Kruger National Park - South Africa

Kruger National Park is a monument unto itself. It s South Africa's answer to the safari areas iof Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe, but for the writer's taste, it is too civilized. The Park's internal roads are tarred, so one loses some of the Big Five Africa feel, though it is there. It is also surrounded by a plethora of booming tourist towns hanging like big jewels on a fat lady's bosom; kind of Bush kitsch at times. For what is not, Kruger makes up in first world services within easy reach. The officials are friendly and willing to help. Up north one is often confronted by officious persons that keep you waiting all day because they can. In Kruger you don't need a guide to help you through the red tape, because it all works well. Lodges cost from ZAR 500 per night to R 5,000. Some less known lodges give as good as their big brothers. It is not necessary to spend a lot to have a good time. Activities are less expensive than Victoria Falls, but them again … there is only one Victoria Falls. Take malaria tablets per instructions above with or without wine, women & song.

Okavango - Botswana

The Okavango Delta is just a little too far from Victoria Falls to make it a part of an itinerary lasting less than five days. The Okavango Delta is formed by the Okavango River as it floods an ancient inland flood plain in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. It seasonally draws hundreds of thousands of migrating animals during the dry winter months when there is no water or food elsewhere. This is an experience for a true nature lover far from the madding crowd. It has an excitement of its own; the excitement of being one with Africa. We recommend it highly. Shop carefully for package deals! Operators in the Delta have unpublished, good seasonal deals. Ask for them. Take one woman, a case of good wine, malaria tablets one week before and six weeks after leaving and forget that you were ever a part of civilization.

Victoria Falls - Livingstone, Zambia

The town of Livingstone is positioned ten kilometres from Victoria Falls in Zambia. The foreign exchange problems described in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe do not exist in Livingstone. Like the Town of Victoria Falls the town is riddled with beggars, hustlers, self appointed agents trying to cut themselves in on a commission for introducing you to a tour operator, to sell you safari activities, curious, exchange money and in some cases get you to part with your hard earned cash. My advice is to deal through your hotel and the banks. You might not get as god a deal as the black market, but you won't get ripped off either. It's not worth the 5% you might save dealing with these people.

Livingstone was so named after Sir David Livingstone, a missionary, medical practitioner, explorer and hopeless romantic that served the British Crown and the Almighty God throughout his life. He was the first white man to explore this part of Africa and to settle there to serve the native people of the region. He established his mission which provided medical services to the natives and brought the Word of God to the heathens. His is a lovely story of peaceful change in Africa as there was no religious war to impose the doctrine upon them, but a story of gentle consideration that won them over. It is interesting to note that when Zambia's revolutionary government of the sixties attempted to change the name of the town, the local tribesmen (the Lozi's) refused to allow the renaming, in a display of respect & loyalty to this great man.

Sir Cecil John Rhodes met him during …… at Livingstone, after having trekked over 2,000 miles through the wilderness from the Cape to introduce himself. At that historic meeting it is said that Sir Cecil introduced himself to Livingstone with this famous introduction, "Dr. Livingstone I presume?" … as Livingstone was the only white man to have taken up residence in this deepest, darkest place in Africa it was a natural and correct assumption to presume that it was indeed he.
During early colonialism, Livingstone, was once the capital of Zambia, then Northern Rhodesia. The Rhodesia's were named after Sir Cecil John Rhodes in recognition of his service to the Crown of England. Livingstone has the footprint of colonial architecture that whispers of days that brave men either met their fate or found fortune exploring Africa. If you take time to pause in between the relentless onslaught of adventure activities, you'll no doubt hear Livingstone's words, uttered on his death bed whispered, "I have sacrificed much, but have done so little for the Almighty."