The game drive we did was another highlight of our trip for me. We saw 4/5 of the "Big 5" animals - giraffes, zebras, rhinos, & water buffalo. The only one we didn't see were lions, but we got to walk with lions, so that makes up for it. 😊
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Friday, September 2, 2016
COS trippn' 4th stop: Victoria Falls
We went to Vic Falls during the dry season, but even so, the Falls fell & we're still amazing! We actually first went to the Falls during the moonbow, so it was at night during the full moon and we got to see a phenomenon not found a lot of places in the world: a lunar rainbow, or moonbow. It was so beautiful! After my eyes adjusted I could actually see the different colors of the rainbow in it!
The white cloud-like thing is the spray from the Falls. We could feel it from the top!
During the wet season, the falls cover the whole cliff!
On our way out we came across a monkey & her baby! They were so calm and didn't care that people were right next to them taking pictures!
After we left we went to a restaurant called The Lookout Cafe that was built on a cliff (& part of it hanging over the cliff) that looked out over the gorge. I actually felt a little dizzy looking over the edge.
COS trippn' 4th stop: Vic Falls - Sunset Cruise
Another tour we did was a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. We saw wildlife and were served snacks (including croc) & unlimited drinks.
Speaking of croc, the first animal we saw was a croc. 😃 ...sorry we ate your sister
COS trippn' 4th stop: Vic Falls - Elephant riding
They have a ton of activities you can do in Victoria Falls, including riding an elephant.
The elephants are so big that even when they crouch down, you have to use steps to get up.
Our elephant was named Mbanje (meaning marijuana). He was HUGE! But friendly.
I found it terrifying in the back at first, but Coalee was in her element (& laughing hysterically)! Eventually I found a better grip and relaxed. The handler Benny took us on a slow, meandering walk. He even offered Coalee a job!
Afterwards they let us feed him, through his snout which he used to bring food to his mouth.
Pretty adorable, right?
COS trippn' 4th stop: Vic Falls - Hangn' with lions
We went on a "Walking with Lions" tour which supports lion awareness and conservation. We walked with twin 9-month old female cubs names Lala & Lila.
I have to admit, I was a little hesitant already having a healthy fear of cats, but these cats were large and powerful and a bit intimidating...but I still managed to get a few pets in.
Our guide
Ah... the fake lion... more our speed 😜.
COS trippn' stop 2: Cape Town - Free Walking Tour (2nd): Bo-Kaap
Since we liked the first Free Walking Tour so much, we decided to go on another one through the Muslim district of Bo-Kaap. We even got the same guide, Ken! 😃
The homes in his district are very colorful, giving it a cheerful atmosphere. Ken told us how the colorful homes began. The first home to bring color to the otherwise gray-housed district was the pink and white home shown below. There was a doctor and his wife living there. The doctor gave. his wife money to go to the store to buy paint to pain the house with, but he didn't tell her what color(s) to buy, so she took the liberty of buying the colors she liked: pink and white. The doctor didn't complain and they painted their home in those colors. Since he practiced his career out of his home, it quickly became known throughout the neighborhood that the pink and white house was the doctor's house. So it became a source of good advertisement for the doctor's business. Well, his neighbor, the local tailor, realized how popular the doctor and his business was due to his pink and white house, so he decided to paint his home bright yellow. Sure enough, his business grew also because everyone knew that the tailor was I. the bright yellow house. Soon after, others painted heir homes bright colors as well...not necessarily for business purposes, but it became more of a competition in the neighborhood for who had the most colorful pretty homes. And it remains to this day. 😍
A view of Table Mountain for the colorful neighborhood.
The first mosque in Bo-Kaap.
COS trippn' stop 2: Cape Town - VA Waterfront
This area of Cape Town is known as the VA Waterfront. It kind of reminded me of Disneyland without the cartoon characters, because of all the cute buildings and shops.
The VA Waterfront is the gateway to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela and his fellow anti-apartheid activists were held. We tried to visit it, but the tours were sold out until September. (So if you ever come here to visit, make sure you buy tickets well in advance).
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