shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1026 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Just so bizarre. The guide explained that the dung beetle forms a blob of elephant dung, lays eggs in it, then gets upside down and backwards to roll it - walks backwards on its front legs, while pushing the dung along with its hind legs, looking for a spot to bury it. There was a pause on the land cruiser, and a guy in the back row said, “so, the next time you think you’re havin’ a rough day….” It was very, very funny. IMG_6490.MOV 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1027 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Every now and then Pumbaa showed up, but mostly kept his distance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1028 Share Posted May 5, 2023 There’s just something about African skies….. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1029 Share Posted May 5, 2023 At our last lodge in Namibia, I was stretched out on the bed reading, looked up, and…… (The “netting” of our tented unit didn't help any, with that vid) IMG_6538.MOV 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare highplanesdrifters Posted May 5, 2023 #1030 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Loving all the comments, photos, and videos. Keep em coming! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1031 Share Posted May 5, 2023 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1032 Share Posted May 5, 2023 When we left in early January, I knew we had plenty of blank pages toward the back of our passports, you frequently read of countries and immigration org’s which want you to pay attention to such. It never occurred to me there might be an issue. But I didn't take into account how much country-hopping we would be doing for the three off-the-ship overland safari trips. After we arrived on the African continent, we….. entered Tanzania exited Tanzania entered Kenya exited Kenya re-entered Tanzania exited Tanzania entered South Africa exited South Africa entered Botswana exited Botswana entered Zimbabwe exited Zimbabwe re-entered Botswana exited Botswana re-entered South Africa exited South Africa entered Namibia exited Namibia At virtually every one of those transits, we stood in security lines, immigration lines, and customs lines, and got passport stamps in and out. Our passports are FULL. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 5, 2023 Author #1033 Share Posted May 5, 2023 We learned things…….there might have been elephants around here, recently, you see. We’re now big-time trackers, doncha know. 😂 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goaliedad30 Posted May 6, 2023 #1034 Share Posted May 6, 2023 Welcome to Null Island .... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topkatz Posted May 6, 2023 #1035 Share Posted May 6, 2023 Eastern Africa discoveries. A portion of our "Extraordinary Discoveries" Sojourn World cruise. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseej Posted May 6, 2023 #1036 Share Posted May 6, 2023 18 hours ago, shark b8 said: Our passports are FULL. Hopefully you mean figuratively and not literally, or you're likely to have problems completing your travels. Customs officers in many countries have no pity, humor or understanding. (A friend was once not allowed to fly home from Germany because his passport was truly full.) Hopefully you can find some empty spaces on some pages to get you through. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topkatz Posted May 6, 2023 #1037 Share Posted May 6, 2023 Crossing the Equator (zero latitude) at the Prime Meridian (zero longitude) or zero-zero AKA "Null Island". Very rare for most mariners (and cruise ship passengers). Thanks to Seabourn for making it possible. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 7, 2023 Author #1038 Share Posted May 7, 2023 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 7, 2023 Author #1039 Share Posted May 7, 2023 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 7, 2023 Author #1040 Share Posted May 7, 2023 That last one is a guinea fowl - there are giant flocks of them everywhere. I confess, I take one look and start thinking….”hmm, grill or smoker?” (With several drops of aceto balsamico on the finished product, right?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincslady Posted May 7, 2023 #1041 Share Posted May 7, 2023 Amazing photos, shark b8. The guinea fowl looks lovely and plump; I would bet it would make good eating. Possibly slow cooked, in a casserole, as they can be a bit tough, but lovely flavour. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1042 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Land, ho. Benin yesterday, Ghana today, deets to follow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1043 Share Posted May 8, 2023 We disembarked yesterday in Cotonou, Benin, and began a bus ride to Ouijah, a key point in the slave trade, and considered the spiritual capital of Vodun (“voodoo” as popularly known) religious practices. Cotonou has several immense statues, commemorating historical moments in their struggle for freedom. As it happens, we also parked momentarily near the entrance to the prison, where (presumably) friends and family were waiting to enter, for visitation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1044 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Interesting early-1600’s map representations of Africa and “America” in the Museum. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1045 Share Posted May 8, 2023 (edited) The further we venture off the more common beaten tourist-track, the more small crowds will gather when we stop, especially the kids. (And as mentioned any number of times earlier, as we travel in the bus, the little kids are almost always waving enthusiastically) Edited May 8, 2023 by shark b8 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1046 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Lots of people dressed up in wonderful finery — may have been partially because it was Sunday. (every time the Olympics roll around, and at the Opening Ceremonies they have that interminable “March of the Athletes” into the stadium, I usually get bored right up until the southern African teams enter, with those glorious, elaborate, gorgeously colorful outfits. Puts the whole boring “Ralph Lauren look” to shame, imho) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1047 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Getting to the Vodun (“voodoo”) stuff, there was a sacred forest where a king magically had turned himself into a tree. Ironically, at the base of the tree was a bat, apparently in its death throes. Not at all creepy. 😬 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1048 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Unfortunate reminders along the way. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1049 Share Posted May 8, 2023 These African countries have numerous monuments to the atrocities of the slave trade - this, on the Benin coast, is the “Door of No Return”. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark b8 Posted May 8, 2023 Author #1050 Share Posted May 8, 2023 …and speaking of their coast, Benin obviously still has a long march to general prosperity, but as they get there, they are blessed with natural building blocks to attract more tourism - the geographical coast is gorgeous. As we drove along, I saw what (at first glance) looked like some interesting sort of religious activity, but as we got closer I realized it was just locals walking with their huge fishing nets. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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