never forget them and hope to one day share more special moments with them.

As important as it is for the details of Sustainable Tourism to be discussed amongst all involved , I believe it is equally important to point out that deeply caring  about each other and the willingness to compromise is the platform  that our three-legged model of sustainable tourism truly rests upon. 

I wish my new family well and was honored to be a part of something bigger than any individual;  helping to create a part of the world that knows " No Borders."

With all of the great Adventures that we offer, and the cool places we get to see, sometimes the host city (the city you fly into or out of) can get overlooked!  These cities are often great destination, and when you are looking into Alberta adventure travel, Calgary is no different!

As for what to do, the possibilities are endless!  First, there is the Heritage Park, which is a living historic site/amusement park! It gives visitors an interactive look into the past, and how the "west was once!"  It is great for all ages.  There is also The Calgary Zoo, which boasts more than 1,000 animals, including Kamala, the famous painting elephant.  The Zoo also has Botanical Gardens and a Prehistoric Park.  I love Zoo's so I always like to see if there is one at my destination!

The Calgary Tower held the ongoing flames of the 1988 Olympics, and since then has become a wonderful tourist attraction.  And don’t forget about Canada's Olympic Park!  There is also a great Aero- Space Museum.  Glenbow Museum, the largest museum in Western Canada, exhibits everything from the traditions of tattooing to life in different tribes in Western Africa. 

If you are looking into hikes, you should check out Edworthy Park and Douglas Fir Trail!  The views from the top of the hill are breathtaking!   And it might be good practice before your guides pick you up for your adventure vacation packages in the Canadian Rockies!

You Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy Teini

One of the great things about traveling to a new place is getting to try the local cuisine.  When visiting someplace new, one of the most memorable experiences you can have is to try out the local delicacies.  Combining new tastes with travel can be a great way to vividly remember your trip.  Here at the ALA office, we have sampled some pretty crazy dishes that many people would never even think of eating!

1. Smiley- One of the strangest food experiences that Dan had while visiting South Africa was trying a smiley. A smiley is a sheep’s head that is charred on a braai or grill.  The head is grilled until its lips are burned off which leaves the sheep’s head with a big smile!
2. Plátanos Maduros- While Christy was enjoying Costa Rica she also decided to try out this savory local dish also known as Costa Rican fried bananas.
3. Rocky Mountain Oysters- Melissa did not have to venture far from home to find a memorable meal.  Rocky Mountain Oysters are a Montana delicacy.  While eating cow testicles may sound crazy to you, many people in the area go crazy for them!  There are even festivals dedicated to this wild local favorite.
4. Tripe- While in Peru, Mindy decided she would enhance her experience in the country by trying one of the local dishes: Tripe.  For those of you who have not had the opportunity to sample tripe and may be wondering constitutes the meal, Tripe is animal intestines.
5. Horse Meat- In the U.S. horse is somewhat of a taboo food because of the role that they play as pets, but in many countries, this same taboo does not exist.  While visiting Holland, Jon discovered that horsemeat is a tasty, slightly sweet meat that is enjoyed by millions in Europe.
6. Pâté de Foie Gras- This delicacy enjoyed by Carol is a well-known and popular dish in France.  Foie Gras is specially fattened goose or duck liver made into a Pâté. (a spreadable paste) 
7. Alpaca Meat- Enjoyed by both the ancient Incans and Kasey, this dish is not one you can find just anywhere.  To sample this unusual meat Kasey traveled to Ecuador, one of the countries that Alpacas call home.  Alpaca meat is lean and high in protein.

As you can see, the Austin-Lehman office staff likes to indulge in the local cuisine wherever they are traveling. 

Would you ever try any of these unusual meals?  What’s the most unusual dish that you’ve been brave enough to try? Leave a comment and tell us!

Your friendly travel experts,

Austin-Lehman Adventures

No, not like Monopoly or Chess, people come to Africa to see the Animals, and I am no exception! 

My grandmother, who we call Frorie, loves giraffes.  Like most grandmothers who love a specific animal she has received giraffes as gifts for, I am guessing, the better part of her life and now has a room dedicated to them.  As you can imagine, as I was planning my trip to Botswana I was overly excited about seeing a giraffe in the wild, and getting a photo to add to Frorie’s room.   I was not disappointed!! African safaris are the place to see wildlife, the first animal I saw when my small plane landed on the sandy airstrip was a very tall giraffe, just walking around like he owned the place! 

That experience was followed up quickly by seeing a huge bull elephant (my first of many), a herd of zebras, and random impala everywhere! Over the course of my African safari we were very lucky with game viewing.  From the air we spotted animals of all kinds drinking and lounging by watering holes. We also spotted a pride of lions walking around, 4 females in front, followed by a very majestic male.  We stumbled on kudu, Eland, Sable Antelope, Oryx, and water buffalo from our 4x4 Jeep. There was also the hyena’s we saw as we landed in a small jumper plane.  The best was when we couldn’t get to our rooms one night because a huge hippo was ambling about (we eventually got in, but he barked outside my tent all night).  The birding was amazing, but that is another story!

The most impressive of my game viewing came on my last two days.  We arrived in the Linyanti (in northern Botswana) and decided to do some game driving before making our way to Kings Pool Camp.  We were lucky, very lucky.  Our guides drove us up to where two other 4x4’s were watching a leopard resting under a bush after a feed.  She had taken down an impala the night before and was laying only feet away from the dead carcass. We were about 20 feet from her, just taking it in.  She stretched and went back for more.  We watched, silent; only snapping cameras could be heard for a while before moving on to see what else we could find.

It didn’t take long for us to strike gold for a second time.  About 300 meters away from our leopard we found a pride of lions that had recently killed a zebra.  Two lionesses were feasting on the hind quarters while another was napping under a nearby tree.  As our guide moved the jeep into a better position we ran straight into the male called Romeo (they could identify him by his broke right front tooth) and we watched him for quite a while too!

All a twitter from our sightings we headed into camp.  We enjoyed a wonderful meal and great conversation before turning in.  First thing the next morning we went back out to check on our cats.   The leopard had gone, but oddly the carcass was still there; she hadn’t moved it to a tree and no other animals had scavenged the body.  We moved on to the lions.  One of the lionesses was in pretty bad shape.  She was lying in a small opening, but it looked like she has an infection in her eye and she was very skinny.  The guide confirmed our suspicions that she was in fact in pretty rough shape.  We left her in peace and when we had come back to our tire tracks in the sand the guide noticed that there were lion prints on top of our tire tracks.  We tracked her. After a short time we saw her coming out of the bush, and to our surprise she was followed closely by two small cubs. 

The cubs looked to be about 2 months old, and were pretty much the cutest thing I have ever seen!  They had little round bellies, and short little legs.  To be honest, I really wanted to pick one up and cuddle it, but this is the wild, you have to keep your distance.  We took it all in for the better part of the morning, and then, sadly, it was off to the airport to start my 30+ hour journey back to the states!

To see more game photos from Botswana, check out my Flickr set: Mindy's Botswana Photos

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy (Vanderhoof) Teini

You know that spring is in the air when you smell the lilac bushes in bloom and see the first robin arrive.  You know that the adventures for the season are about to begin when the guides start arriving in Billings for training around the first week in June!  Let the fun begin. 

This year we are so lucky to have such a gifted and fun group of guides.  For those of you traveling on our Yellowstone vacation you will get to know and love Lauren!

This is Lauren’s first year at ALA, but she is no stranger to the outdoors, nature and adventure.  At a young age Lauren headed to England, South Africa, various parts of the United States and later to Costa Rica where she could be found exploring the rain forests and perfecting her Eco Tourism skills.  She majored in Hospitality Management, Travel and Adventure, Sport and Nature based Tourism. 

Oh and did I mention that both of our favorite places to visit is Tortuguero, Costa Rica?  Tortuguero can be translated to “Land of Turtles”.  Its beaches are a key nesting sites for four species of sea turtles.    So if you have an interest in wildlife, Lauren can talk with you about everything from turtles in Costa Rica to the bison and wolves of Yellowstone!

You will find that Lauren is fun loving, compassionate and is so very excited to show everyone up close the natural wonders of Yellowstone Park!

To learn more about Lauren, check out her guide profile!

Your friend in adventure,

Christy

A question on everybody's mind when traveling to Africa is, "is it safe?". And I could tell you from personal experience that I feel safer in Namibia than I do in a lot of the United States. A recent experience only strengthened my view of the good natured Namibian people. On my recent trip to Namibia I lost my wallet while out in the bush. I thought the wallet was long gone after numerous hotels searched for me and nothing turned up. But upon my return the United States I got an email that my wallet was found and they were determined to get it back to me. At that point the wallet had already changed hands countless times as it was found by a cleaning crew and handed off time and time again to try and find the rightful owner. 

I sit here now, wallet in hand. And not a dime of the $200 is missing, nor the small handful of credit and debit cards. I have a hard time believing that such lengths would be gone to people elsewhere in the world. My hat's off to the people of Namibia and them proving time and time again how good hearted and kind these people are. It's something you must experience to understand, so head out to Namibia and see for yourself!

Andy Austin

Hi all,

I just wanted to send a quick message about my last few days at Abu Camp!  We got to ride the elephants (I was on Cathy), walk with the elephants, which is truly a special experience, feed them, watch them take mud and dust baths, and basically learn all about their life in Botswana. 

Our first night in camp I ended up sleeping in the star bed.  It is basically a lofted deck right outside where the elephants sleep with a bed covered in mosquito netting so you can watch the stars all night!  It was the best sleep I have had since I have been in Africa!   The starts are amazing.  There are no city lights to impede on their beauty!

The food has been over the top as well!  Our chef Star has created meal after meal of impressive dishes ranging from lamb, to fish, to the best roasted veggies I think I have ever had, to decadent desserts I didn’t have room for, but ate anyway!  Everyone jokes that you don’t come on African safaris to loose weight!

More to Come!

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy Vanderhoof

Today is rainy.  Cold and wet!  I have to say though; I always think that inclement weather is appropriate for destinations like this.  Today I ventured over to Robben Island, an Ex-Political Prison used to house the likes of Nelson Mandela, Kgamena Motlanthe, and Jacob Zuma (South Africa’s Current President).  It took only about 25 minutes on the ferry, but I think I felt every wave as we went.  I am not good on boats.

Whenever I visit a place like this I try to really focus on what happened there.  It is not enough to see it, I believe you should internalize the situations that unfolded and have compassion for the people who actually had to endure, in this case imprisonment, so for me, the rain seemed okay.  I am sure the prisoners had worse days, and they certainly didn’t have the luxury of knowing they would be inside where it was warm, dry and comfortable in a matter of hours.

The Island is set up to host tours led by previous prisoners.  Experiencing this place through the eyes of someone who actually stayed there was incredible.  It is obviously not a joyous day; you listen to stories depicting hardships, years of wanting, forced labor, and the squashing of opinions and communication. 

I was shocked at the behavior of some of my co-tourists.  People were complaining about the weather, about our guide’s accent, about the rain… One gentleman even got up and left part way through one of the presentations.  This is a gentle reminder that you do not visit a prison for entertainment; this is a place you come to learn, have moments of self-reflection, and grow, so that history doesn’t repeat itself.  Respect the people who lived through it, take something away from it, and share your experiences.

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy Vanderhoof

When someone mentions Africa often the first thing brought to mind is the vast amount of wildlife. And don't get me wrong, the wildlife is incredible. But it's often the people that leave the greatest impression after returning to Africa. The people of Namibia are the friendliest I've met in all of my travels, always with a smile and wave to complete strangers. They always welcome travelers with open arms (and usually a cold beverage). On my recent journey I met people that have changed the way I look at life and I will never forget them. The constant success stories of how tourism has positively benefitted the people really opened my eyes to the impact tourism has on the local villages.

This post is the first in a short series highlighting my favorite pictures from my recent trip to Namibia. This particular one is devoted to the smiling faces of the Namibia people as well as our interactions with the locals.

The full gallery with all 137 pictures can be viewed here: ALA Flickr- People of Namibia. 

Andy Austin

Photographer

Peakphotography.org

The bustling metropolis of South Africa's southern cape seems alive with activity as I wonder the waterfront.  This city has it all, history, culture, art, entertainment, and views that simply can't be beat!  To one side towers Table Mountain, Cape Town's prominent flat topped mountain, although for me it is shrouded in Clouds (I have been assured several times it IS there)  On the other, The Cape of Good Hope jutting out into the expanse of royal blue waters.

I am surprised by how much of the Dutch influence can still be detected, even some 200 years later!  The city feels safe to me; I have no trouble walking the streets as a single female traveler.  There are all kinds of activities happening around the waterfront: shoppers packing their bags from store to store, travelers returning from the last tour of Robben Island, the political prison where Nelson Mandela was held, and the buskers performing their acts for the tourist all along the way.

My hotel is the epitome of luxury, located on a working pier right off the waterfront’s main walkway.  There is a beautiful mix of hand painted fabrics, skillfully crafter metal works, and antique items telling the story of the Cape through the ages.  The history and culture of this place is the draw, and I can’t wait to explore every corner and see what I find!

Stay Tuned for more from my Southern Africa Journey!

Your Friendly Travel Expert,

Mindy Vanderhoof

Just thought this was a “cool share”…

We tracked this endangered Black Rhino with a team from the World Wildlife Foundation and the Save the Rhino Trust…. A great way to get your heart going at sunrise…..  this is a free range Black Rhino,  once we found him (from a distance) we worked with the Save the Rhino folks to document his size and details. They record and track hundreds of Rhinos,  Namibia is the only place on the planet where this beast is thriving. They don’t release numbers (fear of poaching) but they hope to be in the 2000 range by 2030.  The horns can be worth over 100,000 US….   They (Namibia) are actually exporting Rhinos back onto public land, it is estimated that upwards of 2 Black Rhino are killed a day in South Africa (numbers are slowing due to scarcity of the animal).. its been two years since one has been killed in Namibia.  This is a direct benefit of the good work the Conservancies are doing, empowering the locals to protect wildlife to enhance tourism.

Just think this is pretty dang cool….  And in case you are wondering, yes the rumors are true and Black (compared to white) Rhinos are deadly and very aggressive… 

Dan Austin

Located in the Northeast part of South Africa, Kruger National Park prides itself on being one of the largest game reserves in all of Africa.  It covers just over 7,500 square miles, and has been designated an International Man and Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organization.

A great destination for Safari, Kruger National Park contains all of the Big Five game animals people want to encounter.  The phrase “Big Five” was coined by hunters and are said to be the 5 hardest mammals to track and hunt by foot on the continent.  This group includes: Lion, Leopard, African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, and Rhinoceros.  Today, many private concessions and game reserves dissuade the use of the term as they are focus on preservation, rather than hunting.

These are not the only animals you will find wandering the park.  There are also good sized populations of Zebra, Giraffe, Hippopotamus, Wildebeest, Kudu, Hyena, Impala and many more!  A photographer’s dream come true! 

The nice thing about a safari tour in Kruger, besides the draw to the park itself, is its proximity to other African icons.  You can easily visit Cape Town, home of Table Mountain, Robbin Island, and years of apartheid history, as well Victoria Falls of /Zimbabwe & Zambia, the largest sheet of falling water in the world!

So when you start thinking about your first, or next, African Safari Tour, consider South Africa and it’s Kruger National Park.

Your Friendly Safari Lover,

Mindy

Set out this morning deeper into the bush.  Elephants, Giraffe are becoming common place. Today we are focused more on learning about the conservancies, its product and people. We visit a camp owned by locals (wait until you see the pictures) and continue west.  In a lot of ways this area looks a lot like the American Southwest, except bigger (and with a few elephants) arid, plateaus, valleys and springs.  You can drive the dirt trails from dawn to dusk without seeing another vehicle or any sign of civilization.

This afternoon, we loaded up on rice and sugar and drove a dozen rough KM to a traditional Himba village along a spring in a little slice of paradise.  We were greeted warmly (note to self when shaking hands with Himba women, be prepared to get the red okra die on everything). Kids of course are the same around the world; take pictures, share pictures, laugh, and repeat. 

After learning a bit from our guide and translator, we were entertained with impromptu dance and song.  Yes I even managed to dance with the Himb a ladies (I think I may now have a 2nd wife).

We said our goodbyes to the Himba's and headed further into the bush.  Tonight, camping African style high on a hill overlooking a beautiful spring valley.   Dinner is served with white linen settings, an amazing chef and more new friends.  

Life in Africa is a strange and wide sweep of diversity.  In a village of sod huts one minute, then a cold beverage served up on a silver platter as the sun sets shortly down the road.

Camp was set up on the site of a future conservancy JV Lodge.  The owner and builder were our hosts for dinner. Lamb over a fire for hours, makes for a great dining experience.   Leaders from the local Conservancy joined us well into the night. 

I have mentioned how much I love Namibia??  I am already planning my next trip and I am excited to learn how to get more involved with the conservancies.

Namaste,

Dan Austin

When you wake up each day with a game drive (ok smiling faces and good coffee first) is pretty tough to have a bad day. Today was no exception.  After a few days In Africa you start getting into a rhythm, perhaps its the same rhythm the locals are blessed with.

We eagerly headed out early this morning.  Our goal, the endangered  Black Rhino.  Our
trackers headed out first and we had one more cup and followed closely behind.

It took all of 30 minutes to come upon one of the WWF tracking team patiently waiting in the road.  Still sun barely peeking above the horizon, he points 500 yards away to 2 more trackers and Jeff slightly above the springs.   "He is there" he proclaims.    5 minute safety and rules talk and we head out.  15 minutes later all you could here is snapping shutters.

Our trackers took notes and taking pictures and logging details.  They whisper details, they know this fellow "Don't worry" and estimated at 30 years old.  We have a 15 minute time limit as to not disturb him.

Namibia seems to have Rhino poaching on the run, there has only been one confirmed kill in the last few years, as opposed to upwards of 2 a day in South Africa.

We press on, endless wildlife sights, each on special.  We stop at "v zyl's gat ", (picture small spring in SW canyon) a true oasis in this arid land.  A dip for all and then we continue on towards the distant plateaus.

Early afternoon we arrive at Grootberg Lodge perched on the rim of the Etendeka Plateau over looking the Klip River Valley. 12 rock and thatch huts will be home.

Quickly freshening up we head out "on top" for another game drive.  The plains game on top were a abundant.   The light amazing and the conversations stimulating.

We returned to the lodge for yet another fine meal and then were treated with guests and conversation for hours regarding the "pros and cons" of the conservancy program.  Grootberg Lodge we learn was the first JV lodge/ community project and I had the true pleasure of dining and chatting with it's champion Maxi (NACSO Executive Director).

After dinner we had a robust conversation to what "we" can do to help (why we are here),  but first we need to heart the challenges.   In a nut shell #1 of course and as always is unfortunately funding as it often is with any project.  Then we drill down to things like compensating farmers for elephants damaging crops and lions eating goats, things we don't often consider.

One thing struck me as a parallel, many of the issues are quite similar to our re introduction of wolves in Yellowstone and the ongoing conflict with local ranchers, so maybe we are not all that different after all.

Just an FYI, we calculated we are in the 5000 photo arena, with 4 days to go!!

Tonight we are headed in to the bush for a night of camping.

More to come.  I have I mentioned how much I love and respect Namibia and its people?

Namaste,

Dan Austin

It took all of 5 minutes on the ground in South Africa to forget about the 26 hours it took to get here (the last 14 straight Atlanta to Johannesburg). You see it is blatantly obvious from your very first contact with the African people, they welcome you with open arms and a warm heart.  You "glide" through customs and passport control with smiles and welcomes.

With our crazy busy stateside lives we don't notice how "short" and downright rude many have become.  But here in a land where so many have so little, there is an abundance of compassion, kindness and warm, welcoming openness.

At dinner our first night in an airport hotel, our waiter shared with us growing up a Zulu in Mozambique and moving to Johannesburg 12 years ago for work. He taught us how to say thank you in Zulu "Ngiyabonga", but assured us everyone we meet will know and appreciate an "English" thank you and a smile even more.

This morning we continue on to Namibia, seems you can't have a bad day in Africa, the locals just won't have it.  Beautiful people in a beautiful land.  The next few weeks are sure to be sensory overload. Above all else re-charging my appreciation of simple things and reminding me to start each day with a smile.

We feel at home with "Mother Africa"

Dan Austin 

After weeks and weeks of planning and “waiting”, its finally here,  time to pack and hit the airways and head south, way south to Namibia for our ultimate Safari tour. While I am not looking forward to close to 20 hours of flying, I can’t wait to touch down in Windhoek Namibia.  As luck would have it, I have some great friends that just happen to be there as well.. the good folks from the Adventure Travel Trade Association and a few others are all meeting in Windhoek before our arrival.  We should connect for a cold beverage if all goes well. 

We will overnight in Johannesburg and continue on to Windhoek on Sunday AM.  As many times as I have done this, I still get excited when I walk off the tarmac and see our guide for the next week standing at the gate with a big smile and a sign that says “Welcome Austin’s”...  nothing confirms your arrival at the “right” destination as much as that simple welcome sign! 

While this isn’t our first trip to Namibia and we will be revisiting some of our favorite camps, it’s the time in the Dunes and discovering the Skeleton Coast and Walvis Bay I am most looking forward to.

We will do our best to post some pictures from our adventures in Southern Africa (tech gods willing) and be sure to bring back literally thousands to share with all and relive over and over the good times to be had…

Stay Tuned….

Dan Austin