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Great Africa Expedition
  • Jessica Gerschwitz
  • Jessica Gerschwitz

Great Africa Expedition

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Croc Valley Camp

    9 de julho de 2017, Zâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    This campsite is beautiful, it is set next to a river which can be seen from the campsite as well as the bar. When we arrived we could see hippos, elephants and crocodiles in the river. Our guide told us that at night the hippos would walk around the campsite eating the grass and we were warned not to go to the toilet at night without a torch.

    It was probably about 12:00am when I was woken by the sound of monkeys in the trees, then I heard the hippos walking around eating the grass I couldn't believe it - one was directly behind our tent.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    South Luangwa National Park

    10 de julho de 2017, Zâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We started the morning early but luckily we didn't have to pack up our tents until we got back from the game drive. A big truck turned up and we all piled on, there were no windows or barriers (kind of like a cattle truck with seats) and it was freezing.

    As we entered the park we saw five hippopotamus' by a water hole which appeared to be frozen in time, not moving at all. We looked closer to see that there were three lions walking behind them. I think they were going with 'if I don't move, you can't see me' approach. We continued driving around the park, we saw several water buffalos, thomson gazelles, baboons, elephants, crocodiles and several other common animals.

    We stopped for a cup of team and all of a sudden our guide got very excited pointing to across the other side of the lake where we had been looking at another hippopotamus popping it's head in and out of the water. I couple see another group standing around something, everyone rushed over and then I saw that it was a pangolin. A pangolin is very rare, that rare that our guide had never seen one and had been a guide for thirty-one years. The guide was so excited and wanted to tell everyone, we listened as he would tell other guides as we drove past them and none of them believed him, they wanted to see a photo.

    Interesting facts about pangolins:
    • african people believe that seeing a pangolin will bring them good fortune.
    • the pangolin is one of the most hunted animals in the world accounting for almost twenty percent of the wildlife black market, around 100,000 every year are captured with majority being shipped to china.
    • they are the only mammal to have scales.
    • they emit a noxious acid like skunks.
    • some climb trees, others dig holes.
    •their name means 'something that rolls up'.
    • their tongue can be longer than its body.

    Once we had finished our game drive we headed back to the campsite where we had to pack up our tents, we were a little bit late leaving because there was a problem with the truck's gearbox and Aloise was trying to fix it.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Chimwemwe Lodge

    10 de julho de 2017, Zâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We only left the campsite at about 1pm and had a five hour drive before reaching this campsite so we only just arrived as it was getting dark. We set up our tents and then began the shower line, I got in pretty quick and managed to have a hot shower but everyone after me had a cold shower.

    We stopped at a supermarket just before getting to the campsite so we bought beers and ice to put in the esky. It was nice to sit around the campsite and have a drink rather than sitting in the bar.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Eureka Camp

    11 de julho de 2017, Zâmbia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today was another day on the bus, it seemed to go quick though surprisingly, especially when we started the day with a flat tyre on the truck.

    It is now 5:00pm, our tents are set up and we are about to prepare dinner. This campsite is on the outskirts of town and is the home to several animals, we have already seen a baby giraffe, zebras, water bucks and thomson gazelles.

    There were another two overland trucks about to arrive so I had a shower before they got here and took over. The showers were clean and hot which was nice after being stuck on the bus all day.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    The Waterfront Victoria Falls

    12 de julho de 2017, Zâmbia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We arrived at this camp site at about lunch time, I was on 'cooks help' one of the duties allocated so I helped Duncan prepare lunch while the others set up the tents. Chris was amazing and set our tent up for Nicole and I!

    After lunch there wasn't much time before a few of us were being picked up for microlite over Victoria Falls. I have never heard of a micro light before but apparently is is like paragliding but with a motor attached.

    That night when I was trying to find my tent it was near impossible, this place is a maze and it doesn't help that all the tents look the same. I went to bed fairly early so I could get up at 4:30am to have a hot shower and talk to home before departing for our next location.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Zambia / Botswana Border

    13 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Exiting Zambia itself was easy but then we had to wait for a ferry to cross over to Botswana and that took forever! We ended up walking onto a ferry and then walking to the Botswana immigration while the truck remained in Botswana waiting for a ferry.

    Once we had gone through immigration we had to wash every pair of shoes we had in a special solution because foot and mouth disease is a problem.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Chobe River Safari

    13 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Chobe River Safari is an optional extra but our whole group decided to do it together, we went to the super market before hand to buy alcohol, cheese and biscuits.

    When we got to the bank of the river where we were meant to get on the boat they tried to put all twenty-something of us on a small boat which can only be described as a 'large tinny' with a motor. The group was almost ready to completely back out of the tour and request the money back because that was not what was described to us but they quickly changed the boats over. We now have more of a large open boat where people can walk around and take pictures from all sides.

    On the river safari we were incredibly lucky, we saw so many elephants crossing the river in several locations, we watched them as they played in the mud and struggled to get back onto dry land because they were sliding around in the mud. The elephants were definitely a highlight but we also got to see hippopotamus', water buck, crocodile, buffalo and many different breeds of birds.

    I really enjoyed the river safari, we got incredibly close to the animals and I got some amazing photographs. It was so relaxing drinking on the river, looking at animals and eating cheese.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz
    1

    Chobe National Park

    13 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Chobe National Park did not disappoint!

    After we finished our river safari we were picked up by a safari truck, we were taken to the front gates of Chobe National Park where we would begin our evening game drive. The game drive was expected to take about 3 hours getting us to our campsite within the park at about 6pm which is one of the better times to do a game drive because a lot of the animals are out and about at sunset or sunrise.

    We were so lucky, I am claiming it is the 'luck of the pangolin' we saw but we were hardly an hour into the drive when we saw not one but two leopards! It was a mother and it's cub, the cub was sitting near the base of the tree and the mother was sleeping up at the top of the tree. I could not believe it.

    We drove around for another hour or so, where we saw elephants, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, kudus, impala and various other animals.

    It was amazing how many animals we did see, when we first got onto the truck our guide asked us what we would like to see and the response was the typical big five animals. The guide told us that the big five was impossible because there were not rhinos in the park but he would try to get us what he calls the 'big four' - so far he has ticked of three of the big four with just the lion remaining.

    The guide told us that he was heading back to camp and would only stop for the big four animals, we probably drove five minutes before we saw a group of lioness' walking around. The lioness in the front of the pack was calling out to the other lioness' as she walked straight past our truck. We parked there far ages just watching them before our guide started getting nervous because of the time, if they don't get to camp by a certain time then get a fine. just down the road we saw about six lion cubs playing chase by the water.

    We continued driving back to camp, along the way we had to content with hundreds of elephants and then giraffes on the road. The roads were very bumpy and it was actually a reasonably scary drive, I was glad to make it to the camp that was for sure!

    The next morning we did another game drive, we were lucky to catch a glimpse of a caracal and a honey badger which are both extremely rare to see. We continued driving around and I could see our guide looking around as if he was expecting to see something, turns out he was tracking a leopard. The leopard was stalking impala at the time and as we stopped behind it the impala have seen the leopard. I thought that the impala would run away but instead they started 'barking' at it, letting all the other impala know that there was a predator in the area and chasing it away. I have never seen anything like it before it was amazing.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Chobe Camp

    13 de julho de 2017, Namíbia ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    This would have to be my favourite campsite, we got there when it was dark so I will try and paint a picture for you because we couldn't get any photos.

    There was a camp fire and around the campfire were our chairs placed in a perfect circle then a little further our tents were placed on a perfect circle. Behind our tents were two long drop toilets with lights and a camping sink sitting next to them.

    Dinner was ready when we arrived so we quickly put our belongings in our tents before sitting down around the campfire to eat. They gave us a briefing about what to do when we see particular animals and how to move around the campsite at night because we are in a national park without fences protecting us from the animals.

    After dinner we roasted marshmallows on the fire and drank hot chocolate under the star. The stars were amazing, it really makes me miss living in the outback because that is what they look like every night.

    That night in the tent I heard noises one of which I though was lions, the next morning I asked the guide and he said that the lions were walking around our camp last night.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Shearwater Explorers Village

    14 de julho de 2017, Zimbábue ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    This campsite looks amazing, the campsites have cement blocks for the tents and lots of green grass surrounding them with a huge undercover meal area and kitchen. The bathrooms were clean and modern. There was a bar and restaurant area as well as a beautiful pool, I am very happy to be staying here for a few days.

    We set up our tents and then all met at bar where we were one of the hotel's staff members gave us information about optional activities available in Victoria Falls. I have decided to do a guided tour of Victoria Falls, bungee jump and the lion encounter.

    The second to last night we went out as a family for dinner where we all ordered different meats such as warthog, crocodile, impala, giraffe etc. I tried most of them but my favourite would have to be the crocodile!

    The last night at the camp I let my hair down a little bit and 'Jess the Mess' came out to play, 8 pre-mixed vodkas and 5 double shot vodkas with coke all within two hours was probably not the best idea. I was drinking because my tent buddy Nicole was leaving me and was already out drinking with her new tour group. We also met the new people joining our group that night, it first time we have met so I probably didn't give a very good first impression. I ended up in bed at about 12am but woke up at about 12:30am and vomited in my tent, once I made it to the bathroom I rested there for about an hour. The next morning was a struggle but no sympathy because it was self inflicted!    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Lion Encounter

    15 de julho de 2017, Zimbábue ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    I walked with lions!

    The lion encounter was probably ranked in the top five things I have ever done in my life, words can't even explain how amazing it was.

    We started the day super early and it was freezing, we got onto the bus and drove about twenty minutes before reaching to start point. On arrival we were split into two groups of seven people and allocated a guide, our guides name was JB. The other guide Paul gave us a talk on what they do in relation to lion conservation and how they re-introduce the lions into the wild that have been brought up in captivity for some reason.

    After we walked for about two minutes before they moved us off to the side of the road, they gave us safety briefing on how to walk with the lions and what not to do. they told us that the lions are only seconds away and then out of the bush came two lions by the names of Layla and Lulu they were both almost three years old. My initial reaction was to step back, to be honest I shat myself because they were huge! I was expecting little cubs. We started walking with them, one person at a time would stand next to them and pat them as they walked. I was so nervous but soon relaxed until the other lion decided it was play time and pounced on the one I was walking with, we got to watch them as the ran around playing with each other. When they sat we took photos with them while we gave them a pat, it was amazing. I felt like everyone got so much time with them, by the end of the hour you could tell that they were getting a little bored and wanted to do their own thing.

    I would highly recommend this to anyone, it was an amazing experience - it was that good that I was tempted to go again the next day, well worth the money!    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Bungee Jumping

    15 de julho de 2017, Zimbábue ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    I bungee jumped off of Victoria Falls Bridge which is situated between Zimbabwe and Zambia, so I guess you could say I bungee jumped in two countries at once!

    This is the third bungee jump that I have done but that adrenalin you get from jumping off of a bridge will always be there, the feeling you get while free falling is not comparable to anything else!Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Sitatunga Camp

    19 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    First impressions of this campsite weren't too good but after we set up our tents it was okay, there wasn't much shade and the ground was sandy but that's okay because they made up for it with good showers and toilets.

    Nicole's truck is staying at this camp as well, it will be the last time that we see each other for a while.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Delta Okavango

    20 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today we head to the Delta Okavango we started at camp where we were piled onto the back of a large truck which wasn't enclosed. It was freezing and I had two jumpers and a jacket on, I was about to jump onto the truck when Duncan called me over and said I could sit up front in the enclosed cabin! It wasn't long before I was taking all my layers off because I was too hot.

    We drove for about an hour and a half before we got to the river bank where we loaded our day packs and over night bags into a mokoro which is similar to a canoe. In my mokoro there was myself, Jen and our guide Craig. I get quite nervous when it comes to water and I don't have the best balance so this was actually scary for me. Once we got going I started to relax and enjoy the ride.

    We were in the mokoros for about an hour, travelling through the reeds and paths made by other animals such as elephants and hippopotamus' before we arrived at our camp. We were lucky enough to see an elephant on the bank, they were only about twenty metres away from us.

    Later that afternoon we got back on to the mokoros and we were taken to another river bank where we got off to go for a guided walk of the Delta Okavango. After we had completed the walking tour we got back onto the mokoros, at this time the sun was setting and the colours of the sky were amazing.

    That night we sat around the fire while we watched the locals dance and sing around the fire, after they included us in a few games. I was getting eaten alive by mosquitoes so I retired early to the tent, I don't think the others lasted much longer after me. It was a great night, there was a lot of laughing and smiling from everyone.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Delta Okavango Camp

    20 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    When we arrived at our camp site we unpacked our stuff from the mokoros and placed them in the tents that had already been set for us. We found a second door at the back of the tent that we opened, we found an ensuite bathroom with a long drop toilet and a bucket shower. I have never seen so many girls so excited about having their own long drop toilet in the privacy of the tent.

    There was also a large under cover dining area and fire pit.    Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Sitatunga Camp

    21 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After an hour and a half drive on the back of the truck and a night in the Okavango Delta, we made it back to Sitatunga Camp. It's nice to come back to our tents already (still) set up, most rushed for the shower but I was booked in to do the scenic flight over the Okavango Delta, instead of being late I thought I would wait until after.Leia mais

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  • Jessica GerschwitzGreat Africa ExpeditionJessica Gerschwitz

    Trail Blazers Camp

    22 de julho de 2017, Botsuana ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We turned up at about lunch time after driving for 4 hours, this is the first time our tour manager and driver has brought a group here so they weren't quite sure where to go. When we arrived there was no one in sight, we stopped and walked around look for someone to give us directions - it is a ghost town!

    Finally we found someone and they told us where we could set up our tents, we set up our tents then I checked out the facilities. The toilets was in a room made of bamboo and didn't have a door which is a tad strange. The camp site doesn't have much shade and it is just sand - no grass. It isn't the worst camp site we have stayed at but certainly isn't the best.

    We sat down for lunch and Hesbon briefed us on what we were going to do tomorrow and also gave the group an option to go on a bush walk. I don't want to go on a bush walk, it sounds too similar to other tours that I have done.    Leia mais

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