What are moments? I don't know, probably just another strange advertising term. At least that was my first thought. But that was all about to change. But first things first.
It all started with a spontaneous short visit to the travel agency "Kristin", which was actually intended to bag a short fall vacation. The result was a "Moments" booking, thanks to the great atmosphere and competent advice as well as the spontaneity of my better half... After some initial doubts, we, a couple in our early 50s, haven't regretted booking this admittedly not cheap trip for a single second.
It was gigantic. Unexpected. Full of surprises.
Unpredictable and yet perfect.
Perfectly organized. Perfect in (almost) every respect.
Why? First of all, there are these two completely crazy people - Kristin and Dirk - who are living their dream and have created this travel offer and accompany it with dedication. But more importantly, they not only let their guests take part in it, they involve them. Kristin, the always attentive, creative idea generator with an eye for detail, and Dirk, the technically adept organizer with a cool head even in tricky situations, complement each other perfectly. Respect! Plus the hand-picked fellow travelers, this random community on which sooo much always depends. It was a great fit! And of course the local crew, the biggest unknown. With six guests and two "travel companions", these nine (!) people are clearly a decisive factor for a successful trip. And they were!...
Well, anyway, at some point - escaping the February weather at home - we were sitting on the Ethiopian airline bound for Maun. Maun? Exactly. Maun. We first had to explain to the lady at check-in that it was in Botswana... Arrival in the wet season. Rain. Lots of rain. And in a tent from tomorrow. Great, that should be fun... Then I remembered the words "When it rains, it rains briefly, but really. Then it's good again, and - it stays warm!" And that's exactly how it was. What followed was an incredibly restless and incredibly eventful trip through southern Africa. Not a second of boredom. No phone, no internet. It was incredibly exciting, incredibly relaxing, incredibly restful. Even if the day rarely started after five o'clock. This trip exceeded our expectations, even though they were vague at best, let alone defined: super camp sites, nature that couldn't be more natural. Animals, wilderness, adventure. Africa.
Lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, waterbuck, impala, warthog, baboon, hippopotamus, crocodile, ostrich, eagle, falcon, crane and vulture - this is not a selection field like in 6aus49, where there might be a few hits that we would like to see. No, this is rather a rather incomplete list of animals that we were able to observe at close range and in large numbers on a daily basis during our two-week safari. And this is neither a joke nor an exaggeration, but an unbelievable reality.
And that's exactly what they were, these "moments".
They usually came as a surprise.
Well, almost. Because our capable guides usually knew where there might be something to see. Whether by locating noises, tracking, vultures pointing out carrion on tree skeletons mauled by elephants, warning calls from birds or the behavior of herds of antelope, they always found plenty of "visual prey" for us...
But the little experiences on the daily exploration tours with our super-comfortable, well-equipped, open game viewer also provided us with wonderful "moments". There were river crossings, deep water holes on the sandy highways, spontaneous animal pursuits, the rescue of a vehicle stuck in a mud hole or the late evening game drives with searchlights. Or the boat trips on the waters of the Okawango Delta.
There was always something going on. And all set against the stunning green bush landscape in the African nowhere.
Sounds were also "moments". The non-silence of the night. The calls and songs of the countless birds. The roar of the massive hippos and the prowling hyenas. Or the noise caused by the honey badger breaking into the kitchen tent.
Of course, the few people around us also provided some "moments". The friendly and open-minded way of life of the local crew, who made our stay in the wilderness extremely pleasant. The silent and barely noticeable logistics, which were perfectly implemented to allow our camp to "wander". The pride with which our mainguide Moronga told us about the history and nature of his country. The top gastronomy, which was impressively successful with the simplest of means and offered us culinary delights. The welcome songs with which we were greeted with a cool drink around the campfire when we arrived at camp in the evening. The surprise tables that were set up in wonderful places and were waiting for us with a lunch...
As if the incredibly varied safari wasn't enough of an experience, there were more highlights to follow. The border crossing into Zimbabwe, for example, which could not have been portrayed more impressively in any movie. The sticker in the passport with the handwritten entries is a lasting memory. Ingenious. Unique. Africa.
However, the end of our tour was to have another highlight in store - the extremely impressive Victoria Falls. First an exploration in an optional helicopter flight, then an extensive tour of the falls. Here, too, there is an unimaginable closeness to nature and danger instead of barriers and perfection. Not unpleasant spray mist on the face and all over the body instead of scratched Plexiglas walls... The end of the tour in the small town of Victoria Falls offered the opportunity to "bargain" for a few souvenirs, mainly local wood carvings, or to try some typical local delicacies at the lively market. The mopane caterpillars were delicious, the Zulu beer took some getting used to and could not be compared with the obligatory 11 o'clock tea.
Well, the bottom line for us is that this vacation offered an incredible density of experiences with many unexpected "moments". Varied, exciting, relaxing. Luxurious and anarchically free at the same time.
Top organization and support.
An absolute recommendation.
We take home great experiences, magnificent animal sightings and an incredible number of memories that are captured in countless photos.
Many thanks to Kristin and Dirk, the crew and our fellow travelers!
Finally, an important warning:
Be careful, Africa can be addictive!
Frank & Steffi, February 2025
PS: I have deliberately omitted a detailed description of the places and the route here, as these are described excellently in the travel description for Tour A on the website.
