The Big 5: Rhino

The Big 5: Leopard

When you start researching your African Safari, the term “Big 5″ often comes up. The term Big 5 was coined by big-game hunters and quickly became known as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and the name stuck – although now ‘shooting’ is...

The Big 5: Cape Buffalo

When you start researching your African Safari, the term “Big 5″ often comes up. The term Big 5 was coined by big-game hunters and quickly became known as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and the name stuck – although now ‘shooting’ is...

The Big 5: Lion

When you start researching your African Safari, the term “Big 5” often comes up. The term Big 5 was coined by big-game hunters and quickly became known as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and the name stuck – although now ‘shooting’ is...

The Big 5: African Elephant

When you start researching your African Safari, the term “Big 5” often comes up. The term Big 5 was coined by big-game hunters and quickly became known as the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot, and the name stuck – although now ‘shooting’ is...

Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Some land based wildlife was calling my name since landing on the African continent and I was determined to see through the effort to answer back. Despite this exploratory adventure to Mozambique being more about the sand and surf than the elephants and elands the...

Supper, Vilanculos, Mozambique

After staying at Dugong Beach Lodge any readers of this blog will believe that being able to stay in such places is greatest benefit of this vocation. What drove me to start my business was encapsulated in the meal I enjoyed last night. The people...

Dugong Beach Lodge, Vilanculos Sanctuary, Mozambique

The ancillary benefits of this job rest firmly in the opportunity to see and experience a lot of Africa and stay on the go. Headed up this way to check out the offerings of the Vilanculos area with the end game being able to determine...

A Street Bar Named Desire, Tofo, Mozambique

The mix of restaurants, bars locals and ex pats is wide and varied given Tofo is such a small place. One of the real attractions here is the ability to walk to places of need and interest. The village center is the central spoke where...

Tofo, Mozambique

Sitting here on the coast of Mozambique close to midnight. Screen door is all that separates me from about 75 yards of beach and the Indian Ocean. The breeze is cool at night, just cool enough to keep the windows and doors open for a...

South Africa Arrival – Pretoria, South Africa

Flew out of Atlanta on Tuesday, the 21st at 7:30PM. Landed here in Johannesburg at about 6PM on Wednesday. The 16 hour flight can be handled best with sedatives. Have gotten to the point now where I eat prior to getting on the plane and...

Thonga Beach Lodge, Thonga Beach, South Africa

Craig, Peter and I were looking forward to the trip over to Thonga as it sits right on the beach and we were going to be there for 2 nights. I can cover a lot of ground in researching new areas and properties but it...

Kosi Bay Forest Lodge, Kosi Bay, South Africa

We had a long commute from Zulu Lodge to Kosi Bay Lodge. Our driver picked us up at 10AM as we had 6 hours ahead of us. North and west we needed to drive to but a few miles from the Mozambique border. These lengthy...

Clifton 4th Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

Good time for a bit of long term and short term reflection given today is the date of my departure from South Africa after a month here in this city and surrounds of plenty. Short term reflection is due if only for a weekend that...

Camp’s Bay, Cape Town, South Africa

Good time for a bit of long term and short term reflection given today is the date of my departure from South Africa after a month here in this city and surrounds of plenty. Short term reflection is due if only for a weekend that...

Johannesburg, South Africa

Spent the last few days down in Kroonstad in the Orange Free State. Had the opportunity to travel the 2 and 1/2hours south from my host, Henk Visagie and his family, in an effort to reach a few people I wanted to see as well...

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, South Africa

March 26, 2012 Was out in Los Angeles last month and could not help but notice the similarities between its topography and weather and that of Cape Town’s – rugged coastline, sandy beaches, quick elevation into the hills and mountains overlooking the sea, warm days...

12 foot, 1 ton predator – White Shark Cage Diving – Kleinbaai, South Africa

My continued deference to this country’s outdoor activities is concluded in this trip’s blogs by regurgitating the mantra – South Africa is akin to an adult’s version of Disneyland. Once one adventurous ride ends, yet another one commences just around the corner. Yesterday’s prolific Southern...

40 feet and 65 tons – Southern Right Whale Boat Charter – Walker Bay, South Africa

Think about those numbers for a minute – 40 feet and 65 tons of mobility in the sea. For anyone who has seen a whale in the ocean it can be hard to get a feel for how big these animals are as most all their bodies remain underwater when we see them. Perhaps a better way to get a feel for their size from afar is to remember that a full grown male elephant weighs 6 tons. So, the Southern Right is ten times the weight of a mature elephant – 10 times. Somewhat sets you back when you think about it.

Rhino Post Safari Lodge, Kruger Park, South Africa

The last night in the Kruger Park was spent exploring another camp inside the park itself, Rhino Post Safari Lodge. Gotta confess and tell you that this type lodge is my kind of place – somewhat like Swiss Family Robinson meets the African bush. The...

Oscar’s Restaurant and Lodge, Witrivier, South Africa

Out of the Kruger Park for the first time in four nights last night, overnighting in Witrivier (White River in Afrikaans). Not that there is any need to be outside the Kruger as accommodation and comforts are all well provided for be it in private...

Big Lion Pride – Kambaku Safari Lodge, Kruger Park, South Africa

The last morning at Imbali proved to be just as impressive as the first afternoon. Our ranger, Nicolas, was looking for lion and we were not long on the trail of winding dirt roads before there sat to our left, in the early morning 6AM...

Rhinos within 5 feet – Imbali Lodge, in the Kruger Park, South Africa

Sitting here to a fine dinner of tomato and basil soup, cobb salad with the main course being grilled sole. The first two courses as prepared by our chef, Abraham, a local from the nearby village, have been of high quality. Am a big fan...

Elephants at my Swimming Pool – Buhala Lodge, banks of the Crocodile River – Kruger Park, South Africa

Elephants at my Swimming Pool – Buhala Lodge, banks of the Crocodile River – Kruger Park, South Africa How about an introductory shout on to my mother on this, her 76th birthday. She and I were herein South Africa three years ago. She would have...

What a Country, Henk Visagie’s House – Pretoria, South Africa

What makes this country so very appealing to me? Just but a few minutes after landing I am reminded of a few of these things: Weather – Here it is the middle of the southern hemisphere winter and when I land at 5PM, the sun...

Isinbindi Zulu Lodge, Natal, South Africa

First stop here on the 4 day educational tour I am taking of the Isibindi Lodges found within South Africa. Was met at the Durban airport yesterday morning by Kristie from Isibindi where she drove me and my fellow two travelers, Craig Ronne and Peter...

Kruger Park, Sabi Sand, South Africa, Chitwa Chitwa Lodge

Spent the last two nights at Chitwa Chitwa Camp in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjoining Kruger Park. The reserve is well known for its prolific game viewing, especially leopard, and it did not disappoint. Upon exiting the Timbavati via our own vehicle, the map...

Cape Town, South Africa – Hout Bay

Last night I accompanied Ian and Louisa to a friend’s house who was celebrating his birthday. Jack and his wife Jill hosted us in their recently purchased home on the Constantia Nek Road. That road can be a bit busy with traffic so to the...

Cape Town, South Africa – Camp’s Bay

Spent the last two days walking the streets of Camp’s Bay and spending plenty of time in the sun and on the beach. The weather has been exceptional these last few days with temperatures of about 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Camp’s...

Cape Town, South Africa – Table Mountain

Upon arrival last night into Cape Town and being dutifully picked up at the airport by Louisa, the never ending gracious hostess, her like minded husband, Ian asked me if I wanted to join our friend, Simon Waterkeyn, on a hike up Table Mountain in...

Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

Yesterday, our second day at Mana Pools was as productive as could be asked for. We awoke at dawn (about 6AM) and massed for some coffee and tea prior to departure on a morning game drive and walk. Waking up to a fire overlooking the...

Chinhoyi, Harare and Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

After a few days at Henk’s house gathering some R & R with his family and spending a day with my cousin at Pilanesburg National Park I came to Zimbabwe on Thursday morning. Pilanesburg National Park in South Africa is but a 1 and 1/2...

7-12-2010: Henk Visagie’s house, Pretoria, South Africa

Monday, July 12, 2010 Last night was a tough defeat for the Dutch national soccer team as they lost the final to Spain bringing their number of finals losses to 3 in the history of the World Cup. I made a strong attempt to meet...

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

I made it back to Nairobi on Friday via a private plane flight back into the Mara with Rex, the pilot from New Zealand and Dave, another white Kenyan about 65 years old who serves as a photographer and fill in camp manager for Governors...

Mfangano Island Camp, Lake Victoria, Kenya

Arrived here on this island camp on Lake Victoria yesterday via plane charter from Governor’s Camp. The flight took about 45 minutes and with our descent pulling us over the NW corner of the lake near the Uganda border. Lake Victoria is a high lake...

Governors’ Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya

Yesterday I took a short flight of about 45 minutes aboard Safarilink Airlines to get from Loldia House to Little Governors’ Camp here on the banks of the Mara River in the Masai Mara. Sammy and Peter drove us out to the local dirt airstrip...

Hermanus, South Africa

Last night, with the Dutch team playing Slovakia, I drove out to Hermanus to catch the match on TV with friends of mine, Yvonne and Paul Jansen, owners of the guest house, Mulligan’s. Yvonne was born in Holland to Dutch parents but then moved out...

Cape Town, South Africa – Hout Bay

Sitting in front of the comforts of a fire at 10PM in my friends’ home in Hout Bay is a far cry from the 3 prior nights. Two of those nights were spent on airplanes traveling from Atlanta to Amsterdam and Dubai to Johannesburg and...

03-28-2010: Timbavati , Kruger Park, South Africa

Pulled into Tanda Tula Private Safari Lodge here in the  TImbavati area abutting Kruger Park. I’ve been through this area before a few years ago but I wanted to visit a few more lodges in this area. Picked up my friend, Amy Fulton, from the...

Indian Ocean, Hermanus & Ivanhoe Sea Safaris, South Africa

One of the big attractions of South Africa during the months of June-November is witnessing the southern right whales come to rest in the waters off the coast of Hermanus, and neighboring cities such as de Kelders and Gansbaai. The whales’ primary destination is Walker...

pdf–2023 – 2024

April 2024 Ecuador Adventure Academic Tours – 19 Feb 2024 February 2024   PS-Guatemala’s natural and historical wonders – 8 Feb 2024 PS-Paleontology – Fins to Fingers – 8 Feb 2023 PS-Peru Tapestry Itinerary – 8 Feb 2024 PS-East Coast USA National Parks Tour –...

Cape Maclear