Southeast Africa part one

We are en route from Kenya to South Africa passing through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana on a 30 day overland camping tour operated by Nomad.  Our group has been great and has ranged from 7-17 people, most of which are from western Europe. We are currently in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe with some time to share some highlights of the first portion of our "tour" through southeast Africa.

Marvin, our overland truck leaving from Nairobi, Kenya

Big, beautiful, purple flower Jacaranda trees all over Nairobi and several other towns/cities in southeast Africa

Baobab trees are native to southeast Africa.  Huge trunks and sparse root-like branches initiated the legend that Baobab angered the gods in a past life so they made him a tree and planted him upside down.

The Masai in Tanzania and their native dress

Tarangire National Park

Arusha, Tanzania

Mt. Kilimanjaro, we didn't climb it, but we did drink it (Kilimanjaro beer)

Amazing beaches of Zanzibar...

Indian Ocean sunset

Happy birthday for Nicole and Marium!  Great night out, we stuck out a bit at this pub in Zanzibar, but enjoyed mixing it up on the dance floor with the locals.

Zanzibar is known as the spice island.  We enjoyed a spice farm tour and fresh fruit. 

Long hike (about 19 miles) up to Livingstonia from Chitimba beach camp on Lake Malawi. 

Vincent! A great cook and hilarious guy to travel with his pancake breakfast dances and big laugh.

School in Linvingstonia village

Manchawe falls

South Luangwa National Park in Zambia.  Elephants and hippos (among other animals) are common in and around the camp where we were staying.  We woke up several times one night to the sound of hippos grazing right next to our tent.  In the morning there was also fresh elephant droppings about 30 feet from our tent.

Camping is better with a pool :)

Elephant yoga

This little guy is less than two weeks old we were told since he still rides on his mothers stomach

Game drive in South Luanga National Park.

Cass was delighted to find this little guy on her first step out of the tent one morning

Mangos

Coffee

Pedestrian bridge in Malawi

Village walk near Kande Beach, Malawi

One of many small villages in Zambia

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.  Although we happen to be here at the lowest water level of the year, the falls are still impressive and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

In higher water levels the falls span the whole cliff in this picture and about an equal distance beyond the limits of this photo (1.7 kilometers worth of falls)

Unfortunately, we say goodbye to part of the group in Vic Falls and some others will join us on Sunday for the remainder of the trip through Botswana, ending on Nov 27th in Johannesburg, South Africa.  We will continue on our own to Cape Town before we leave Africa on December 12.