Africa Top 12

Now that my trip is drawing to a close, here's my list of top experiences in Africa:

1. Sea kayaking to the Takwa Ruins (Lamu, Kenya)

2. Eating lobster on the beach with Freddie (Kendwa Rocks, Zanzibar)

3. Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River (Livingstone, Zambia)

4. Helicoptering over Victoria Falls--totally amazing!

5. Swimming in a big blue quarry (Ghanzi, Botswana)

6. Sunset dinner of linefish in a butter garlic sauce (Swakopmund, Namibia)

7. Sunrise over the Sesriem Dunes (Sesriem, Namibia)

8. Oysters and champagne (also known as "Methode Cap Classique") with J. (Franshhoek, South Africa)

9. Cooking a potjie (stew cooked over hot coals) with friends (Kuruman, South Africa)

10. Sunset over the Kalahari (Tsineng, South Africa)

11. Spotting a pair of Verreaux Eagles (Langebaan, Western Cape, South Africa)

12. Watching the sun set over Lake St. Lucia and really, everying about St. Lucia! (St. Lucia Estuary, South Africa)

Clearly, I enjoyed sunsets, fresh seafood, birds and water views the best!

On another note, I still hear from the overlanders from time to time, and it is clear that they are still furious with me! My favorite recent quote is "The travel agent who sold you the [overland] tour should be shot!" Really, drag my mild mannered travel agent out into the street and shoot her? That's not a little extreme? I also wonder how long they will remain furious; for how long will they bore people with the story of the Mean Girl on their overland trip? (What does that do to a person, to fester with anger for weeks and weeks?) I've been totally unrepentant but I recently had a chat with my mother, who suggested, as mothers will, that I make at least one apology. One person had hurt feelings about the content of my blog and she really didn't deserve to be hurt. So, one (and only one) apology is forthcoming.

Birds spotted: Green twinspot, blue waxbill, yellow-throated longclaw but not the elusive Narina Trogon (looks like a cute little parrot).