November 1 & 2

Well, first off....Thank goodness for Bob.  He was able to get back all the pics that Google deleted.  Good thing he's retired so he can fix stuff, eh?  haha

Anyhow, it has been VERY busy and I know my boss isn't gonna like this but......I think I need a vacation when I get back,  hahahhahah  Just kidding Donna!

I'm sitting by the pool overlooking the waterhole at our hotel Victoria Falls Safari Lodge sipping a margarita while writing this on my computer.  We left Johannesburg yesterday (Nov.1) and flew to Zimbabwe.  Lindy, our tour guide insisted that my mom have a wheelchair the whole time we were at the airport since she felt it was a lot of walking.  The wheelchair came with an attendant who had to stay with us the whole time.  Mom felt embarrassed since it wasn't completely necessary.  We then got into a van for disabled passengers which had a platform that rose up and enabled us to get into the van.  Then the van drove on the tarmac to our plane and went right up to the door.  We then realized we were put in business class.  That was a hoot.  Of course I took pics of everything they gave me.

We arrived in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe where it's 38C and very rural.  We directly went to Victoria Falls and walked 5 miles (mom was in a wheelchair).  We met our local guide Fungai (pronounced Fun Guy haha).  I walked & talked with him a lot and found out about the Lion Encounter I want to go on while we're here.  He was a really nice guy.  The people in Africa are sooo friendly, respectful and seem so happy.  One of the best things about this trip is the African people.  Of course, the animals are right up there too.  :)

After that we got to our hotel but had to get ready for our BOMA dinner which is like an African luau complete with roast pig and every other meat that they eat here....warthog, crocodile, etc.  They had dancers too.  We were all exhausted and made it an early night since we all had to get up AGAIN at 5am. Our room looks over the waterhole,  We are IN THE BUSH as they say here.  Baboons will steal your stuff if you leave your balcony doors open and apparently they really go through your stuff and throw it around while really stinking up your room. haha

November 2

Went directly to our Elephant Back Safari which was, needless to say, AWESOME.  Mom and I shared an elephant named Jake (we had a handler).  We saw Water Buffalo, warthogs, impalas, crocodiles, etc.  The elephants are so big and we got to interact with them and feed them too.  After that we got to pat a Cheetah. Of course, the whole experience was amazing.  I want to move to Africa.

Next we went to a real authentic village where people really live.  We met the Chief who gave us a half hour lecture on their philosophies.  He kind of criticized western civilization but was bang on with some comments. He was very charismatic and had a great sense of humour.

We then got driven to the open craft markets and we bought more stuff.  The vendors are very aggressive but at the same time very respectful.  Mom opted to go back to the hotel but I went with others to the very fancy Victoria Falls Hotel which has the victorian style and had lunch,  It was lovely and nice to chat with some tour mates.  Our group is very nice.

We have the rest of the day and night at our leisure so I am catching up on my blog now that I know my pics won't be deleted.  Tomorrow we head to Botswana and stay at the Chobe Marina Lodge & do a river cruise and many, many game drives so I'm looking forward to that.  BUT before we leave in the morning I get to go on my Lion Encounter where I get to walk with lions and touch them.  They are orphaned lions. Hopefully they will have cubs I can cuddle.

Leaving Johannesburg Airport

Shopping at Johannesburg Airport

We are bumped to business class.  No, she's not drunk.

We are sooo important

I don't know what I'd do without that coat hook on the back of the seat in front of me,

Just in case you didn't know you're eating nuts

Got this 2 minutes after I sat down.  

Only business class gets a steak option!

Just in case I didn't have enough cutlery.  haha

Beautiful fluffy clouds when arriving in Zimbabwe

Oooh dessert

I think I like business class.  Hope they bump us for the flights home!!!!

Zimbabwe Airport

Arriving at our hotel.  That's a family of warthogs.  They keep the lawns mowed.

Our room

At the entrance to Victoria Falls

Elephant Skull

Victoria Falls

Rainbow

Fireball Flowers

He's not really holding up that tree.  haha

Our local guide Fungai

These guys insisted I join them

At the BOMA dinner.  My sare goes well with my t-shirt.

Roast Pig

My mom going native

My tour guide and pal Lindy & Moi

The elephants await.

Jake & I chose each other.

That's a greeting

Jake is 28 and just a teenager.  He's not full grown until he's 35 and he is already pretty huge

His skin is VERY rough

Looking out for that tusk

Jake has a stick in his trunk and that's his handler Stan.  I want his job!

That's my shoe Jake is investigating

Looks like the Loch Ness Monster, but it's just Jake

Warthogs are hilarious

Off we go.  Mom was pretty nervous but she hung in there.

Stan the man

Mother Elephants will not go on walks without their babies.  This baby is getting used to having someone on it's back.

Back of Jake's ear

These are nests from a type of sparrow.  The male has to build it and the female inspects.  If it's not good enough, she destroys it and makes him build a new nest.  Sometimes this can happen more than 5 times. 

Buffalo

Feeding time

Videotaping Jake (I don't know when I'll have the video available)

Their trunk is like a separate animal

Jake & Stan saying goodbye

We were surprised with a Cheetah after our Elephant walk

This is Sylvester

I'm videotaping Sylvester too.

The village from a distant that we visited.

The Chief Mpisi

Hat made from video tape

She came to see me.

The Kitchen Hut

The Chief had a great sense of humour.

My lunch 

He wanted me to take a picture of his food too but he ate most of it already.

Cute statue in Victoria Falls

Our hotel

View from our room

Pool deck

Watching the sunset

I am one lucky girl!!!

Dinner

Came back to the room and found this on the inside of our door.  I let him outside.

Then I saw this on my turned-down bed!

It's something the maid left.  It has a magnet on the back.  I will ask what it is tomorrow when we check out.