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.