I would like to share with you some experiences that I have had on expeditions through Southern Africa. My family and I believe that there is more to education than just school. We take every opportunity available, to travel to somewhere remote,  as eco-tourists. We live in nature and try to experience everything that nature and the locals have to offer, and absorb and learn from this. Last year we did a trip through Namibia to Zambia and back through Botswana. We fit all this into 30 days and travelled 8500 kilometers. The planning of an expedition like this one takes months, as we need to be well prepared for everything from food and water, fuel and emergency equipment (medical and break down).

We finally left from Cape Town and travelled for two days through Namibia to the Caprivi Strip. There we camped on the sides of the Kavango River. Here, for the first time, we heard the grunting, splashing sounds of the hippopotamus at night (quite awesome!). This sound became our bed-time-story.

Our next stop was Mamili Game Reserve. Here we free-camped in the wild, lots of scary water crossings, mud, amazing stars and very peaceful with the sounds of nature. A bit intimidating if you needed the loo at night...

Crossed the border into Zambia. Everyone, at least once in their lives, should try to cross an African border! (Excluding SA). Here we experienced the  beauties and magnificence  of Victoria Falls. 

We travelled along the most terrible potholed roads I have ever seen-slow going! We finally left the main routes and travelled  through rural villages and had many amazing interactions with the local people, from soccer games to just communicating. We saw that they only use what they need, nothing is wasted and there is no rubbish or pollution around...something to be learnt from this!

We spent a week in Kafue Game Reserve just exploring all the rivers, the crocs are massive! The tsetse flies are monsters. The experiences, sights and sounds are something that will remain with me forever. Being self sufficient and relying on each other for survival each day in a wilderness is quite inspiring. You realize how much clutter there is in our lives!

We moved on through Lusaka-a chaotic mess of sound, filth and congestion, to Siavongo on the banks of the Kariba Dam. It is so weird to be constantly near so much water but not be able to swim or drink from it.(crocs, hippos and bilharzia) The locals taught to me to fish off an African line and I actually caught fish for supper. We were treated to 2 nights on a house boat, luxury after no ablutions and food rations for so long. We slept on beds under mosquito nets outside on the deck and woke to the calls of the fish eagles.

Onwards to Botswana, via a ferry crossing. Stayed back in civilization at Chobe and saw Africa as the international visitors get to see it! Not as wonderful as my experiences... We then went onto the Makadagadi Salt Pans and camped on Kubu Island. This is a sacred place inhabited only by giant Baobab Trees. It was full moon...we were all alone again....the magnificence of the moon over the pans and surrounded by those ancient trees...What a perfect end to our trip.