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Jim & Cynthia | profile | all galleries >> Letters from Africa - Travel Stories >> Chapter 2: Africa 2004 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Chapter 2: Africa 2004

Magical, enchanting . . . and unforgettable.
We started in Namibia, a wonderful country on the west coast of southern Africa. It is about twice the size of California but with only 1.5 million inhabitants. As most of the citizens live in the capital city, Windhoek (pronounced "ven-took"), the rest of the country is pretty wild and untouched. Just the way we like it!
. . . . . . .

Please see Cynthia's book of travel essays that accompany these beautiful photographs:
http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Africa-Travel-Stories-Adventuresome/dp/0595531237/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233348001&sr=1-2
Cynthia says good bye to Sean
Cynthia says "good bye" to Sean		 Ready for our trip!
Ready for our trip!		 Our reflection at SFO
Our reflection at SFO		 Good legroom on Virgin (exit row)
Good legroom on Virgin (exit row)		 South Africa at last!!
South Africa at last!!
And, waiting for our next flight ... at Joberg
And, waiting for our next flight ... at Joberg		 Finally: Windhoek International
Finally: Windhoek International		 Ours is the little plane
Ours is the little plane		 Enroute to our first safari camp
Enroute to our first safari camp		 The landscape near Windhoek
The landscape near Windhoek
Interesting formations on the way to the Namib desert
Interesting formations on the way to the Namib desert		 And, the sand is getting RED!
And, the sand is getting RED!		 Landing in the Namib (notice Jim's full airsickness bag near the jeep)
Landing in the Namib (notice Jim's full airsickness bag near the jeep)		 Our first camp: Little Kulala, in the Namib
Our first camp: Little Kulala, in the Namib		 Fascinating architecture
Fascinating architecture
African AND Southwestern style
African AND "Southwestern" style		 Inside the great room
Inside the great room		 Our chalet, from behind
Our chalet, from behind		 and our chalet, from the front
and our chalet, from the front		 Our view from bed
Our view from bed
Quite sumptuous!
Quite sumptuous!		 Our FIRST SUNDOWNERS, on our rooftop!!
Our FIRST SUNDOWNERS, on our rooftop!!		 later, we could sleep under the stars!
later, we could sleep under the stars!		 Looking down into our outdoor shower garden
Looking down into our outdoor shower garden		 So nice, after a day in the desert!
So nice, after a day in the desert!
Jim is starting his beard (and got a nice new hat)
Jim is starting his beard (and got a nice new hat)		 With our guides and staff
With our guides and staff		 Getting ready for the balloon ride (MOON too!)
Getting ready for the balloon ride (MOON too!)		 Filling with hot air
Filling with hot air		 The view from our basket
The view from our basket
The flame burner
The flame burner		 Looking down on our camp, Little Kulala
Looking down on our camp, Little Kulala		 Watching the other balloon land in the desert!
Watching the other balloon land in the desert!		 Machete flourish to open the champagne
Machete flourish to open the champagne		 Our first solo WALK in Africa
Our first solo WALK in Africa
To the top of Black Mountain
To the top of Black Mountain		 With a great view towards our camp
With a great view towards our camp		 Great Eagle Owl
Great Eagle Owl		 Sociable Weaver nest
Sociable Weaver nest		 The condo doors in the Weaver's nest
The "condo" doors in the Weaver's nest
Amarula sundowners and Bushman grass
Amarula sundowners and Bushman grass		 The dunes of Sossusvlei in early morning light
The dunes of Sossusvlei in early morning light		 Such perfect shadows
Such perfect shadows		 Hiking up Dune 45
Hiking up Dune 45		 View from the top
View from the top
Cynthia at the top of Dune 45
Cynthia at the top of Dune 45		 The dunes are really huge (see Cynthia)
The dunes are really huge (see Cynthia)		 And running down!
And running down!		 Dunescape
Dunescape		 More dunescape
More dunescape
And more dunescape
And more dunescape		 And yet more dunescape
And yet more dunescape		 Dead vlei (or, pan) (see the people)
Dead vlei (or, "pan") (see the people)		 This was once a waterhole!
This was once a waterhole!		 Trees on Dead Vlei
Trees on Dead Vlei
I love it here!
I love it here!		 Unfortunate Jim, sick, on the ground by the jeep
Unfortunate Jim, sick, on the ground by the jeep		 Our first Ostrich!
Our first Ostrich!		 Flying over the Sossusvlei Dunes
Flying over the Sossusvlei Dunes		 80 km of dunes, stretching to the ocean
80 km of dunes, stretching to the ocean
Arriving at the coast, in Swakopmund
Arriving at the coast, in Swakopmund		 Flying up the Namibian coast (colony of seals!!)
Flying up the Namibian coast (colony of seals!!)		 Just landed at Skeleton Coast (camp in the background)
Just landed at Skeleton Coast (camp in the background)		 Looking back at our plane from camp
Looking back at our plane from camp		 The honeymoon cottage at Skeleton Coast!
The honeymoon cottage at Skeleton Coast!
The inside of our honeymoon tent
The inside of our honeymoon tent		 The view from our room
The view from our room		 Jim on the beautiful scree
Jim on the beautiful scree		 A gecko we found on our nature walk
A gecko we found on our nature walk		 It's a bit cold and desolate
It's a bit cold and desolate
But hauntingly beautiful
But hauntingly beautiful		 King Albert, the local Gemsbok Oryx
King Albert, the local Gemsbok Oryx		 An empty summer settlement of the Himba
An empty summer settlement of the Himba		 One of the mud/dung huts
One of the mud/dung huts		 Inside, room for a fire
Inside, room for a fire
Arriving at the winter settlement of the Himba
Arriving at the winter settlement of the Himba		 The babies just wear strings of beads!
The babies just wear strings of beads!		 And, get carried by their mothers
And, get carried by their mothers		 Showing us the ochre the Himba use on their skin and hair
Showing us the ochre the Himba use on their skin and hair		 And it looks beautiful!
And it looks beautiful!
The bonnet means she is married
The bonnet means she is married		 She made a metal bonnet, thinking it was pretty!
She made a metal bonnet, thinking it was pretty!		 Such beautiful women
Such beautiful women		 Looks like southern Utah ... with PALM trees!?!
Looks like southern Utah ... with PALM trees!?!		 We found desert-adapted Elephants!!
We found desert-adapted Elephants!!
Coffee break on a game drive
Coffee break on a game drive		 Jim in safari gear
Jim in safari gear		 Cynthia loves the rocks!
Cynthia loves the rocks!		 Jim does too
Jim does too		 Walking through eroded clay formations
Walking through eroded clay formations
Along the Hourasib River
Along the Hourasib River		 Quick sand!!
Quick sand!!		 Relaxing on a sand dune
Relaxing on a sand dune		 Oryx against a dune
Oryx against a dune		 So stately
So stately
Love the sand dunes
Love the sand dunes		 Elegant lunch
Elegant lunch		 Yvonne, our camp hostess
Yvonne, our camp hostess		 Our chalet at our next camp, Little Ongava
Our chalet at our next camp, "Little Ongava"		 The place is a PALACE! (this is OUR tent)
The place is a PALACE! (this is OUR "tent")
A plunge pool on our deck
A plunge pool on our deck		 The birds liked it too!
The birds liked it too!		 Our simple bathroom
Our "simple" bathroom		 Outdoor shower and reclining bed
Outdoor shower and reclining bed		 So nice to shower outdoors
So nice to shower outdoors
Sunset on our deck
Sunset on our deck		 A baby Gemsbok Oryx!
A baby Gemsbok Oryx!		 Black Rhino at the waterhole
Black Rhino at the waterhole		 Eland -- magical antelope
Eland -- magical antelope		 Jim finds a Stick Insect
Jim finds a Stick Insect
Rock Dassies (closely related to Elephants!)
Rock Dassies (closely related to Elephants!)		 Chameleon
Chameleon		 Our guide, Sunday
Our guide, Sunday		 Our first Lion
Our first Lion		 The King
The King
A bit of a yawn
A bit of a yawn		 Or, is it a flemen?
Or, is it a flemen?		 Friends
Friends		 A beautiful Zebra
A beautiful Zebra		 A bit of a fight
A bit of a fight
More friends
More friends		 Pale Chanting Goshawk (PCG!)
Pale Chanting Goshawk (PCG!)		 Bateleur taking off
Bateleur taking off		 Bateleur, soaring
Bateleur, soaring		 Groundscraper Thrush
Groundscraper Thrush
African Hoopoe
African Hoopoe		 The waterhole at Okakuejo, Etosha National Park
The waterhole at Okakuejo, Etosha National Park		 A line of Blue Wildebeest leaving
A line of Blue Wildebeest leaving		 The gang is all here
The gang is all here		 Gemsbok Oryx
Gemsbok Oryx
Kudu
Kudu		 A Zebra line up
A Zebra line up		 Nice noses
Nice noses		 and butts!
and butts!		 Family of Giraffe
Family of Giraffe
Secretary Bird striding
Secretary Bird striding		 Secretary Bird flying!
Secretary Bird flying!		 Ostrich in breeding plumage
Ostrich in breeding plumage		 Black-backed Jackal
Black-backed Jackal		 Elephant intimacy!
Elephant intimacy!
Elephant family
Elephant family		 Monitor Lizard
Monitor Lizard		 A Springbok tussle
A Springbok tussle		 Oryx staring towards a hidden Lion
Oryx staring towards a hidden Lion		 the tiny Steenbok
the tiny Steenbok
Mother and child
Mother and child		 And the whole extended family!
And the whole extended family!		 Lilac-breasted Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller		 Purple Roller
Purple Roller		 It's been a long day!
It's been a long day!
Trying to leave Etosha
Trying to leave Etosha		 More friends
More friends		 Bushbaby at night
Bushbaby at night		 Our last sunset in Namibia
Our last sunset in Namibia		 TAB! At Joberg airport
TAB! At Joberg airport
Our candidate for Mr. JLB Matekoni! (our pilot)
Our candidate for "Mr. JLB Matekoni"! (our pilot)		 Arriving at Kutandala Camp, North Luangwa Park, Zambia
Arriving at Kutandala Camp, North Luangwa Park, Zambia		 Looking out our chalet towards the Mwaleshi River
Looking out our chalet towards the Mwaleshi River		 Our bush camp bathroom!
Our bush camp bathroom!		 View of the river from the shower
View of the river from the shower
On a walking safari
On a walking safari		 Through the grasses
Through the grasses		 Sometimes the grass was very tall
Sometimes the grass was very tall		 Really loving it!
Really loving it!		 Cynthia's favorite view in Africa! (Jim, not the Hippo)
Cynthia's favorite view in Africa! (Jim, not the Hippo)
IN Hippo-infested waters!!
IN Hippo-infested waters!!		 A slight disagreement
A slight disagreement		 Cookson's Wildebeest
Cookson's Wildebeest		 Milling about on the shore
Milling about on the shore		 Frantic stampede for the water!
Frantic stampede for the water!
The most beautiful sight in Africa (according to Jim)
The most beautiful sight in Africa (according to Jim)		 The whirlpool we SWAM in!!
The whirlpool we SWAM in!!		 Fish Eagle (our favorite bird)
Fish Eagle (our favorite bird)		 Majestic!
Majestic!		 Saddlebill Stork
Saddlebill Stork
A Hippo yawn
A Hippo yawn		 Zambian Zebra (with no brown stripes)
Zambian Zebra (with no brown stripes)		 Mother and child
Mother and child		 With a group of Oxpeckers on board
With a group of Oxpeckers on board		 A Warthog gang
A Warthog gang
A huge Baobab
A huge Baobab		 Spotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena		 Crowned Crane!!
Crowned Crane!!		 Franco, in the kitchen
Franco, in the kitchen		 The stove and the garden
The "stove" and the garden
Sundowners by the river
Sundowners by the river		 A feast by torchlight
A feast by torchlight		 Our last sunset in the North Luangwa
Our last sunset in the North Luangwa		 A village near the South Luangwa Park
A village near the South Luangwa Park		 Getting a tour of the batik factory
Getting a tour of the batik factory
Our bush camp chalet in the South Luangwa, Mwamba
Our bush camp chalet in the South Luangwa, Mwamba		 Our outdoor bathroom
Our outdoor bathroom		 The outdoor dining room
The outdoor dining room		 Kudu male
Kudu male		 And Puku females
And Puku females
Hippos relaxing
Hippos relaxing		 And staring at us
And staring at us		 Oxpecker on board (with typical gape)
Oxpecker on board (with typical gape)		 Sunset in the South Luangwa
Sunset in the South Luangwa		 Amarula!
Amarula!
Enjoying sundown by the Luangwa River
Enjoying sundown by the Luangwa River		 Beautiful colors
Beautiful colors		 The chitenge at Kaingo Camp
The chitenge at Kaingo Camp		 White-browed Coucal
White-browed Coucal		 Pied Kingfisher with Squeaker Fish
Pied Kingfisher with Squeaker Fish
Jacana
Jacana		 Yellow-billed Stork, fishing
Yellow-billed Stork, fishing		 Lioness, by night
Lioness, by night		 Lioness, by day (with Impala leg)
Lioness, by day (with Impala leg)		 Ground Hornbill
Ground Hornbill
Female Giraffe (light in color)
Female Giraffe (light in color)		 Male Giraffe (darker in color)
Male Giraffe (darker in color)		 Lovely eyelashes
Lovely eyelashes		 Leaping Baboons
Leaping Baboons		 Baby on board!
Baby on board!
Nursing baby
Nursing baby		 Nice tusks!
Nice tusks!		 Wallowing in the mud
Wallowing in the mud		 Vervet Monkey
Vervet Monkey		 Mother and child
Mother and child
Sunset over a termite mound
Sunset over a termite mound		 Crocodile by night
Crocodile by night		 LEOPARD!
LEOPARD!		 stalking
stalking		 Civet
Civet
Baboon finding things to eat in Hippo dung (eeew)
Baboon finding things to eat in Hippo dung (eeew)		 Yellow-billed Storks
Yellow-billed Storks		 Fish jumping to avoid crocs
Fish jumping to avoid crocs		 Stork lift off
Stork lift off		 Saddlebill Stork and Hippo
Saddlebill Stork and Hippo
Cape Buffalo
Cape Buffalo		 Lilac-breasted Rollers performing
Lilac-breasted Rollers performing		 Baby Hippo fight!
Baby Hippo fight!		 Yawn, side view
Yawn, side view		 Yawn, front view
Yawn, front view
Lion track (in shadow)
Lion track (in shadow)		 The famous photographer
The famous photographer		 Little Bee-eaters
Little Bee-eaters		 Sundowners on the Luangwa
Sundowners on the Luangwa		 Bushbuck male - posing
Bushbuck male - posing
Luangwa evening
Luangwa evening		 Honoring Kalpana
Honoring Kalpana		 Small-spotted Genet in a tree
Small-spotted Genet in a tree		 Pel's Fishing Owl
Pel's Fishing Owl		 Our last sunset
Our last sunset
We had a WONDERFUL time
We had a WONDERFUL time		 And have loved our Amarula!
And have loved our Amarula!		 Back home (ready for next year's trip!)
Back home (ready for next year's trip!)

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