WELCOME TO FARNSNIENTE

We were signed up for an all-day trip south to the Cape of Good Hope. It included a 45-minute boat tour to seal island from Hout Bay and a drive along the coast which is supposed to be really beautiful. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the van to see the view although we had a really good view of the rocky wall beside us. We made several stops along the way including at the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. I was disappointed to find out that neither of these were t

Another good breakfast at our B&B and another walk to the hop on hop off bus. We take a different (better) route this time. First stop is the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which we toured. We next hopped off in the Constantia wine region, the oldest in South Africa. The weather had turned really nice so we had a glass of wine outside at a little restaurant with a great view. Oddly, they also sold used clothing. We Ubered to the Mont Nelson Hotel and enjoyed their

Late start after big breakfast. Cold, windy and rainy. Long walk to catch the Hop On Hop Off bus for a tour around the city. Stopped for the view at the base of the Table Mountain cable car but did not go to the top as it was closed due to the weather. Got off the bus at the V and A Waterfront and browsed the crafts and home goods at the Watershed. Visited the Diamond Museum which was interesting but was really bait to get you into the sales room. Tried on several hundred tho

Great morning game drive including a long time watching a pride (more like puddle) of lions from about 12 feet away. They had obviously eaten recently and were sleeping in a big pile with the younger ones occasionally playing with each other or a stick. Said a very sad goodbye to Tricia and Don at the airstrip and took another small plane to Maun for our connection to Cape Town. Unfortunately the plane for that flight had mechanical issues and they had to fly mechanics in fro

Followed the typical camp routine (see 8/2 Summary). Saw a leopard, wilde beest, and giraffes. Again, much less than our previous camps but had we come here first, we’d have been thrilled with what we saw. For lunch they set us up in blind above the watering holes but not much was going on at that time. A lot of the afternoon drive was spent finding and viewing the park’s baobab trees which a pretty darn cool. A last leopard sighting then Sundowners at the base of a massive

A final breakfast and game drive at Tubu. Our sweet lion cubs have dined overnight on zebra. We (happily) missed that sight but do get to watch them in their well-fed splendor. We also catch up to the leopard and her two cubs playing with their antelope’s hind leg. Another 12-seater plane hop to Savute Elephant Camp, so named because it sits on a small hill overlooking two watering holes frequented by many animals but especially the elephants. We’re greeted at the airstrip, (

A great day! We started with a game drive back to see the leopard and her cubs and the now only skeletal remains of the impala had she stashed up in the tree. Also saw more lions. Tubu Tree Camp is in a very wet area of the Okavango delta so we took an amazing boat ride where from 10 feet away we watched elephants pulling up reeds and swishing them in the river to wash away any debris before they ate them. Also watched a large group of hippos doing what hippos do, i.e. just

Our last morning at the wonderful Chitabe Camp. On our morning drive we saw a pack of wild dogs running with hyenas, a steenbok, secretary birds, elephants and lions. Late morning we flew to Tubu Tree Camp which was great - big, luxurious rooms off an elevated boardwalk in the trees. We dropped our bags, had a late lunch the headed out with our new guide, Stan(ley) for afternoon drive where among other things we say a leopard with two cubs and some lions. The game definitely

An amazing day! We followed the “typical” agenda outlined in yesterday’s Summary. On our game drives we saw baboons, hyenas, elephants, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, wild dogs, impalas, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, kudus, ostriches, leopards (one with a warthog it had killed secured up in a tree), bush bucks, monkeys and probably some I’m missing. Lots and lots of cute young ‘uns, too!

Typical camp day: Wake up at 5:30, communal breakfast at 6:00, game drive #1 from 6:30 to 11 with a coffee and snack break about half way through. See ALL. THE. ANIMALS! Lunch at 11:15. Down time until 3:30 when it’s time for high tea/cocktails and sweets. Game drive #2 (see MORE animals) from 4:00 to 6:30 with a break a little before sunset for Sundowners (cocktails) and more snacks. Back at camp for more cocktails and dinner at 7:00. Finish the day with more drinks if desir

Flew from Jo’burg to Maun, Botswana and met up with Tricia and Don and were whisked onto a small prop plane for the flight to Chitabe Camp. Our plane was met by a camp representative who took us to meet our evening game drive already in progress. We saw a leopard, elephants, impalas, a hyena, giraffes, lions and more. We stopped for cocktails (aka sundowners) and a gorgeous sunset then were driven to camp in time for a quick unpacking, cocktails and dinner. Our “cabin” is nea

A “far ninente” day of reading, eating, a little exercising.

We arrived in Johannesburg at around 7:30 in the morning. We had booked a hotel at the Jo’burg airport for the preceding night and so we’re able to get into our room immediately. The InterContinental Airport Hotel was very nice and super convenient, a 2 minute walk from the terminal. It took us much longer to walk from our gate to baggage claim! We spent a lazy day eating

We took a late (10:30pm) flight out of Austin, non-stop to London on British Airways. We were delighted to find that we were seated in Premium Economy which was actually very nice and comfy. Due to the late hour and seats that actually reclined a ways we got a good night’s sleep - an absolute necessity for dealing with the nightmare that is Heathrow Airport. We had a many-hour layover but were able to access the BA lounge so the time passed quickly. Another overnight flight,