Overland trip from Zimbabwe to Kenya
Overland trip from Zimbabwe to Kenya
Written by Anita Elliott Wednesday, 11 February 2009 22:34
This has to be one of the most amazing experiences anybody can have, I did so many 'Once in a lifetime' things!
Microlighting over Victoria Falls, one of the Natural Wonders of the World, was incredible....flying over elephants spraying water over themselves in the river at sunset in little more than a go-cart with wings and strapped in by nothing more than an airline style seatbelt!
Walking with lions in Antelope Park where I got to stroke 2 year old lions and little cubs and go on a night safari to watch them hunt - 2 young males actually attempted to bring down a giraffe, I was kinda glad they didn't succeed but watching them stalk and communicate with glances before the chase was truly amazing.
Hot air ballooning over the Serengeti at sunrise, gently floating over lions lazing in the morning sun, hundreds of hippos wallowing in the rivers and a family of giraffes strolling along was another amazing experience made all the better when we landed to be greeted by a huge table under an acacia tree fully laid out with silver cutlery, china plates, a full english breakfast and champagne - oh and a 'loo with a view'!!! Expensive but in my opinion well worth every penny.
I tried bare back riding along the beach at Lake Malawi, an experience but maybe one I'm not in a huge hurry to repeat. It's not the most comfortable form of transport and while we were walking in the lake it decided to throw me off!!! Snorkelling in Zanzibar was probably the best I have experienced, I saw so many types of fish and the corals as well as the fish were brightly coloured. The sunsets there were pretty special too, shame I was travelling with 7 other girls as it was very romantic!
Unfortunately I only got to see 4 of the big five - the leopard remained elusive and I have to admit I was gutted! However I saw everything else, buffalo, elephant, lion, rhino, hippo, giraffe, zebra, flamingo, hyena, antelope and more! Another perfect moment was coming across the largest pride of lions in the Serengeti (22 of them in all) having just killed a buffalo.
Lions of all ages were feasting upon the beast or lazing around close by having already eaten their fill. Vultures waiting patiently in the trees as the sun set for their turn to come. My trip ended in Kenya and even on my last day I had an experience to remember....a kiss with a giraffe! I was told it was a 'must do' so I did!!! It was a very strange experience - the tongue was long, blue and very rough, literally like sandpaper scraping along your face but at the same time it managed to slobber all over me!!!! Still it made for a great photo :-)
I did have a few moments which weren't so fun - being stung by a jellyfish in Zanzibar (very, very painful)and my rucksack not turning up when I initially arrived in Zimbabwe (it did turn up eventually 4 days later and just before I was heading off through several countries for the next 4 weeks!). Despite these mishaps it really was a fantastic trip and one I would highly recommend.
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