Where exactly...

We started our African trip Johannesburg, South Africa in for an overnighter. Then proceeded to Zambia (officially the Republic of Zambiathen) and Zimbabwe (officially the Republic of Zimbabwe) then back to Zambia before returning home. We visited several large and small towns as well as spent time in the bush at the best bush camp ever!

Quick Facts of Zambia:

• Capital: Lusaka
• Population: 11 million
• Area: total: 752,614 sq km (slightly larger Texas)
• Currency: The currency in Zambia is the Kwacha, which is not available for purchase outside the country.
• Language: Over 73 African dialects are spoken in Zambia; however the official language is English.⁸

Quick Facts of Zimbabwe:

• Capital: Harare
• Population: 12 million
• Area: 390,580 sq km
• Currency: The currency in Zimbabwe is the American Dollar.
• Language: English is the official language. Other widely spoken languages are Shona and Sindebele, which also have various dialects and other minority languages.⁸

What we saw...

Animals, animals and more animals! Of course, that's what we went for. We were quite lucky in that we saw the The Big 5 on our first trip. We also saw hippo's, giraffe, Rhino, elephants, baboons, Cape buffalo, zebras, crocodiles, lions, leopards, cheetah, several species of antelope and the most colorful birds ever.

We saw these animals within 4 different distinct locations: Mana Pools National Park, Hwange National Park, South Luangwa National Park and at a camp overlooking the Zambezi River.

When...

The trip lastest a mere 12 days during May 2013. With one night in Johannesburg, follwed by three days in Livingstone, Zambia - the Toka Leya Camp which overlooks the Zambezi River and some of its islands. Motto Motto the resident hippo and plenty of monkeys kept us entertained.

After 3 days in Zambia, we moved to the country of Zimbabwe and Little Makalolo Camp. After three awesome days at this camp, we moved to the Ruckomechi Camp located inside the Mana Pools National Park - also in Zimbabwe - which is situated in the heart of the Zambezi Valley.

Following 3 days at this camp, we move one more time, back to Zambia to the South Luangwa National Park, where the Sanctuary Chichele Presidential Lodge was once the personal retreat of Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda. For two of three days we were at this camp, we were the only tourists and were treated like royalty!

What we did...

We went on game drives every day, more often than not, twice a day. While we were in Zambia we a walking tour around Victoria Falls. (At 1708 metres wide, Victoria Falls is the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.) Because walking around this wonder was so awe inspiring, we took a helipcopter ride over the falls and through the gorges.

We rode elephants one afternoon and heard many stories from the keepers about the animals, which quickly become one of my favorite animals to watch!

We went to a farming village one afternoon and in between camps, we travelled through several towns where we saw the local life.