All aboard
After a weekend in NYC, we're off to Johannesburg, on what would be our least favorite flight. Fourteen hours and impossible to sleep, but we arrived in good spirits.
Yellow weaver
Not a great image, but can't include Drakensberg without mention of these fine creatures. Every morning we watched them building nests such as these.
Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
In the Drakensberg mountains. This boutique hotel prides itself on six-course dinners. Fortunately the nearby mountains made it relatively easy to hike some of it off.
Drakensberg
The small river outside our hotel was lovely, with terrific views of the Drakensberg mountains, where we hiked during our stay.
Highmoor Nature Reserve
The Drakensberg rise steeply until reaching a plateau. These rolling hills are actually on top of the mountains, and the seemingly endless vista was strange and magical.
Nan Hiking in Highmoor
Wandering on top of the Drakensberg mountains without another soul in sight.
Umhlanga
Umhlanga Rocks section of Durban in South Africa had beautiful beaches, and a great, diverse culture.
Drakensberg Selfie
An iPhone shot from our Highmoor hike.
The Lonely Oryx
Wandering the Namib desert as sunset approached.
Sossusvlei Dune
Morning light on dunes at Sossusvlei
Sossusvlei Namibia
The desert felt like another planet (with temperatures to match).
Deadvlei
Hard to overstate how vibrant the colors are at Deadvlei/Sossusvlei. The high iron content in the sand makes for incredibly rich hues, which almost make up for the oppressive heat.
Nan Takes in the Trash
Our guide sent Nan off to recover what he thought was a piece of plastic, but turned out to be toilet paper. Why he didn't go and get it himself is a subject best left alone.
DeadVlei
Kulala Desert Lodge
Glamping in the Namib. Each hut had a rooftop sleeping area. But things were pretty hot & windy, so we chose not to partake (no air-conditioning either, in 100-degree heat).
Sossusvlei
Staring out towards sunset, this was our picnic spot.
Sesriem Canyon
We hunted poisonous spiders, but also worked our way around a movie shoot for "Monster Hunter"
Kuiseb River
Edge of the Namib desert on our 5-seater flight to Swakopmund
Guinea Hens
Swakopmund
Namibian coastal town of Swakopmund
Seal Colony, Walvis Bay
Thousands of loud, smelly and fascinating seals.
Walvis Bay
Seal colony at Walvis Bay
Flamingoes on Walvis Bay
'They taste like strawberry chickens', claimed our guide.
2018afica