Antarctica & Cape to Cape on Cloud 2-21-24

highplanesdrifters · March 23

Living Desert Tour

Part 2

Remember this guy, the water beetle?

He is about to meet his demise.

Meet the Chameleon.

The guides feed them on a regular basis and they can recognize individuals. Who knew.

They are also fond of having their tails scratched.

A few refreshments at the beach the back to the ship.

The usual vendors outside the port.

Finished packing and suitcases out the door.

Edited March 23 by highplanesdrifters

highplanesdrifters · March 23

Departure Day

AKA, hurry up and wait day.

We got stuck with the last charter flight at 5 p.m. Ugh. They kicked us off the ship at 10 a.m. for a Township tour of Swakopmund and a "lite" lunch. Airport drop at 3pm. Oh boy, a bus ride and banquet buffet.

Perhaps I was a tad quick to judge given previous experiences. It was an interesting and lovely day.

We visited the previously segregated suburbs of Swakopmund. Cultural traditions are strong and the area blends many classes. We were treated to song, dance, food and an explanation of the many cultures that merge.

Town scenes.

I sure hope this company has a good method to keep their products separated.

How about a lite lunch.

It started with a delicious salad full of fresh berries, our first in 6 weeks.

A few of the entrees.

Sprinkbok Schnitzel

Local fish

Vege rice dish.

A great spot on the warf with tasty food.

A Flock of Flamingos on the way to the airport.

All in all a lovely day.

Except for all the guests who now fell the need to push and jump the queue more than before it was a rather civilized flight to Capetown and Check in.

Off to Londolozi tomorrow, 8am pick up.

RyanJCanada · March 23

39 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Thanks for the kind words.

No kids on either leg. Just adults acting like children. We had a particularly high ratio. But it was made up by all the fantastic people we met.

There were kid's on our previous Antarctic trip. I'd say 8-14 years old, a total of maybe 5. There were also older teenagers lurking about. They were all great kids, spoiled by Expedition Staff and well loved by all crew. I wouldn't hesitate to give yours the gift of that amazing place.

Paris Morocco sounds fab. Did you post anywhere?

Ha! Yes, we ran into some of that ourselves... but very glad to hear that the good outweighed the bad.

Kids were definitely spoiled by crew, expedition staff and even their fellow passengers last time - they're really looking forward to Galapagos this summer and Antarctic / Cape-to-Cape in 2025.

As for our recent trip, we ended up live-posting both Morocco and Paris on our blog here:

Morocco - Morocco Storybook Tour – Day 1 – Unknown Longitude

Paris - Morocco Storybook Tour – Day 12 / Paris – Day 1 – Unknown Longitude

For Morocco, we did an Arabian Nights 'storybook' tour with Black Tomato, while Paris was mostly on our own except for several private day tours with Context Travel.

And did I hear you're going on a safari after this? Hope you'll take us along for the ride...

cruisintime · March 24

@highplanesdrifters

Thanks for taking the time to give me such a thorough answer to my question about the impacts of the avian flu, including all the pictures. Looks amazing! You've given me great insights and I really appreciate it. It's a big help in preparing for the adventure next year.

Edited March 24 by cruisintime

highplanesdrifters · March 24

13 hours ago, RyanJCanada said:

Ha! Yes, we ran into some of that ourselves... but very glad to hear that the good outweighed the bad.

Kids were definitely spoiled by crew, expedition staff and even their fellow passengers last time - they're really looking forward to Galapagos this summer and Antarctic / Cape-to-Cape in 2025.

As for our recent trip, we ended up live-posting both Morocco and Paris on our blog here:

Morocco - Morocco Storybook Tour – Day 1 – Unknown Longitude

Paris - Morocco Storybook Tour – Day 12 / Paris – Day 1 – Unknown Longitude

For Morocco, we did an Arabian Nights 'storybook' tour with Black Tomato, while Paris was mostly on our own except for several private day tours with Context Travel.

And did I hear you're going on a safari after this? Hope you'll take us along for the ride...

Oh goody, more travel blogs to read, thanks.

C2C - I wish you everything that we had. And that's a lot.

Safari, cmon along!

highplanesdrifters · March 24

7 hours ago, cruisintime said:

@highplanesdrifters

Thanks for taking the time to give me such a thorough answer to my question about the impacts of the avian flu, including all the pictures. Looks amazing! You've given me great insights and I really appreciate it. It's a big help in preparing for the adventure next year.

I went through the same angst, so happy to help. Knowing what I now know, I'd go back again next year in a heartbeat. I hope you'll take us along. It will be fabulous.

highplanesdrifters · March 24

We got situated in our Capetown hotel around 9pm. Silversea put us up at Capital on Orange, nice hotel. I started thinking, what was I thinking? We're tired, we've just had the most amazing trip. We should have gone home and digested. But nooooo, I had to book a Safari! So let's go.

We flew into Skukuza, the airport for Krueger National Park.

My kind of baggage claim.

Our driver met us to take us to Londolozi in Sabi Sands.

Five minutes into the trip to Londolozi we see a Leopard. Not the best snap....but a Leopard five minutes from the airport. I was hooked.

Along the way we were treated to a plethora of wildlife. Zebra, Giraffe, Antelope, Warthog, Hippos, the list goes on. We weren't even on a game drive yet. This was just zippy drive bys.

I love me some Zebra.

Next up, afternoon game drive.

highplanesdrifters · March 24

Afternoon Game Drive

We finished a quick orientation by 3:15 and they asked if we could be ready be 3:30. Quick change and off we went.

We saw so much. Just the highlights for now.

Me thinks they are pointing the way.

Lion Pride Food Coma, Giraffe kill.

Look at that belly.

This kill will last them a few days. The panting helps with the Coma.

Hyenas coming around to take over the kill. They're a little too early and outnumbered.

Crock surfing for fish.

Sundowners!

Not a bad Day One.

LandlockedLolli · March 25

6 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Afternoon Game Drive

We finished a quick orientation by 3:15 and they asked if we could be ready be 3:30. Quick change and off we went.

We saw so much. Just the highlights for now.

Me thinks they are pointing the way.

Lion Pride Food Coma, Giraffe kill.

Look at that belly.

This kill will last them a few days. The panting helps with the Coma.

Hyenas coming around to take over the kill. They're a little too early and outnumbered.

Crock surfing for fish.

Sundowners!

Not a bad Day One.

LandlockedLolli · March 25

Wowza. Just when you think it can’t get any better!

highplanesdrifters · March 25

13 hours ago, LandlockedLolli said:

Wowza. Just when you think it can’t get any better!

Just wait!

highplanesdrifters · March 25

5 a.m wake up.

Leopards on the agenda. Not sure if the Leopards got the memo.

First up and always a fave Zebra.

The boys having a bit of fun.

An old Buffalo deserted by the herd. A little sad.

Black backed Jackel. Those ears!

A surprise pride of different lions. Heck ya. Might have been up to 20, with kits of all different sizes. Quite a scene change from yesterdays carnage.

Look how close we get.

Showing the love.

Now about those Leopards.....

highplanesdrifters · March 25

Meet Nkoveni.

We spent the rest of the morning stalking her while she was stalking dinner.

Dinner just a hundred yards away.

Stalk

Super stalk, will she pounce?

So much going on as the lion pride is not far away. Could be dangerous. A lot of tension and pressure. Shes got 3 hidden kits to feed. Sadly, no luck for her yet.

We went for a coffee break while she took a nap.

Oh Hello!

Imagine the sock bill.

Heron

Croc

We returned to Nkoveni, she was still napping and then woke up with a big yawn. Maybe I don't want to pet her.

Is she coming to say hello?

Yikes, I could have given her a pet.

We'll say goodby for today. Thanks for the amazing show. We've been out for over 4 hours. Time for a little breakfast.

But wait....

Elephant break.

And that was just the morning!

highplanesdrifters · March 25

Afternoon Drive Agenda

A few male lions with their ladies.

Wink wink.

A spectacular afternoon with occasional sprinkles, which gave us a few rainbows. However, the lions had other plans and skipped over to the next reserve.

No worries still lots to see. After all, we did see 4 of the "Big 5" this morning.

Giant herds of Impalas and Wildebeast. They may be ubiquitous but I am thrilled to be amongst them.

This guy practicing his dressage moves.

Interspecies meet up.

Shinny and sparkly after the rain.

Hungry Hippos

Oh my, another big boy! Did you know they are right and left tusked? No really, I'm serious, it's true. Really, I'm not kidding.

Kirst our most excellent guide still looking at lion tracks. Which way did they go?

Mongoose. Such a ***** face, quit the truck rumbling I've got a souffle in the oven.

And the sweet spot, Gin tasting.

Thank you Kirst and our tracker Lucky who spent most of the day on foot in the bush. Wow, what a day.

mchell810 · March 26

Stunning photos! A safari has always been on my list; looks like I'll need to take a break from cruising to make this happen sooner.

highplanesdrifters · March 26

8 hours ago, mchell810 said:

Stunning photos! A safari has always been on my list; looks like I'll need to take a break from cruising to make this happen sooner.

Same here, I wish we had done it sooner.

Fletcher · March 26

4 hours ago, mchell810 said:

Stunning photos! A safari has always been on my list; looks like I'll need to take a break from cruising to make this happen sooner.

More care and research needs to be done for a safari than almost every other type of vacation. You can be lucky or you can make some very expensive mistakes.

DavyWavey70 · March 26

I'm loving following along HPD, SA is one of my 2 most likely options I'm looking into for next January, the other being a round the world trip. These great posts might be swaying me to bring SA forward a year.

kej1 · March 26

Londolozi one of my favorite safari lodges and a great place to see leopard. Next door at Singita nice too. I’m really enjoying your photos and missing South Africa!

drron29 · March 26

In 2026 we have a cruise ending in Capetown. Leopard are also on my bucket list. I have seen a couple but at great distance so we have picked Londolozi to spend a few days after the cruise.

Graet to see your photos even that behind the undergrowth.

southerngoose · March 26

If you book a cruise to Africa to do these safari excursions, is it possible to know if the excursion is available prior to signing up for the cruise? I wouldn't want to book a cruise where everyone else goes on the excursion but me. 😞.

highplanesdrifters · March 27

23 hours ago, Fletcher said:

More care and research needs to be done for a safari than almost every other type of vacation. You can be lucky or you can make some very expensive mistakes.

Hear hear. I spent days working on it. Will post about the process.

@drron29

Sounds like you have done your leopard research. Londolozi is "THE' leopard place. More reports to come. We are in the Granite suites. Highly recommend. Learned that Granite and Tree House tend to get the more senior trackers. But I believe you can request. If so, grab Kirst and Lucky. 😃

highplanesdrifters · March 27

15 hours ago, southerngoose said:

If you book a cruise to Africa to do these safari excursions, is it possible to know if the excursion is available prior to signing up for the cruise? I wouldn't want to book a cruise where everyone else goes on the excursion but me. 😞.

This was booked separately from the cruise line. I would recommend doing that. The cruise excursions are usually overnight quickies.

highplanesdrifters · March 27

A.M. Drive

Started out nice and quiet.

A few waterbuck.

Owl

Yellow billed something. Sorry my brain can only remember so much.

Rumor of leopards and Tracks.

Which way did they go?

Chatter on the radio, two female leopards fighting. Hold on tight. We went flying through the bush.

The match up.

Upstart Xinkhova looking to take over some teritorterritory.

Three Rivers. The previous underdog, or should I say under cat. She has survived against all odds. He mother was killed by a Lion when she was quite young. Fought her way to the top.