“the Big One”! World Cruise on Sojourn

[shark b8]

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by shark b8

[shark b8]

This ol’ guy has a few scars.  And a few stories, I bet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Must confess, I wasn’t expecting….ostriches.  

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Those impalas are everywhere.  One almost says to the guide, “any way to shoo all the impalas away?  They’re blockin’ my shot”.  

 

[shark b8]

“Stop touching me!  MOM!  He’s doing it again, he’s TOUCHING ME!  MAKE HIM STOP!”   (I was a little brother, once upon a time.  That’s how we roll)

 

 

 

[shark b8]

A table folds down from the grille.  The land cruisers are multi-purpose vehicles.  😉

 

[shark b8]

…and then the late afternoon drives are the “Sundowners”.  With the de rigeur, obligatory gin & tonic, the “Official Cocktail of the African Game Drive”.

 

[shark b8]

“Pooping Lion, Hidden Dragon”, The Sequel.    (are they trying to tell us something?)

 

[shark b8]

 

 

 

[SLSD]

3 hours ago, shark b8 said:

“Stop touching me!  MOM!  He’s doing it again, he’s TOUCHING ME!  MAKE HIM STOP!”   (I was a little brother, once upon a time.  That’s how we roll)

 

 

IMG_6417.MOV 6.73 MB · 7 downloads  

 

So adorable!

[galeforce9]

If anyone is reading this from the UK who

is onboard, would you mind sharing current visa requirements and how you dealt with these/ease/cost for the ports north of Cape Town, to Cape Verde please? 

[florisdekort]

12 hours ago, galeforce9 said:

If anyone is reading this from the UK who

is onboard, would you mind sharing current visa requirements and how you dealt with these/ease/cost for the ports north of Cape Town, to Cape Verde please? 

 
We didn’t do anything. The ship is handling it at a fee of $70 per visa. 
 

Floris 

 

[galeforce9]

4 minutes ago, florisdekort said:

 
We didn’t do anything. The ship is handling it at a fee of $70 per visa. 
 

Floris 

 

Hi Floris.   That’s really helpful thanks. I hope they do this for UK Citizens too

[florisdekort]

10 minutes ago, galeforce9 said:

Hi Floris.   That’s really helpful thanks. I hope they do this for UK Citizens too

It’s for everyone on board.

 

Cheers, 

Floris 

[shark b8]

There were only seven “tented” units at our lodge in Namibia.  They are all clustered around a natural water hole, where you could watch all sorts of wildlife stroll down for a drink.

 

 

 

[shark b8]

The elephants love the river grass, and when they pull it up, they smack it on the water a few times, to knock the mud off the roots. 

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Hippo fight.  Or sibling rivalry.  Or domestic disturbance.  (Sound on pls)

 

 

 

[SLSD]

1 hour ago, shark b8 said:

Hippo fight.  Or sibling rivalry.  Or domestic disturbance.  (Sound on pls)

 

 

IMG_6502.MOV 6.39 MB · 0 downloads  

 

I've enjoyed all the videos.  You and Mrs. Shark B8 have had a most excellent experience.  Thank you for taking us along.  

[shark b8]

mmmm, tasty dinner at the TKG tonight.  We mostly don't do dessert (other than the Sauternes thing) but I ordered a lemony thing (can’t remember the way it was described).  Along with a glass of Sauternes of course.  Anyway, I looked at it and flashed on….where have I seen exactly these shapes before?  (which is a little weird, with food, right?).  Two hours later, finally figured it out.  Bagan, in the upper part of Myanmar.  Ain’t travel fun?!   😎. (Just for transparency, Bagan photo below is not my own)

 

 

[shark b8]

“HALT, STRANGER.  I AM THE GATEKEEPER.  YOU SHALL NOT PASS”.

 

(pause in the narrative)

 

(giraffe giggles.  “hahahahahha, OK, just kidding.  Go ahead!”)

 

 

 

 

 

[pyffii]

fabulous photos and videos....many thanks shark b8

[shark b8]

Y’all know that safari experiences talk about “The Big Five” - lions, leopards, African buffalo, rhinos, and elephants.  We had seen all except the leopard in the three trips we did on this cruise, and they’re famous for being among the more difficult, rare animals to get a clear sighting.  Had seen a leopard five years ago in either the Serengeti or Maasai Mara, but he was way up in a leafy tree snoozing peacefully, hard to really make out - it was definitely a leopard, but surely not a very satisfying sighting.  On one of these latest safaris (I think the Botswana one), a woman was pleading with the driver/guide, “I wanna see a leopard, I wanna see a leopard!”, and on the last game drive, we turned a corner and……

 

 

 

 

 

 

[shark b8]

All those impalas are built for speed and grace, the much bigger kudus are more built for power, I think.   Great horns on the males.  And straight horns, on the orix.  

 

 

 

[shark b8]

Amusing predicament for the giraffes, at Happy Hour time.

 

[shark b8]

And also in the antelope family, the tiny and elusive dik-dik, barely more than a foot tall and only 6-7 pounds.