Well, back from another fantastic trip, although brief, to the bushveld and wilderness areas of southern Africa. This time to Zimbabwe - canoeing down the Zambezi River; and Zambia - a week in the South Luangwa National Park. I know I am biased, but there is no other place on earth that provides the same experience with large animals, herbivores and carnivores, and an incredible diversity of birds, trees, grasses and other creatures. It is a long way to travel from Toronto, our return trip lasting 39 hrs and consisting of 4 separate flights. The long trip is soon forgotten though within a day of being out in the wild areas. The travel arrangements went smoothly including a road transfer between Lusaka and Kariba either side of the canoe trip. The border officials were courteous and professional, and we were pleasantly surprised by Carribea Bay resort in Kariba, and the organisation of the canoe safari. The use of the $US throughout Zimbabwe has made goods and services quite expensive, and we just can't understand how most of the local Zimbabweans are able to survive with those prices. The memory from the canoe trip that will stick with us, will be the late afternoon paddles on the Zambezi with wonderful vistas across to the Zambian and Zimbabwean shores, hardly a ripple on the water, listening to the grunts of the frequent pods of hippos and the sight of occasional elephant on the shore. Add to that the cry of a pair of fish eagles, and it provides for a complete escape from city life ! The density of game in South Luangwa National Park was just awesome, and that was the first time I had seen a pride consisting of 15 lionesses, and that was just one part of the pride !
