Trips and travels

The First Safari

My very first game drive in Africa happened in South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) in eastern Zambia. Since Mom and Dad were with us from India for a couple of months (Jan-Mar) we took advantage of this opportunity to give them a true experience of Africa. The weekend trip to SLNP was very eventful. A comfortable stay at Mfue Lodge right in the middle of the thick forest got us up close firsthand views of lions, zebras, giraffe, elephants, hippo, impala and a lot more. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there were early morning drives (6 am – 10 am) and afternoon drives (4-7 pm) to capture various animals during their wanderings at different times of the day. The guide would drive us around, stopping for pictures and giving us in-depth insight about the eating, mating, birthing and sleeping patterns of each of these animals. One morning they even stopped and set up a lovely meal for us in the middle of the forest. The night drives included a spotter in our vehicle who would shine light in the dark to look for nocturnal animals. Slightly scary but fascinating experience!
The lodge itself housed small independent rooms separated from each other. The owners took special care to prepare vegetarian meals for us and ensured that our stay was comfortable and memorable. Which it most definitely was!

* Tanzania – beaches, boats and bananas

During the American Memorial Day long weekend (May-end) the four of us (including Ashwin who was visiting us) took a trip to Zanzibar, an island on the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Tanzania. Flying on Zambezi Airlines from Lusaka into Dar-e-salaam and then connecting by a local flight to Zanzibar took us to this paradise on earth very akin to our very God’s Own Country – Kerala. The lush greenery, Tanzanian dhows (as the sail boats are called) plying on the backwaters and the lazy fishing villages along the coast form an ideal laid back setting for any tourist seeking a quiet retreat from the hustle-bustle of the city. The strong Islam flavor is seen in the local culture when we saw many burkha-clad women in the markets and men wearing kaftans riding bicycles. The highlights of our trip were Stone Town (old architecture), Prison Island (where black prisoners were separated back in the days), Tortoise Park (housing 120-year old turtles) and the crystal-clear warm waters which invite you take a dip when the sun is out. The two-hour boat ride back from Zanzibar to Dar on the choppy waters was scary and we were glad to set foot back on land. Our final night stay at Dar’s SeaCliff Hotel was delightful with lovely views of the harbor and some last minute shopping for souvenirs to take back home.

*Namibia – sunsets, sand dunes and safaris!

Namibia has been on the top of my mind ever since we landed in Africa last year. Without much preparation we decided on a spur-of-the-moment trip during Thanksgiving weekend of November. Our friends Padma & Krishnaswamy joined us and we flew Air Namibia Lusaka – Windhoek. After overnighting in Windhoek at a moderate self-catering apartment we went to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The view of the Atlantic Ocean waters on one side and the vast stretches of untouched Namib Desert on the other side offered the most spectacular sight. Desert drive and quadbiking was an amazing way to get right into the middle of the sand dunes. With each of driving our own quadbike, the guide took us some 25 miles into the desert and stopped for pictures. During that hour I realized and experienced - once again - the presence of God on earth; divinity alone can be the cause of such breathtaking natural scenery. I thanked God profusely for bringing me to this part of the world. All others in our group shared this viewpoint and wholeheartedly agreed with me. We were re-discovering joy through these small and big wonders of nature. In fact living in Africa has re-opened my eyes to seeing nature in a renewed fashion. I now find joy in simple daily activities—like sunrise and sunset, chirping of the birds, stargazing, fresh smell of earth after rain—activities which hitherto had little appeal to me. Perhaps the fact that I have less stress and more time here in Zambia is a prime cause for this, who knows? Whatever be the reason, the bottom line is that this chapter in my life is undoubtedly an unforgettable one.
The next day we took a cruise along Walvis Bay to see dolphins and seal colonies. While in Swakop we also enjoyed Nachos and cappuccino at a Mexican restaurant and a hearty vegetarian meal at the “Wreck” seaside restaurant. Most of our other meals were pre-cooked foods and snacks which we had packed from home. After our return to Windhoek that night we spend a whole day of sightseeing and shopping in the capital of Namibia. We also went on a long drive to Amani Lodge located at the highest point of the country where we saw the Big Cats safari; at the lodge they take care of and rehabilitate orphaned cheetahs, leopards and lions. The trip ended with a gorgeous sunset and a glass of champagne! A fantastic way indeed to end our trip. Next morning we flew back to Lusaka.