Day 64

So I've already written this post, then it didn't save, and I'm starting again. Maybe this time around I'll be more concise.

This truly was the trip of a lifetime. I'll spare the dull details, but I could not be happier I went on this spring break trip.

I visited three different countries, met amazing people, saw things that seemed beyond reality, and conquered fears.

The trip got off to a slow start because our actual destinations were so far from the Jo'burg airport, so there was lots of driving, and lots of setting up camp, packing up camp, and moving on.

I traveled with 21 other kids from the U.S, almost all in the same study abroad program. We had a guide (Chad), a chef / helper (Neo), and a driver (Robson). I was honestly amazed at the chemistry within the group. A lot of the people on my trip lived together, but no one was visibly sick of each other and we were all very understanding of our insignificant differences.

By about day three the trip had really picked up. We all packed in to an open aired vehicle to drive us to the entrance of the Okavango Delta where we were greeted by a crew who would take us in Makuros (hallowed out trees as canoes) through the delta. Over 100 kilometers away from electricity, we set up camp with all of our tents and brought in water. I had always through I was a fairly savvy camper, until this trip when I quickly had to adjust to camping in the 90 degree heat with a limited supply of drinking water in the sandy desert when our bathroom was a hole in the ground. Fortunately hiking in Alaska did have me prepared for the bathroom. We were taken on two game walks, both were amazing. The greatest thing about the delta is that it wasn't anything close to a game reserve. It was all these animals in their natural habitat. To bear with the heat, we did a lot of swimming in a watering whole near camp. After swimming for nearly an hour, one of us turned around to notice an elephant walking through the woods near the shore. At that point, we were really one with nature. Our second game walk was by far the coolest. It was three hours long but totally worth it. I got as close as 30 yards or so from giraffes, just watching them eat and walk around. A cool thing about giraffes is that they team up with the zebras. Or more like, the zebras team up with the giraffes. They benefit from their height to know when trouble is coming. Odds are, you see a zebra, there is a giraffe near by.

Our last night we filled up the canoes for an evening game cruise followed by sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows and singing songs with the locals who were on our crew. We spent two nights in the Delta, which for me was just enough. As great as it was, I was ready for some cold water and a shower.

We hauled out of the delta to head for Chobe National park, where is the highest concentration of elephants in the world. It was awesome. The drive itself amazed me at how many elephants we saw.

Before we got to Chobe though we stopped at a campsite Planet Baobab in the middle of nowhere to break up the long drive. Feeling dehydrated and covered in dirt no one hesitated to jump in the pool and grab cold beer. Every campsite we stayed at had a bar and pool; something I had no complaints for.

Our first night in Chobe we had an evening game cruise down a river that divided Namibia from Botswana. The animal sightings were plentiful and it was only the beginning on what was in
store for Chobe.

The next morning, before leaving for Zambia, we had a two hour game drive scheduled. This turned into a four hour game drive. Considering we didn't pay extra and saw steenboks, warthogs, hyennas, giraffe, buffalo, elephants, lions, vultures, baboons, the extra two hours did not go unappreciated. I'd have to say that morning game drive in Chobe was probably the coolest segment of animal sightings in my life. Definitely beats the caribou and grizzly bears in Alaska.

Getting over the Zambian boarder was ridiculous. First we had to get out of our truck while it was inspected by boarder patrol, then we hopped on a ferry, got off the ferry and got bombarded by locals to by their "handmade goods" which I wouldn't be surprised if they were marked "made in China". Apparently half the people at the boarder who look like officials are really just scammers so our driver took on the role of sorting that all out while we waited in the sun getting harassed by everyone else.

Finally made it into Zambia and set off for our final campsite where we would spend the next three nights to conclude the trip. Our site in Zambia was near Livingston, which is where you can see Victoria Falls. In addition to the falls, there are tons of activities to do including bungi jumping, elephant back safaris, lion encounters, white water rafting, all the things tourists can spend their money on. It's a huge tourist attraction, but rightfully so.

Our first full day in Zambia was probably one of the coolest days of my life. It started off by each of us walking off a cliff....

  No joke.

I wish I knew how high it was, but needless to say, it was high. I got up there entirely emotionally confused. Before I knew it I was told to put my toes over the edge. 3-2-1, I took a large step forward into three seconds of free fall. Once the slack catches, you basically swing back and fourth in the gorge. Heights has always been something I'm not too comfortable with. I learned to get over that fear very quickly.

Later that day about a dozen of us traveling together decided to walk across the boarder into Zimbabwe. Yes, walk across the boarder. Probably the most nonchalant relaxed boarder control I've ever gone trough. So one hour I'm walking off a cliff, the next I'm waking into another country. A bit past the boarder there is a craft market with more harassment and bargaining. Naturally, we had to go. I will admit it was pretty cool. Most of the vendors not only want cash for their goods, which could be any currency, Quacha, Rand, or Dollars, but items as well. I managed to trade an old pair of cheap sunglasses, a pair of socks, a tee shirt, and a tank, along with R100 for quite a few items so I was pleased. But man, it felt good to get out of there. So entirely overwhelming and very confusing.

To conclude the afternoon in Zimbabwe a couple girls and I decided to stop and look at Victoria Falls from the Zim side. The Zambia side was cool, but for $30, you can see an entirely different view. No regrets for that investment.

Back at camp that night we ran into the other group traveling who was doing everything we did but a day earlier. I am so happy I was not on that trip. For the fourth consecutive location, the staff told us how obnoxious the group before us was and was much happier with us. Point made I was traveling with a great group of kids, most of whom I barely knew before the trip.

For the final day of the trip, we all went white water rafting. And this was not normal white water rafting. I had done a handful of rafting trips in the US, but this did not compare. The Zambizi river divides Zambia and Zimbabwe and is known for its huge rapids ranging from class one to class six, which only professionals can do. My other great fear is of drowning, so this trip was a good fix to that one too. Seven girls and a guide in our boat, all equipped with paddles, life jackets, and helmets. We were off to a great start, hadn't capsized yet, until rapid number eight. Our guide basically instructed us to paddle our hearts out until the first rapid when he yelled "GET DOWN". Paddles in hand we ducked for cover along the inner perimeter of the boat. But that was not enough. Our boat capsized dumping us all into the river. Entirely submerged, I couldn't find the boat, and down stream I went. Any second I could gasp for air, I was thrown into another rapid. Shooting downstream with nothing but water in sight, I was completely terrified. Eventually I saw a hint of yellow far in the distance. The yellow got bigger and though I was mostly submerged, I stuck my arm in the air for anyone to grab me. Finally rescued and totally freaked out having no way to wrap my head around what had just happened. It's completely normal to capsize in the Zambizi, but never had I felt more like I was going to die. After that we did everything we could to never capsize again. When we hit more calm water about 2/3 in, our guide pointed out a crocodile in the water. Apparently he had been seeing them all along but didn't tell us to avoid freaking us out. I was happy to finally hit land and get out of that boat.

That night we had an open bar booze cruise with apps and dinner. Probably had a few too many glasses of wine, considering I was able to fall asleep at 9 and felt a bit woozy in the morning, but it was still a great time.

The next morning we packed up to catch our flight in Livingston to get to Jo'Burg, had a rushed layover, cherry on top was when security stopped me with 20 min before departure because I apparently had a knife in my bag. They eventually let me go, I ran to the plane, got on the two hour flight, made it safely home after ten amazing days of travel.

This trip really was a trip of a lifetime. It made me think a lot about how I want to spend my time while I have this freedom to see the world. My appreciation for family grew tremendously as the whole time I was there I was almost more homesick because I wanted to share this experience with those I'm closest to. I was able to face fears of heights and drowning, and I came out ok. I was exposed to cultures I will probably never again be exposed to. I saw animals that can only be seen in either the zoo or The Lion King. And I was able to do all this with great people and develop relationships that I know will last.

No regrets here. Can't wait for my next adventure.