IN & AROUND CAPE TOWN

Our first stop, Stellenbosch. We stayed in a beautiful
cottage at the ZORGVLIET WINERY. Spectacular scenery
and even better wines! 

Australia and South Africa share that same beautiful blue sky that I love!

Mr. & Mrs. O. in the vineyards!

Boys misbehaving.

Ladies spinning wool and broom sellers selling.
See Mandela's portrait in the background?

The men pretending to be wine connoisseurs at the KANONKOP  WINERY.

My favourite winery, BOSCHENDAL.
Such beautiful gardens, food and wines.

A night at Kalk Bay. A quirky town full, of character.

Even the seals are friendly!

And to the top of THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

And at the bottom of THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

Wildlife by the beach.

Even ostriches and their babies!

It usually is very windy here!

A favourite of ours, THE NEIGHBOUR GOODS MARKETS.
Having oysters and champagne at 10am is a must when visiting the markets.

The RED BUS TOUR of CAPE TOWN.
Stopping off at Camps Bay. A glorious spot by the sea with
lots of eateries to choose from.

The view back across Camps Bay.

Looking down on Cape Town from the top of Signal Hill.

Ryan and Aron with me and TABLE MOUNTAIN in the background.
It is usually clouded in! 

Beautiful Cape Town. I will go back there any day!
It is a beautiful city!

VICTORIA FALLS, ZAMBIA

Welcoming committee at The Zambezi Sun.
These young men had beautiful singing voices and gorgeous smiles!

Our turn!

Reception

African sculptures throughout the grounds.

A sunset cruise on … THE AFRICAN QUEEN!

Sundowners, what else!?

Cute kids! I fall in love with them all!

The sun setting on the Zambezi River.

And what a spectacular sunset it was!

Boys at play on segways!

Ryan's turn...

and Dad's!
 (Aron had a turn, too, but not me! I was too scared!)

Wildlife wandered through the gardens of the hotel!

Boys posing for crazy shots! You have to be careful and not go too close to the animals.
Do you think  my boys were minding my instructions??!!

A local selling his wares and passing time.

My bucketlist  wish for us all… a helicopter ride.

A first for them,

and me, but not Mr. O! He's been in helicopters before.

Over the famous VICTORIA FALLS. It is a world heritage listing. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. We were slightly disappointed that the falls were not "gushing" with water, but the government had damed a portion for hydro-electricity and, the wet season was just about to start! Mind you, when we went up in the helicopter, we were not disappointed at all!

The bridge over the Zambezi River linking Zambia to Zimbabwe.
People bungee jump from the middle of the bridge. Can you see it?
Not me!!

Ryan climbing a stature of Doctor Stanley Livingstone, who discovered the falls .
(Can you read the sign "DO NOT CLIMB"?
"RYAN!!! GET DOWN FROM THERE!!!"

Going for a walk across the top of the falls.This is only possible at this time of the season.

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!! Our boys tricked us!
 We thought we were going for a walk. They actually sat in
 a rock pool beside the very edge of the falls. Mr. O and I did not like this part!
"Come back!" we kept calling to them.

Aron posing.

Ryan posing.

Liam posing.

Us posing.

What magical experiences for us as a family!
We had multiple "pinch me moments" in Zambia
and photos to prove it!

Victoria Falls

NEXT STOP, SWAZILAND!

We stayed at PHOPHONYANE FALLS in traditional Swazi cottages.

After unloading our gear (again!), we went on a hike to see the falls.
Very pretty, but we could not swim in the water as there are parasites that can make you sick.

Following the trail. Can you see the trail marker?

Father and youngest son.
But wait! What's that creature stalking in the background??

Enjoying the valley view of Swaziland after our hike.

The owner had an orphaned BUSH BABY. She was having to
 give it a bottle every couple of hours.
Isn't it cute? It is a nocturnal animal, so it did not like
 being shown to us in  the daytime!

An interesting exhibit in the Cultural display at the Swaziland Museum.