African wildlife

The day began in the dark, bumping over the rough roads of the Serengeti. Our destination was a large, colorful hot air balloon which we found laying on its side. As hot air was pumped into the balloon, it began to take shape. As the balloon grew, the sun began …

I just returned from the most amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience in Uganda, where I was able to go on gorilla trek.  Did you know there are less than 900 mountain gorillas in the wild? My group of travel companions and I were able to meet a family of them face-to-face in …

Ethiopia is an ancient wonderland with rich cultural traditions, architectural remains, natural beauty, and enormously hospitable people. As my interests are in ancient history, archaeology and anthropology, Ethiopia is a treasure trove for me. Ethiopia celebrates the annual Meskel Festival every year on September 26-27. Meskel commemorates the time when …

Kanana Camp, a Ker & Downey luxury tented camp, is located in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. This well-run property offers incredible food, service, and spacious accommodations. Your wake-up call is accompanied by coffee or tea, and there are cookies in your room if you require or desire a quick …

Chobe National Park in Botswana is known throughout the world as a premier viewing arena for elephants. This park has nearly 200,000 elephants and in our couple of days visiting I am sure we saw at least 50,000 of these entertaining and wonderful animals. They love the water and each …

Every trip to Kenya should include a stay in Amboseli where there are unrivaled views of Mt. Kilimanjaro. I recently stayed at the wonderful tented camp called Tortilis Camp (named for the umbrella-shaped Acacia Tortilis tree – a favorite of giraffes) which not only offers astounding views of the mountain, …

I have just returned from an amazing trip to South Africa to the malaria-free area of the Eastern Cape. The River Lodge in Kariega is a wonderful representation of the local hospitality and fine cuisine. Upon arrival we were greeted with cool towels and a cool drink to refresh us …