DAY 57
Feeling tired and a little sensitive knowing our trip was coming to an end we crossed the border back into South Africa- my home that I hadn't seen fro two months. I felt both good and sad to be home. What better way is there to a trip of a lifetime than with a Winetasting at Highlanders camp in Cederberg.
DAY 58
After not being able to stomach an early breakfast and a lot of sleep in the truck we stopped at KFC and got some food. The drive into Cape Town was quite slow and the traffic was something we had almost forgotten about. We arrived at the hostel in Greenpoint where most of the group were staying and said our goodbyes to Ben and Justin who wouldn't be able to join us all for a final dinner. Sav and I then ubered to my Aunts house and spent the day in the pool till it was time for dinner. We all met a a place called Beerhouse, our goodbyes were heartbreaking so Sav and I treated ourselves to an ice cream sandwich at Crumb & Cream.
06/02/17
We spent the day Exploring Cape Town by driving along Chapman's Peak and going to see the penguins and having a seafood lunch with my Aunt and then a delicious dinner while sitting on my Aunt and Uncles house that has a beautiful view of the ocean so it was fantastic for sunset.
07/02/17
Home bitter sweet home.
It was great seeing family... but then almost immediately you miss the feeling of being on tour and being with the friends that had become like family.
This experience is something I will never be able to forget and I can not thank Acacia Africa enough for this incredible opportunity. The travel-bug has definitely bitten me HARD and I am look forward to more African Adventures
Thanks to all who have followed me through this journey.
Lots of Love,
Tyra
Wednesday, 8 February 2017
Friday, 3 February 2017
BLOG 21 - DAY 54, 55 & 56
DAY 54
A very early 4:30 start to get to Dune 45 to try avoid the heat- no luck- it was still incredibly hot. Dune 45 is the most photographed dune in the world. The barefoot walk/hike took 20min to half an hour and it was exhausting as you'd just sink. Many photos were taken as the sun rose. Little Sossus, for the night. Oryx and Zebra nearby. It was no doubt the hottest day we had experienced, with unbearably dry heat and a warm sandy wind blowing through from time to time. Luckily we had found our oasis (AKA a swimming pool) and all tried to relieve our hot bodies.
DAY 55
Canyon Road House was our next stop. Kavango then took us to the canyon- The Fish River Canyon. The view was breathtaking and as the sunset and the sky changed colours constantly we could not stop taking photos. That night after a few drinks we jumped into the pool before bed then slept under the kitchen shelter on our mats rather than setting up tents.
DAY 56
We spent the day around and in the pool at Felix Unite and also had to transfer our things from Kavango onto another truck. Later that night we played kings and then many guys and girls ended up having to swap outfit which was hilarious as most of the girls were in dresses.
A very early 4:30 start to get to Dune 45 to try avoid the heat- no luck- it was still incredibly hot. Dune 45 is the most photographed dune in the world. The barefoot walk/hike took 20min to half an hour and it was exhausting as you'd just sink. Many photos were taken as the sun rose. Little Sossus, for the night. Oryx and Zebra nearby. It was no doubt the hottest day we had experienced, with unbearably dry heat and a warm sandy wind blowing through from time to time. Luckily we had found our oasis (AKA a swimming pool) and all tried to relieve our hot bodies.
DAY 55
Canyon Road House was our next stop. Kavango then took us to the canyon- The Fish River Canyon. The view was breathtaking and as the sunset and the sky changed colours constantly we could not stop taking photos. That night after a few drinks we jumped into the pool before bed then slept under the kitchen shelter on our mats rather than setting up tents.
DAY 56
We spent the day around and in the pool at Felix Unite and also had to transfer our things from Kavango onto another truck. Later that night we played kings and then many guys and girls ended up having to swap outfit which was hilarious as most of the girls were in dresses.
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
BLOG 20 - DAY 51, 52 & 53
DAY 51
Our camp Amanpuri in Swakopmund is near the dunes and the ocean. Alison, Ash, Aubrey, Jessie, Sav and I walked through town to a restaurant either called The Jolly or The Jally or The Jelly- my handwriting causing the confusion . The weather was lovely but not good for skydiving apparently- yeah i'm crazy enough to want to try skydiving. Instead we all went quadbiking through the dunes which showcased beautiful views. Being in such a large group with varying skills we had to go very slow, which a few of us found boring. For dinner we went to Napolitana , a little Italian place for pizza- which we all highly recommend to anyone going there. We all stayed in a dorm room with bunk beds- the Brazilians snore haha.
DAY 52
Alison and I decided to skip sandboarding (which we had both done before) and rather go quadbiking again. This time is was just the two of us and guide so it was a lot more extreme and fun. The guide accidentally only gave us an hour and a half instead of two hours so they said we can comeback tomorrow for another hour. For lunch Alison and I went to Spur and shared nachos and garlic bread- super delicious. After a quick walk back to camp we booked fro skydiving and Amine signed up with us. Alison has skydived many times before, this was Amines first time but she is fearless and it being my first time I was terrified. Sav and Jessie did the Scenic flight over the skeleton coast. After being driven to the skydiving base ( as soon as i saw it my stomach turned to knots) we watched a few people go ( to my eyes they were plummeting to the earth relying on a parachute) before us which did not help my nerves and caused me to doubt my sanity as I was secured into my blue suit and harness. I got paired with Chris a South African instructor which helped slightly until he started joking around about things being wrong as we got into the plane... the plane had no door ( ps we are not strapped to anything). The view from the plane was beautiful and distracting thank goodness as we watched the waves rolling in along the coast, saw the bright pink salt pans and Walvis Bay in the distance. Chris and the pilot did a few hand signals and apparently it was time for us to go, as in I would have to go first... ahh. Once Chris and I were strapped together we edged towards the large opening of the plane. Chris put clear goggle son us then we were ready to go. 3 knees bent 2 back arched 1 fall to earth. 10000ft above the ground is pretty terrifying but I think I came to peace with having no control. Free falling is such a strange experience I could never forget especially the very dry mouth from smiling and screaming. Once the parachute was pulled it was easier to look around and truly admire how beautiful Swakopmund is. Chris then proceeded to tell me he had lost a shoe as we fell out the plane and that I'd have to help a bit more for the landing. After a successful landing and hearing about the shoe flying back into the plane and being recovered we all had beers. Our whole group decided to go for dinner at a fancy pub/restaurant which had exquisite burgers and cocktails...and springbok shooters.
DAY 53
Alison and I went quadbiking again- so much fun. We left Amanpuri around 11 and drove to our next campsite Solitare which was in the middle of no where. The 35+ degree heat was soothed by the pool. Sav cooked us dinner and while we prepared we hid in the truck from sand storms. It was so hot.
Our camp Amanpuri in Swakopmund is near the dunes and the ocean. Alison, Ash, Aubrey, Jessie, Sav and I walked through town to a restaurant either called The Jolly or The Jally or The Jelly- my handwriting causing the confusion . The weather was lovely but not good for skydiving apparently- yeah i'm crazy enough to want to try skydiving. Instead we all went quadbiking through the dunes which showcased beautiful views. Being in such a large group with varying skills we had to go very slow, which a few of us found boring. For dinner we went to Napolitana , a little Italian place for pizza- which we all highly recommend to anyone going there. We all stayed in a dorm room with bunk beds- the Brazilians snore haha.
DAY 52
Alison and I decided to skip sandboarding (which we had both done before) and rather go quadbiking again. This time is was just the two of us and guide so it was a lot more extreme and fun. The guide accidentally only gave us an hour and a half instead of two hours so they said we can comeback tomorrow for another hour. For lunch Alison and I went to Spur and shared nachos and garlic bread- super delicious. After a quick walk back to camp we booked fro skydiving and Amine signed up with us. Alison has skydived many times before, this was Amines first time but she is fearless and it being my first time I was terrified. Sav and Jessie did the Scenic flight over the skeleton coast. After being driven to the skydiving base ( as soon as i saw it my stomach turned to knots) we watched a few people go ( to my eyes they were plummeting to the earth relying on a parachute) before us which did not help my nerves and caused me to doubt my sanity as I was secured into my blue suit and harness. I got paired with Chris a South African instructor which helped slightly until he started joking around about things being wrong as we got into the plane... the plane had no door ( ps we are not strapped to anything). The view from the plane was beautiful and distracting thank goodness as we watched the waves rolling in along the coast, saw the bright pink salt pans and Walvis Bay in the distance. Chris and the pilot did a few hand signals and apparently it was time for us to go, as in I would have to go first... ahh. Once Chris and I were strapped together we edged towards the large opening of the plane. Chris put clear goggle son us then we were ready to go. 3 knees bent 2 back arched 1 fall to earth. 10000ft above the ground is pretty terrifying but I think I came to peace with having no control. Free falling is such a strange experience I could never forget especially the very dry mouth from smiling and screaming. Once the parachute was pulled it was easier to look around and truly admire how beautiful Swakopmund is. Chris then proceeded to tell me he had lost a shoe as we fell out the plane and that I'd have to help a bit more for the landing. After a successful landing and hearing about the shoe flying back into the plane and being recovered we all had beers. Our whole group decided to go for dinner at a fancy pub/restaurant which had exquisite burgers and cocktails...and springbok shooters.
DAY 53
Alison and I went quadbiking again- so much fun. We left Amanpuri around 11 and drove to our next campsite Solitare which was in the middle of no where. The 35+ degree heat was soothed by the pool. Sav cooked us dinner and while we prepared we hid in the truck from sand storms. It was so hot.
Saturday, 28 January 2017
BLOG 19 - DAY 48, 49 & 50
DAY 48 - Australia Day
After an early morning we stopped at a mall ( the last one we have access to for 2 days) to stock up on Australia day alcohol and snacks at a huge SuperSpar. Sav and I went looking for a phone store as she had dropped and broken her phone the day before but no luck. It was super hot so we got KFC Krushers- yum. In this heat even the breeze from the windows doesn't help. Once we arrived at our campsite at Etosha we went for a gamedrive in Kavango ( our tour truck/ home for 2 months). After a few drinks in celebration of Australian Days with our Aussie members we walked down to the watering hole but didn't see anything. While sleeping many heard lions and hyenas- I didn't, I slept like a rock.
DAY 49
A day of game drives. The morning was very quiet and we didn't see much other than jackals. A pool stop at a camp nearby was very necessary and absolutely wonderful. The second half of the game drive was full of action as we saw seven lions ( 2 looked heavily pregnant and another had a big gash across her face) and three rhinos One of the rhinos only had one ear.
DAY 50
While leaving Etosha we had to cook some of our pork on the side of the road due to health regulations. 420KMs of driving, sleeping and snacks. We arrived at Spitzkoppe around 3:30 and began exploring the rock paintings that are over 2000years old and were told about how things like toothbrushes and paper were made using certain trees. We all decided a night sleeping out on the rocks under the stars would be fantastic. For sunset a couple of us climbed/maneuvered up a huge rock to watch the sunset and take many photos and we were later joined by the others. Having lots of fun with self timers we took many funny photos and wrote out ACACIA and then AFRICA using our bodies with the sunset behind us. After a delicious dinner and a very competitive game of "Justins African Trivial Pursuit" we carried our mats and sleeping stuff up the side of the smaller rock toa spot that was semi-flat. The view of the stars was breathtaking and after an attempt of light art photography we went to sleep.
After an early morning we stopped at a mall ( the last one we have access to for 2 days) to stock up on Australia day alcohol and snacks at a huge SuperSpar. Sav and I went looking for a phone store as she had dropped and broken her phone the day before but no luck. It was super hot so we got KFC Krushers- yum. In this heat even the breeze from the windows doesn't help. Once we arrived at our campsite at Etosha we went for a gamedrive in Kavango ( our tour truck/ home for 2 months). After a few drinks in celebration of Australian Days with our Aussie members we walked down to the watering hole but didn't see anything. While sleeping many heard lions and hyenas- I didn't, I slept like a rock.
DAY 49
A day of game drives. The morning was very quiet and we didn't see much other than jackals. A pool stop at a camp nearby was very necessary and absolutely wonderful. The second half of the game drive was full of action as we saw seven lions ( 2 looked heavily pregnant and another had a big gash across her face) and three rhinos One of the rhinos only had one ear.
DAY 50
While leaving Etosha we had to cook some of our pork on the side of the road due to health regulations. 420KMs of driving, sleeping and snacks. We arrived at Spitzkoppe around 3:30 and began exploring the rock paintings that are over 2000years old and were told about how things like toothbrushes and paper were made using certain trees. We all decided a night sleeping out on the rocks under the stars would be fantastic. For sunset a couple of us climbed/maneuvered up a huge rock to watch the sunset and take many photos and we were later joined by the others. Having lots of fun with self timers we took many funny photos and wrote out ACACIA and then AFRICA using our bodies with the sunset behind us. After a delicious dinner and a very competitive game of "Justins African Trivial Pursuit" we carried our mats and sleeping stuff up the side of the smaller rock toa spot that was semi-flat. The view of the stars was breathtaking and after an attempt of light art photography we went to sleep.
Wednesday, 25 January 2017
BLOG 18 - DAY 45, 46 & 47
DAY 45
Hash browns are a great start to any day. Before getting back into the Mokoros we all applied extra sunscreen as we all got quite burnt on our way there- especially Dannys ears. Our trip back seemed much quicker. That evening we came across another tour group at the bar which resulted in hilarious dance battles, pushup competitions and even a pull up competition on the beams of the roof. It was really enjoyable meeting the other tour leaders and their guests because we got to hear all about their experiences so far.
DAY 46
At Ghanzi trailblazers we were treated to a busmans walk and traditional dance while they performed healing songs and hunting songs.
DAY 47
Today we crossed into Namibia and arrived in Windhoek at 3:45 (a loooong say of driving for Ben). While in the town we were given time to buy snacks and or whatever else we needed. My bank card was declined so i had to try call my parents so they could get the bank to fix it- frustrating. Running a bit late we all rushed/ran back to the truck in the pouring rain, lets just say we all got soaked. Urban camp was very hip, had great wifi and the best showers I had experienced on the whole trip- It was great to feel so clean. Most of us decided to share accommodation upgrades at the rooms/big tents looked fantastic and had comfortable beds. For dinner we went to JOE'S BEERHOUSE and tried al the exotic food. I shared with friends to ensure getting the full experience. The Zebra steak was phenomenal but so were the snails and the Bushmans assortment which consisted of Oryx, Springbok and Kudu. We were then joined by the three new tour members- 3 Brazilian guys.
Hash browns are a great start to any day. Before getting back into the Mokoros we all applied extra sunscreen as we all got quite burnt on our way there- especially Dannys ears. Our trip back seemed much quicker. That evening we came across another tour group at the bar which resulted in hilarious dance battles, pushup competitions and even a pull up competition on the beams of the roof. It was really enjoyable meeting the other tour leaders and their guests because we got to hear all about their experiences so far.
DAY 46
At Ghanzi trailblazers we were treated to a busmans walk and traditional dance while they performed healing songs and hunting songs.
DAY 47
Today we crossed into Namibia and arrived in Windhoek at 3:45 (a loooong say of driving for Ben). While in the town we were given time to buy snacks and or whatever else we needed. My bank card was declined so i had to try call my parents so they could get the bank to fix it- frustrating. Running a bit late we all rushed/ran back to the truck in the pouring rain, lets just say we all got soaked. Urban camp was very hip, had great wifi and the best showers I had experienced on the whole trip- It was great to feel so clean. Most of us decided to share accommodation upgrades at the rooms/big tents looked fantastic and had comfortable beds. For dinner we went to JOE'S BEERHOUSE and tried al the exotic food. I shared with friends to ensure getting the full experience. The Zebra steak was phenomenal but so were the snails and the Bushmans assortment which consisted of Oryx, Springbok and Kudu. We were then joined by the three new tour members- 3 Brazilian guys.
Sunday, 22 January 2017
BLOG 17 - DAY 42, 43 & 44
DAY 42
Today was an interesting one. Starting with me slipping in a lot of mud and ending surrounded by elephants. After a very cold game drive which included seeing a hippo roll over we packed up our campsite we were on the road to Elephant Sands. On arrival Allison, Jessie, Sav and myself upgraded into a family suite- called the Elephant room. In front of the bar, restaurant and pool was a large man-made watering hole to help Elephants survive during the severe droughts. After a quick swim and some sun we played cards will dawn. Hearing the elephants at the watering hole we sat along the edge of the bar area. One elephant came very close-5m- from Sav and I. Such a humbling and beautiful experience. Once the power went off we had to try walk to our room- which was on the other side of the watering hole...where all the elephants where last visible. Using our torches, being incredibly quiet and keeping our ears to the floor we walked to our room. Once in bed we fell asleep to the footsteps of the elephants.
DAY 43
A long drive to Sitstunga (Delta Rain) with a lunch break at Nandos. We set up our tents and packed our small bags for our trip into the Delta
DAY 44
Leaving our tents up while we climbed onto game viewing vehicles to take us to the delta was fantastic. Once at the water we were paired (Sav and I) and then assigned a Mokoro pusher, his name was Johna. A Mokoro is traditionally a hollowed out tree trunk carved into a canoe like shape but with technological advantages many are now made of plastics and fiberglass. The way there was gorgeous as we weaved between reeds with blossoming lilies. Our campsite felt like we were in our own little world. We had even had fancy large tents (already set up= yay). While getting ready for our nature walk I discovered by suntan cream leaked all over my bag and onto most of my clothing, oh well. A close encounter with two elephants was the highlight of our walk and all the ginormous baobab trees For dinner we were served babotie (which is a well-known South African dish consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping) cooked in tin cans which was incredibly delicious.
Today was an interesting one. Starting with me slipping in a lot of mud and ending surrounded by elephants. After a very cold game drive which included seeing a hippo roll over we packed up our campsite we were on the road to Elephant Sands. On arrival Allison, Jessie, Sav and myself upgraded into a family suite- called the Elephant room. In front of the bar, restaurant and pool was a large man-made watering hole to help Elephants survive during the severe droughts. After a quick swim and some sun we played cards will dawn. Hearing the elephants at the watering hole we sat along the edge of the bar area. One elephant came very close-5m- from Sav and I. Such a humbling and beautiful experience. Once the power went off we had to try walk to our room- which was on the other side of the watering hole...where all the elephants where last visible. Using our torches, being incredibly quiet and keeping our ears to the floor we walked to our room. Once in bed we fell asleep to the footsteps of the elephants.
DAY 43
A long drive to Sitstunga (Delta Rain) with a lunch break at Nandos. We set up our tents and packed our small bags for our trip into the Delta
DAY 44
Leaving our tents up while we climbed onto game viewing vehicles to take us to the delta was fantastic. Once at the water we were paired (Sav and I) and then assigned a Mokoro pusher, his name was Johna. A Mokoro is traditionally a hollowed out tree trunk carved into a canoe like shape but with technological advantages many are now made of plastics and fiberglass. The way there was gorgeous as we weaved between reeds with blossoming lilies. Our campsite felt like we were in our own little world. We had even had fancy large tents (already set up= yay). While getting ready for our nature walk I discovered by suntan cream leaked all over my bag and onto most of my clothing, oh well. A close encounter with two elephants was the highlight of our walk and all the ginormous baobab trees For dinner we were served babotie (which is a well-known South African dish consisting of spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping) cooked in tin cans which was incredibly delicious.
Thursday, 19 January 2017
BLOG 16 - DAY 39, 40 & 41
DAY 39
Emily and Georgia joined us as spectators of the Gorge Swing- which we later convinced them to do to. The drive was long and bumpy which did not help the butterflies already going wild in my tummy , I was extremely nervous before even seeing the gorge. When the car arrived at the destination my nerves increased, after filling out our indemnity forms we were fitted with our harnesses. My legs went numb and shaky, but I was was slightly comforted by the familiar feeling harness- like the harness I used when I first started kitesurfing. While waiting to get connected Sav and I managed to convince Em and Georg to do it as well which made me feel better haha. Strapped sideways to Sav, standing backwards with our heels of the edge we held on tightly to one-another. Bend knees. Head down. Bum out. 3. 2. 1.Lift toes and FALL. Free falling was a new sensation so I responded with silence as Sav screamed, as the rope pulled tight we swung along the width of the gorge swaying until we came to a stop- and I finally released my tight grip on the rope . Crazy and awesome would be the words I'd use to describe it. Once we were lowered down my legs still trembling we got to watch Em and Georg while on the forest floor. Woah, it was hard to believe we'd just done that. The hike back up the gorge was quite long and tiring with jelly legs but once we were at the top we decided to do the Flying Fox which is a zip-line across the top of the gorge- such a beautiful view. Later that day we had a booze cruise which was a great highlight. All dressed up and seeing each other wearing makeup with brushed hair was very strange but allowed for many great photos. Even the constant drizzle couldn't dampen our moods. After the booze cruise we were visited by some Zambian friends we had made previously.
DAY 40
Today started off very tough with two very hard goodbyes. Then a trip to the local market and an incredible helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls- the gorge and the amount of water was phenomenal. In the evening at our pre-departure meeting Sav, Jessie, Amine, Alison and myself met our new tour leader Justin and the new members - Ashleigh, Aubrey and Danny.
DAY 41
Saying goodbye to people who have become like family is horrible. I'm still crying about it as I write this (3 days later). We crossed the border by ferry into Botswana at the Kazungula border crossing which is where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia meet. Once at Thebe River Lodge we went for a river safari and saw many hippos ( including an adorably round baby), many crocodiles and lots of birds. Before bed we had a hippo noise competition - pretty funny.also pretty sure I won haha.
Emily and Georgia joined us as spectators of the Gorge Swing- which we later convinced them to do to. The drive was long and bumpy which did not help the butterflies already going wild in my tummy , I was extremely nervous before even seeing the gorge. When the car arrived at the destination my nerves increased, after filling out our indemnity forms we were fitted with our harnesses. My legs went numb and shaky, but I was was slightly comforted by the familiar feeling harness- like the harness I used when I first started kitesurfing. While waiting to get connected Sav and I managed to convince Em and Georg to do it as well which made me feel better haha. Strapped sideways to Sav, standing backwards with our heels of the edge we held on tightly to one-another. Bend knees. Head down. Bum out. 3. 2. 1.Lift toes and FALL. Free falling was a new sensation so I responded with silence as Sav screamed, as the rope pulled tight we swung along the width of the gorge swaying until we came to a stop- and I finally released my tight grip on the rope . Crazy and awesome would be the words I'd use to describe it. Once we were lowered down my legs still trembling we got to watch Em and Georg while on the forest floor. Woah, it was hard to believe we'd just done that. The hike back up the gorge was quite long and tiring with jelly legs but once we were at the top we decided to do the Flying Fox which is a zip-line across the top of the gorge- such a beautiful view. Later that day we had a booze cruise which was a great highlight. All dressed up and seeing each other wearing makeup with brushed hair was very strange but allowed for many great photos. Even the constant drizzle couldn't dampen our moods. After the booze cruise we were visited by some Zambian friends we had made previously.
DAY 40
Today started off very tough with two very hard goodbyes. Then a trip to the local market and an incredible helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls- the gorge and the amount of water was phenomenal. In the evening at our pre-departure meeting Sav, Jessie, Amine, Alison and myself met our new tour leader Justin and the new members - Ashleigh, Aubrey and Danny.
DAY 41
Saying goodbye to people who have become like family is horrible. I'm still crying about it as I write this (3 days later). We crossed the border by ferry into Botswana at the Kazungula border crossing which is where Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia meet. Once at Thebe River Lodge we went for a river safari and saw many hippos ( including an adorably round baby), many crocodiles and lots of birds. Before bed we had a hippo noise competition - pretty funny.also pretty sure I won haha.
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