Of black maned lions and rampaging hippos

[kpc]

Would we travel with Kiboko again? Despite how much we loved the trip we’d say no, not until we’re much older. Even if I am now over 60, we want to travel with a group whose average age is closer to 50 and not 75-80. We knew the trip was not active and we kind of regret that part of it.

I think it varies alot...in our group of16, there were a couple of Canadian ladies in their late 70s who wete amazingly fit (they did the 5km dessert walk), another couple in their early 70s, another in their mid 60s, us and the remaining 4 couples were in their 30s and 40s, including 2 honeymoon couples. The main critisicm we all had was the trip was very rushed....eg arrived at the beautful Ureb Terrace Lodge just before sunset after a long drive, and we left early next morning so no time to enjoy the place. The Delight hotel in Swakopmund was very delightful but we only had time to sleep there...as we did the Sandwich Harbour tour in the afternoon of arrival and the Desert living tour the next morning, we never really saw the town before we left. We loved our tour and the like minded travellers we met but would prefer something not so rushed!

Planning is already underway for next year. Like RooFlyer we’re considering Madagascar, or maybe it’ll be Mozambique. It’ll be south eastern Africa wherever it is.

We have already booked flights to Seychelles, Madgascar, Mauritiius and Reunion for late May next year.

Mauritius, Madagascar & Seychelles

A bit bored this evening and was looking at google maps....Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles look to be in the same ocean region...Maybe I can visit all 3 in one trip in the near future...I can fly Air Mauritius from Perth to Plaisance, Mauritius...how would I get to the other 2 islands...I...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[bPeteb]

Very, very nice and interesting TR. For me, it was interesting experiences for the places I was doing about a week or so later. Same, same but different.

You've turned me to visiting Botswana next year.

How come the Y on the way over and J back? Two sep tickets?

Yep, two tickets, well four actually. We decided we couldn't justify J return, have better things to spend our money on and it's a day flight to JNB.

I had to call to get bAlt's rewards seats released, different weeks of course. When his seat was secured I bought mine. I called to get his return J seat released while stood in the campground at Fitzroy crossing last year! Instant approval. Amazing The single return in J for me was way cheaper for a flex than it was as half of a sale return fare. Weird.

Botswana was so amazing.

I think the way that kpc travelled would have ended with a bang although we loved relaxing in CPT.

 

[Quickstatus]

bAlt discovered the ability to create 'stickers' on his S24

I got within about 200m

Just sticker yourself at the top without all the exertion?

 

[VPS]

What an amazing TR - thanks so much. It was fascinating and as I've said before I really enjoy your style of writing.

 

[Cossie]

Great TR, along with the other two trip reports, really makes me want to go there,
Too many places, too little time.

Not sure if I could handle the museums in Cape Town, I’m thinking I would be feeling very much as you did, in particular the references to what is happing now.

Thanks again, great photos!

 

[drron]

Thanks @bPeteb for another great TR. Enjoyed tagging along but I enjoyed the wildlife experience in Botswana so really don't want to go there except for other's TRs.

 

[Major]

Outstanding TR @bPeteb. Some of the best wildlife photography I have ever seen. Thank you

 

[Flyfrequently]

Another vote of thanks @bPeteb for sharing your trip, great photos and commentary.

 

[bPeteb]

Outstanding TR @bPeteb. Some of the best wildlife photography I have ever seen. Thank you

I'll pass that on to my other half. I'm looking at RooFlyer's photos and they are amazing

 

[tgh]

Just adding my thanks for an informative and well written report.
With limited remaining years, Namibia is not on my list...

 

[OZDUCK]

Another fabulous TR with lots of great photos. Thanks

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm looking at RooFlyer's photos and they are amazing

I bought a good Canon camera with zoom etc for Antarctica and now feel obliged to take it on all trips - but it takes a lot of space when you are HLO!!

City Lodge also book-marked for the next trip

 

[bPeteb]

I bought a good Canon camera with zoom etc for Antarctica and now feel obliged to take it on all trips - but it takes a lot of space when you are HLO!!

City Lodge also book-marked for the next trip

bALt was asking what you have. Providing that the Sony RX10 continues to work, although it's chunky, it's just a single piece, dust sealed as well and we got some good shots with it. When we bought it $2000 for what is really a bridge camera was a lot of dollars.

 

[kpc]

A good / excellent camera with a long zoom lens is essential for photographing wildlife. The first photo is taken by me wirh some coughpy pocket Sony camera, the last 2 my +1 took with her expensive camera with long zoom lens! Photos taken just before sunrise at Chobe National Park, Botswana.

 

[bPeteb]

This is what we have https://www.sony.com.au/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx10m4

They are about to be discontinued and I'm tempted to buy another just in case our seven year old RX10 dies. I'm chuckling that it's classed as compact!

 

[RooFlyer]

bALt was asking what you have. Providing that the Sony RX10 continues to work, although it's chunky, it's just a single piece, dust sealed as well and we got some good shots with it. When we bought it $2000 for what is really a bridge camera was a lot of dollars.

Mine is a Canon SX70HS; similar size and profile to the Sony.

PowerShot SX70 HS

Your ultimate superzoom

www.canon.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

To add - one feature I love is that the camera can talk to my phone via the Canon app and its own wi-fi. So each evening I could download the Canon pics to my phone (and then to iCloud if regular internet was available) as a back-up and then post them in the running TR

But next time I must remember to change the time setting in the camera to local - which will avoid the timed sort of all the pics (incl iPhone ones) to be 12 hours apart.

 

[kookaburra75]

This is what we have https://www.sony.com.au/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx10m4

They are about to be discontinued and I'm tempted to buy another just in case our seven year old RX10 dies. I'm chuckling that it's classed as compact!

Slightly off topic, but has that replaced your NX-500? I still have my NX-300 with the short and long zoom, which is still clunking away, but does a decent job. It is a bit bulky, but I have a good smallish camera backpack for it and other bits and pieces.

 

[tgh]

Otoh, I could not be more pleased with the results from my iphone15promax.
No more lugging heavy hardware for me.

 

[bPeteb]

Slightly off topic, but has that replaced your NX-500? I still have my NX-300 with the short and long zoom, which is still clunking away, but does a decent job. It is a bit bulky, but I have a good smallish camera backpack for it and other bits and pieces.

We brough the NX500 with us J with a tele lens (it was a basic one at the time), both as a 'just incase' and also to see if it was still taking ok pictures. It's not as constantly good as the Sony but when everything lined up it took some excellent pictures, and good pictures the rest of the time. It nearly did became the only camera we had.

We found both the 100 and the 300 in a draw before we went away!