South Africa

A hyena would visit our camp at night, as evidenced by glowing eyes in the darkness.

In late November 2008, I embarked upon a 5-day safari of Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Worse than the actual close encounter is the state you’ll likely be in – buck naked, or close to it.

We saw elephants, rhinos, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, and the rest. The lions eluded us

Highlights – meeting up with Warren at the airport wine tasting tour Cape of Good Hope/Cape Point tour District Six Museum and visiting the townships Visiting Robben Island couchsurfing with …

I used my last few days in South Africa to tie up loose ends and explore a little of Johannesburg, the city which inspired plenty of fear in me and …

Dion, the guide/driver/cook for my Delta adventure, was sipping coffee in Bob’s kitchen a full 20 minutes earlier than my scheduled 5:30am pickup. He looked comfortable in a raggy t-shirt …

#17 – From Matthew: Ok here’s one for South Africa. Try an apparent South African delicacy called Skop: ” Skop. Head of a cow, sheep or goat. The head is …

I spent my day after the safari at one of the big malls outside Jo’burg uploading photos to Flickr, buying a new rain-resistant jacket to replace my deteriorating North Face …

Myself, Lea (Belgium) and Moira (Canada) awoke before dawn for a 3-hour game walk near camp with two armed park rangers.It was my last chance to see a leopard, or …

I arranged to stay a full third day in the park since I had yet to see a rhino, let alone a leopard. Luckily, Livingstone Trails could accommodate my request. …

It’s amazing how much of a sense of security a chain link fence provides. I slept well my first night in the park, if only for 5-6 hours. Around 6am, …

Up at 5am, on the road to the park by 5:30am, and in the gate when it opened at 6am, we dropped our backpacks and sleeping bags off at Livingstone …

The price for my hasty departure from Gemini Backpackers was a 5:30am pick-up, and another full day of driving.The thought of having to spend another night in the dreary dorm …

Three nights in the Drakensberg were enough for me, however due to the Baz bus schedule between Durban and Jo’burg, I was required to spend a fourth day and night. …

My companions for the Hodgson’s Peak hike in Lesotho were an an American family from Denver, Colorado. Mark, a geologist, and his wife, Mary Jo, were visiting their daughter Whitney …

I departed Durban for the Sani Pass Lodge, a great jumping off point for tours into Lesotho and hikes in the southern Drakensberg Mountains. The elevation is about 1,500 meters. …

I chose to stay at Tekweni Backpackers, yet another party hostel, due to its proximity to restaurants along a popular street a mere block away. It thrilled me even more …

I joined about eight other guys on the ten minute walk to the villager’s home where we would be entertained and fed. We sat outside for a few minutes, sampling …

The weather was great when I woke up to my second morning in Bulungula. Despite my ready desire to leave after two nights, I was surprised to find my ride …