Left hotel 845 in bus to OR Tambo airport for 1 1/2 hour flight to Chobe National Park in Botswana. Lodge was 10 minute drive from airport. After check in took a 3 hour boat ride in the Chobe. Saw elephants, hippos, Cape buffalo, deer, a huge bald eagle, and lots of other birds. We saw them close up from the pontoon boat. Pilot would beach the boat to get us closer. Had buffet supper at Chobe Lodge with our group of 24. It was someone’s birthday so the st...

Another fine breakfast. Ate with a golfing buddy and wife. Met the group around 9 AM, took bus for a tour of Soweto, the slum town made up of shacks with lots of people roaming around. Unemployment rate over 20%, schools so bad they lowered passing score to 30%. Dangerous place. Visited Hector Petersen Museum about the riots of 1976. Hector was 13 year old student and first to be killed by police. Students rooted over government decision to require that Af...

Great breakfast in Southern Sun hotel restaurant. Met our driver Jarus who took us to Apartheid Museum. Wow! Until mid 90s races were legally separated- different neighborhoods, schools, entrances to bldgs, etc. no interracial dating or marrying, not a good place to live unless you were white. Jarus drive us back to hit around 3 PM, went shopping at mall next door, bought nothing, but did compare prices to those in US. Had supper at Tessa’s on level 6 an...

Uneventful but long fly from Atlanta to Joberg / about 15 hours. Delta wanted $5309 each one way to upgrade to first class. Said no. Sat in bulkhead seat, so we had plenty of leg room but could not lie down. Food was good. Seatmate was Rob Wright, age 60, retired banker and computer guy from SA. Had two strokes in 2010, can hardly walk but travels all over. Had been to Charleston SC to study photography. Wife a doctor. Daughter lives in UK, just had baby...

Quickly blog. Paddled kayak 3 miles up river. Hiked one mile thru jungle. Connor caught a frog and chased chickens. Swung on rope into the river. Connor did it five times. Took power boat back to ship. Swam in afternoon Saw Las Vegas style show in theatre. Packed for trip home tomorrow Another great day in Hawaii