John and Diane are at it Again!

[NanaLiz]

I am dreaming more and more of a world cruise as I follow. We are off to Panama cruise and north to Alaska form36 days of cruising in 3 weeks! I love being able to share your journey

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Johnny B]

Monday, March 24 - Day 79

Mauritius to Johannesburg, SA

 

What pain it was to leave the Oberoi Hotel in Mauritius. Fortunately, however, our car and driver weren’t scheduled until 1:30 this afternoon, so we had a good part of the day to enjoy the tropical bliss that surrounded us. We began the day at 7:00 with a Facetime visit with our daughter, son-in-law and (adorable) 7-year-old granddaughter, catching up and making arrangements for getting together when we get home in a month. It is such a pleasure to have unlimited free internet; you’d think we were home!

 

Afterwards we headed out for breakfast, down past the main building to the beautiful open-air restaurant where we had dinner last evening. While I’m mentioning dinner, I have a semi-embarrassing “learning” experience to report. We knew the restaurant would be expensive (entrees around $35.00 - $45.00) and had decided that we just wouldn’t worry about it. When the manager asked if we’d like an apertif, I said I’d like a kir royale, a combination of kir liqueur and Champagne, thinking it would probably cost about $15.00 (but I was worth it). Upon receipt of the check for dinner, I decided I must have misread it, but when we went over our bill on checkout this morning I found out it was true: we had paid $45.00 EACH for our two kir royales. How stupid of me not to ask! Dinner, however, was really delicious. I had a vegetarian Indian dish with rice in the middle surrounded by five different “add-ins.” John had a Mauritian seafood stew called Sea Vindae, with everything from scallops to octopus. At my age I’m still having to live and learn.

 

After an extended (included) breakfast of pretty much anything we wanted of a breakfast nature, we headed for the cobalt blue infinity pool that we so enjoyed yesterday. Finally it was time to head back to our room to pack and make sure everything was ready to go, which it was when the golf cart came for our luggage at 1:15.

 

The drive to the airport took almost an hour, but it was really scenic, through sugar cane fields and beneath jagged peaks. The Mauritius airport is almost brand new, and was really well organized. Unfortunately, our flight was about 45 minutes late, but because of extra speed, we only arrived 20 minutes late.

 

We were met at the airport by Lucky, a jovial driver who took it upon himself to give us a tour on the 25 minute drive to the hotel. If you look up The Residence Hotel, Johannesburg, you’ll see several references to Lucky. Our next to last stop was an incredibly moving one - at Nelson Mandela’s home, where the drapes were open, enabling us to see the large painting of “Mandiba” (what the South Africans called him) and his wife which hangs on the wall. Outside the wall, there were several planters containing painted stones on which people have written messages, including some get well wishes as well as condolences after his death last December. The spontaneity of this stop was something that wouldn’t usually be included in a “canned” tour.

 

Our hotel is amazing. We were greeted by Charity, the manager, and taken up the stairs to our suite - bedroom, living room, complimentary minibar, and large private patio with hot tub. Are we ever getting spoiled! Because we had a meal (of some sort) on the plane, we skipped dinner here, but right now we’re sitting in the bar (big surprise) having a nice glass of South African Sauvignon Blanc and bar snacks while using the hotel’s free internet.

 

It’s been a busy but quite memorable day, and if the hotels continue to be this good, we may never get used to going back home.

[cccole]

I loved your description of Mauritius, but the next adventures on your "overland" are to some of my favorite places, because of the sights, lodging, and especially the people who live there. If the airfares were not so much from LAX to Johannesburg I would visit at least once a year. I am really looking forward to your next reports. What's not to enjoy? Cherie

[MMDown Under]

I typed Dianeandjohn into the Facebook search window and the option came up to view their page.

 

Do you have to be a member of Facebook to access this?

[Johnny B]

Just go to Facebook.com and type in our names & you should be able to access our site.

[MMDown Under]

Just go to Facebook.com and type in our names & you should be able to access our site.

 

Thanks John and Diane.

 

On my computer, I have to join Facebook to access your Facebook page, even though your name comes up. I seem to be only able to click on links to access Facebook pages. Never mind, I'll access your page through my daughter's Facebook page, when I next visit.

 

In the meantime, I'll continue enjoying your blog. Looking forward to the rest of your "land adventure". Oberoi Hotel in Mauritius sounded absolutely wonderful. Pity about the $45 drink. Hope you really enjoyed it!

Edited March 25, 2014 by MMDown Under

[boards]

I cannot make if work either, so I will just follow you here.

[ger_77]

If anyone is having trouble accessing John and Diane's Facebook page, you might be leaving out a space when you put their name into the search:

 

DianeandJohn(space)St(space)John should get you there.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gerry

[Johnny B]

Tuesday, March 25 - Day 80

Johannesburg to Kasane, Botswana

 

What began as a pretty normal travel day evolved into a magical experience along the Chobe River this afternoon. Our new friend Lucky drove us (in the Mercedes SUV) to the airport, where we flew to Kasane, Botswana, to stay for three days at the Chobe Chilwero Lodge, an amazing place along the Chobe River.

 

Upon arrival, we were escorted to the open-air terrace, where lunch would be served. We were invited to make our own Greek salad (John’s favorite) and then to make our own pizza, which would be cooked in the lodge’s wood-burning pizza oven. Afterwards, we had about an hour free, which John chose to spend at the pool while I napped. Afternoon tea was served at 3:30, but we skipped that for a little more free time, and then it was time for our afternoon adventure.

 

Four years ago, when we stayed at Amakhala Game Reserve in South Africa, we had a morning game drive and than an afternoon drive. At Chobe, the afternoon is taken up by an afternoon boat ride along the Chobe River, which turned out to be just spectacular. We drove about seven minutes to the boat which seated our group of six (four very nice Brits and the two of us) and we took off down the river. We saw some smaller kudus and then came the highlight: twenty (yes, twenty) elephants which had decided to come down to the river to drink, wash, and then have a swim. We sat offshore and watched the entire group, from the one-year-old baby to the biggest female in the group, come rushing down the hill and then spend time drinking the river water. Afterwards, they decided it was time to swim, and boy, when elephants swim, they really do a job of it. It wasn’t very deep, but they were able to completely submerge themselves and have a wonderful time just playing and splashing.

 

After they had had enough time in the water, the alpha female loudly announced that it was time to go, and even though the troublesome “teenagers” wanted “just one more roll in the water,” they headed back up the hill. What an awesome sight.

 

Next we watched some greater kudu eat a great deal of dirt; according to our guide, it’s to replenish their body’s minerals. We also saw dozens of baboons running alongside the river bank and watched them play and fight and enjoy the water.

 

I’ve always read that the animal that causes the most deaths in Africa is the hippo, and our next sighting was three or four of them coming out of the water just enough to show their eyes and ears. As our boat proceeded along the river, we saw more and more and more of them - probably twenty in all. I know they’re interesting to watch, but they make me nervous because they can topple boats without any effort at all. In fact, before we began our cruise, our guide told us that if the boat is hit by a hippo, we are to grab our lifejackets immediately and swim as quickly as possible to the nearest shore - faster than the crocodiles in the river. We didn’t see any of them, but we know they’re there.

 

We had about an hour before we had to be in the main lodge, but because it was dark, we had to be escorted by one of the guides with his trusty flashlight. For the fifteen minutes before dinner, we had a tribal dance show by a group of local youngsters who had just finished secondary school and everyone seemed to enjoy it immensely.

 

For dinner, we sat with our “safari” group of six, and had a wonderful conversation while fighting off the bugs. I swear, they have moths and bugs the size of B-52’s here, but we spray ourselves with a DEET product to avoid bites.

 

So far, this is a wonderful experience. We’ll have a wakeup call at 6:00 tomorrow morning, breakfast at 6:30, and our morning game drive begins at 7:00. The animals sleep during the warm part of the day, so if you don’t see them early or late, you don’t see them at all.

 

P. S. Apparently our name is causing trouble on Facebook. Here's what it should be:

 

DianeandJohn St John (spaces between John and St and between

St and John) Thanks for calling that to our attention.

 

We should have some great photos tomorrow.

[boards]

Eh - I think I got it - yep success - I have got through - enjoying the pictures

[carri cruiser]

Eh - I think I got it - yep success - I have got through - enjoying the pictures

 

Boards, do you have to be a member of facebook to see the photos???

I am not/ do not want to be a member, but would love to see the photos.

If you don't have to sign up for facebook, would you please explain how you got to see the pictures? thanks.

[boards]

I am a member, but I do not use it very much, because it can become to public, which I do not like. So in order to see the pictures I am fairly certain you will have to register. I am sure someone who is more familiar with facebook can verify what it.

[cccole]

I know I should just be thrilled to bits for you, and I am, but...after this report of your fabulous day in Chobe, I am sooooooo jealous. Did you have sundowners on your afternoon/evening river safari? Can't wait for your next post. Cherie

[carri cruiser]

I am a member, but I do not use it very much, because it can become to public, which I do not like. So in order to see the pictures I am fairly certain you will have to register. I am sure someone who is more familiar with facebook can verify what it.

 

I agree about it being too public, I was a member for 4 days once, but have not been on it since 2010, and don't even know what my password was, however I found a way to see the pictures, I had my 20 year old grandson pull them up on his facebook, and just looked at them that way!! can't wait till tomorrows, maybe they will have photos of those elephants and hippos!!!

sounds like a marvelous trip they are on!!

[Johnny B]

Wednesday, March 26 - Day 81

Chobe Chilwero Game Park, Botswana

 

Chobe National Park contains the largest concentration of elephants in Africa (and I guess that means on earth). There are somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000, which means that whether you’re driving down the highway, on the dirts roads in the park, or sailing along the river, chances are you’re going to have to stop and allow a herd of elephants to pass. That’s what happened this morning, as we drove out of our property and onto the highway toward the park entrance and saw a huge bull elephant just ambling across the road. While we were in the park, it actually happened several times, and boy was it fun to watch.

 

We’ve settled into our bungalow quite well (all 1080 square feet of it - not including the back garden or the outdoor shower), and have several places to sit and read or work: the desk, the bar cabinet (fully stocked), the chaise lounge at the foot of the bed or the corner sofa I’m using right now. When we put dirty clothes into the hamper, the maid picks them up, washes, dries and irons them and they are returned that afternoon - all included. The food is excellent and all drinks, soft and hard, are complimentary. It’s just a lovely place.

 

Our afternoon cruise yesterday was a “sundowner,” 75% animal hunting and 25% cocktail hour - typical of game resorts. We returned just as the sky was turning dark and had only about a half hour to get ready for our evening’s dance entertainment and our three-course dinner - oh darn.

 

Our wakeup call this morning came at 6:00, followed five minutes later by a nice young man knocking at our door to make sure we were actually awake. Breakfast was at 6:30, and our four-hour game drive began at 7:00 with Jonathan, our guide, in our Range Rover open-sided all-terrain vehicle, a necessity for this job. We drove the five minutes to the park entrance and then began a wonderful morning of animal sightings. We began with our first herd of Impala, beautiful two-toned brown creatures, the males of the species with spiral horns.

 

Then we headed down to the river, where we drove along looking for all kinds of critters, and boy, did we see them. We had to drive through another herd of upwards of a hundred impala, grazing on the riverside grass and drinking from the river. Then, the first thing that Jonathan pointed out was what we all thought was a rock alongside the bank, but as we looked closer, we realized that it was just the eyes and top of a head of a six-foot crocodile. It was just the first of several we saw, only one of which was completely out of the water. We drove past a water buffalo, and John took a great photo of him with a snowy egret on his back.

 

Then began the hippos. They look at first like large grey rocks submerged in the water, but then you see their little eyes and ears come up. Later, we began to see larger numbers of them, and finally an entire family which decided to come completely out of the water - what a sight! I’m sure we’ll see even more of them on today’s sundowner boat ride on the river.

 

A lovely unexpected sight was a sizable herd of sables, a large antelope cousin which looks a lot like a horse, complete with a short mane. They’re a lovely tan color as youngsters, but as adults, they become the color they’re named for. I asked Jonathan if he knew of the fur-coated sable used for coats, but he didn’t. After this sighting, we headed to a picnic area for our mid-morning tea/coffee break.

 

We meandered through the park some more, and it seemed that everywhere we looked there were groups of elephants, some just standing there, some crossing the road in front of us, and some heading down the hill to the river. As we looked farther, we noticed groups of them crossing the river to the reed-covered islands in the middle, first getting completely wet and then stirring up the dust on the islands for a bit of a dust bath. They are absolutely fascinating animals. Then, sadly, it was time to return to the resort, but lovely to have five free hours.

 

We’re just about ready to head out to 3:30 tea on the terrace, followed by our sundowner cruise at 4:00. What a life, and what a fascinating place.

 

P. S. A thunderstorm just started, so we don’t know what will happen to our sundowner. I’ll keep you posted.

[boards]

It sure does. It is on DW's bucketlist to go on a safari. I am trying to figure (calculate the cost) out how to do it. Looking forward to the review here by Diane and John and the WCB's and the pictures.

Edited March 26, 2014 by boards

[Cruise NH]

For those wanting to view the pics but not sign up for facebook...just create a dummy registration, that's what I did years ago to get 'facebook' rates at hotels I wanted to stay at.

 

First, I would recommend to anyone that they set up a free email account at a place like yahoo, then use that email address for anything you don't want to be bothered with on a regular basis. I've used this address so many times on things where you have to submit a 'real' address but don't want to give my daily use email account.

 

Then go into Facebook and basically give false information. Make up a high school, etc. Write down the password somewhere and just go on when you need to have a facebook account.

 

It was worth the couple of minutes it took me to do this.

[carri cruiser]

For those wanting to view the pics but not sign up for facebook...just create a dummy registration, that's what I did years ago to get 'facebook' rates at hotels I wanted to stay at.

 

First, I would recommend to anyone that they set up a free email account at a place like yahoo, then use that email address for anything you don't want to be bothered with on a regular basis. I've used this address so many times on things where you have to submit a 'real' address but don't want to give my daily use email account.

 

Then go into Facebook and basically give false information. Make up a high school, etc. Write down the password somewhere and just go on when you need to have a facebook account.

 

It was worth the couple of minutes it took me to do this.

 

thanks for the info, maybe I will try that!!

[Johnny B]

Thursday, March 27 - Day 82

Chobe Chilwero Game Lodge, Botswana

Get comfortable - this is a long one.

 

What a spectacular day! It was probably the best day of the whole cruise - even though we’re not presently on the cruise. It began as did yesterday, with our wakeup call at 6:00, and then breakfast at 6:30 and our game drive at 7:00. After we entered the park, we drove down to the riverside route, where we saw more crocodiles than on any previous drive. Most were “moderate size,” according to Jonathan (about six feet), but then we saw one partially submerged which he told us was about five or six meters - 15 to 18 feet! Yowsers!

 

We saw a few dozen more hippos, but none of them were courteous enough to come completely out of the water, so we just continued on, watching some fascinating, multi-colored birds, including one that looked just like a bald eagle. I’m not really a bird person, but these were exceptional. As we drove along we saw three warthogs, a young male, a female, and a baby - just too cute.

 

After our leisurely drive along the riverbank, we returned to the main part of the park and, all of a sudden, Jonathan began driving like a madman toward several other park vehicles. All we could hear over his radio was the quietly spoken word “lion,” so we were all atwitter. As we parked, we saw a beautiful lioness cross the road as though she were the only creature in the world, ignoring the four or five game vehicles. We snapped and snapped, and then Jonathan directed our attention to the side of the road from whence she had come, where, at a little distance, we saw a small lion cub peeking out from the tall grass. Then we saw another. As we tried to get photos of them, there was another one! Finally, we heard “mom” make a deep sound, and along the path, in perfect kindergarten order, came FIVE lion cubs, as brave as could be. Jonathan estimated their age at about three months. They stopped and played from time to time, but when they approached the road they completely ignored the vehicles and crossed to continue over to where mom was stretched out in the grass. As each one approached her, they rubbed noses and faces and rolled around and on her. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so cute. John’s trying to upload our amazing photos, but the camp’s internet isn’t currently cooperating. Hopefully it will soon.

 

After the family reunion, all six of them headed over to the shady area beside a large tree, where they met up with dad. We could see his back as he was lying down, but he wasn’t considerate enough to raise his head for a photo. We could see, however, that the cubs climbed all over him, and it didn’t seem to faze him.

 

Finally, when the whole group was out of sight, we continued on with our game drive. We saw a few Cape Buffalo and then, at long last, a giraffe. Four years ago, at Amakhala, giraffes were everywhere, and we always had a view of several from our bungalow. Here, however, they seem to be as rare as hen’s teeth, so it was an exciting sighting. Then we continued on and happened upon a herd of zebra, so we stopped for the obligatory photos. They really are just the most photogenic creatures - almost as much so as lion cubs.

 

Then it was time to return “home,” so we returned to our home away from home to upload photos to the computer. As I was sitting at the desk, I heard and saw a few pieces of the roof’s thatching come down outside the window and said to John, “the monkeys are on the roof.” It wasn’t monkeys, however. Just then I saw a long, scaly tail extending down from the roof, and the next thing I knew a three-foot monitor lizard made his way under the roof’s overhang and onto the tree looking right in our window. I immediately (after taking a couple of photos) called the front desk and asked what to do with a monitor lizard outside our window and was told that they were harmless and to ignore it. Sure!

 

While John was editing photos, I went out into our backyard and lay in the hammock (what a life!) to read. As he opened the door to let me know he was finished, there was a loud “thump,” and the monitor lizard fell to the ground. That told me it was time to finish reading, so I hurried into the bungalow while he found the exit for which he was looking.

 

Have I told you about the baboons? I’m looking at one out our front window as I write. The layout here at Chobe Chilwero is lovely. The reception/sitting area/dining room is in the middle, and individual bungalows (15 total) extend to either side. In front of all the bungalows is a large expanse of lawn and we overlook the Chobe River down the hill. It really is quite beautiful. There are lots of trees in the lawns, and in the trees reside several families of baboons. The full-grown ones are about two or two and a half feet tall at the shoulder, and they walk along the lawn, come up on the porches, and just generally look interested in what’s going on. If you look out the window at them, they’ll look right back at you and you can tell how intelligent they are. Then there are the babies - dozens of them - who run and play and wrestle and climb trees - just like any other kids. It is just so darned much fun to watch them play. It’s just when they climb on the roof and make noise at 5:00 in the morning that they’re a little annoying.

 

The other critters that make regular appearances while we sit on the terrace having breakfast or lunch are the mongoose (mongeese?) They run and chase and I just know that one of them is Rikki Tikki Tavi.

 

The only down part of today’s game drive was coming upon a small impala who was struggling to walk with what was apparently a broken leg. Jonathan told us that he no doubt would not be alive tomorrow, because “the law of the jungle” teaches us that, in the wild, only the fit survive. That led to a discussion of the rules in this beautiful national park. He said that there is no intervention in animal life here. If there is disease, then animals die. If there are too many of any one species, some of them die. They do not cull herds, nor do they treat animal illnesses. They want the wildlife in Botswana to live as it always has, because nature brings its own balance.

 

Speaking of wildlife, the lunch and dinner menus have provided some interesting choices. Yesterday for lunch, one of the choices was kudu, which a friend said was “quite tasty.” Last night, one of the starters was crocodile in filo dough, and the two friends at our table who tried it were not too impressed. Their description was “chewy chicken.” For the main course, they ordered ostrich and seemed to like that better. At today’s lunch, impala was one of the main course choices, and no one I know ordered it. All I could think about was that poor little injured impala. BTW, game meats are not from the park; they are products of farms that specialize in those animals. I must add, also, that I’ve really enjoyed the vegetarian choices thus far.

 

This place is amazing! We haven’t even gone for our sundowner cruise yet, and I feel like I’ve had as much excitement today as I’m entitled to, and then some. Yesterday’s cruise took us to an area which had almost a thousand Cape Buffalo, with some elephants sprinkled in among them. We are SUCH lucky people.

[POA1]

If I may bleg here...

 

Can someone simply post the URL stub one would use to find the FaceBook page with the photos? DW would like to see the baby animals from the safari. Just post the part after the ***.com/ and we'll figure it out. There won't be any spaces in it and there may be some dots and a number. Just copy it from the address bar of your browser.

 

Many, many thanks!

 

A bleg is something you beg for in a blog. :confused:

Edited March 27, 2014 by POA1

[brlight]

POA1,

Here it is: dianeandjohn?fref=ts[/url]

Good luck!

Edited March 27, 2014 by brlight

[POA1]

POA1,

Here it is: dianeandjohn

Good luck!

 

Thanks! I couldn't find them using the normal search and it was driving me nuts. I really appreciate the help!:)

[boards]

DianeandJohn St John - is what I used. I needed to include St John because another name came up if I didn't. Just reporting what happened to me - do not really like facebook - but I wanted to see the great pictures.

Edited March 28, 2014 by boards

[Johnny B]

Friday, March 28 - Day 83

Chobe, Botswana to Victoria Falls, Zambia

 

We’ve never had a hotel suite with a butler and a zebra-skin rug in the living room, but here we are and loving every minute of it (except for that poor zebra, of course). Sadly, we had to leave Chobe Chilwaro today, but at least we had what our new British friends called a “lie in,” so that we didn’t get the 6:00 wakeup call. We did get to the dining room in time to give them goodbye hugs, and we’ve spoken about how to get together in the future, possibly with a home exchange.

 

At 10:00, our transfer vehicle arrived, and we headed to the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, where trucks have to wait 7 days to get on the ferry that takes them to the other side, in Zambia. We, however, just hopped on a small speedboat and crossed the river, where we were met by the man who would transfer us to Livingstone, the town which contains Victoria Falls. While we waited for him, however, we were greeted by two young men who had teak carvings for us to buy, and although we certainly didn’t need them, we fell for their charm and sad stories (“but this money will help feed my family”) so we bought two beautiful small trays and a carved giraffe.

 

We then had a one-hour drive to Livingstone, where our hotel was located. It was really an interesting drive, passing small communities where the homes were round mud huts with cone-shaped thatched roofs. We also passed dozens of uniformed children heading home from school, and our guide told us that they live in orphanages, because of the scourge of AIDS in Africa.

 

When we arrived at our hotel, the Royal Livingstone, we oohed and aahed at its opulence as well as the fact that its land is part of a national park, so it has zebras, impalas and giraffes roaming the property. We checked in and a nice young man in a golf cart drove us to our suite and introduced us to our butler who showed us around the room(s). I swear, the bathroom here is bigger than our stateroom on the ship!

 

By then it was time for lunch, so we headed to the hotel’s restaurant where we discovered that the portions were really enough for two. After lunch, however, we headed down the path to Victoria Falls, which was the real reason for this destination. Shortly after we began, however, the rain started, but we decided that we’d just continue. After about a mile, we arrived at the entrance to the Falls, where our room key got us free admission. Victoria Falls is magnificent, the second largest cataract in the world (after Iguazu in Argentina/Brazil) and it sprays so much water that even had it not been raining, we would have been wet. Tomorrow we have an 11:00 AM tour of the Falls, so I guess we’ll see even more.

 

After our rainy walk, the rain actually stopped and the sun came out, so we donned swimsuits and headed to the pool where we were joined by a large group of English-speaking tourists who apparently had been sampling too much of the local brew.

 

At 6:00, we walked to the riverside overlook/bar where many people gather to watch sunset over the Zambezi River. It was spectacular, and then all of a sudden (as happens in the tropics) it was dark, so it was time to head back to the restaurant for dinner. The food was delicious (I had chicken Masala and John had ribs and noodles), but halfway through dinner the loud group from the pool moved in and then the peaceful ambiance ended. Oh well. We feel much better since we’ve learned that they’re checking out tomorrow morning.

 

We do love this place. Our suite is on a grassy area that goes down to the river, and from our room we can see the mist rise above the waterfall. We’re really looking forward to our tour tomorrow, so that we can see more of the Falls and learn even more about Dr. Livingstone.

 

P. S. John has posted some more great photos on Facebook.

[alibabacruisers]

Thanks for your blog...I am enjoying it a lot!

Edited March 28, 2014 by alibabacruisers