Day 5: Continent Two: Where in the world is ............

Dropping down out of 32,000 feet, no clouds and a landscape rising out of the sun rise. Through the far window I see the sky break glow orange against the night blue back sky. 10 and a half hours and 5836 miles later... Johannesburg, South Africa.... Stop One today. A huge metropolitan city at the end of the African Continent. No time to visit however and we are limited to a modern airport filled with duty free, celebrities and friends. Debra Messing from WIll and Grace fame is boarding a plane to Lusaka, Zambia. Out comes Chef  Pierre Thiam off a flight from Dulles, Washington, And here come other friends to join on the next leg of our journey to The Africa Travel Congress, a meeting of travel ministers and delegates from many of the African States.  I am soooo tired, little sleep on last night's flight, all I really need is food and coffee... and a place to take a nap during this 3 hour layover, so I do what comes naturally, drop my head and fall asleep.

Gate 22...... boarding to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe another hour and a half north and 600 miles. As the plane drops down the landscape is brown, dry and then closer still, The Bush, This is AFRICA....... you can smell it from here. Victoria Falls airport is on the edge of a game park, the one story version with hand carried luggage off the cart. I'm back in the country visa line. One or two visit visa,  one time, two times? I'm in and out and back again so two visit visa. (more on that later). Here the roughing it stops as we slide into a hotel car and take off the back roads for Elephant Hills Resort.  Elephant droppings spatter the road but not a one in sight. At least there is evidence and it's mid-day and hot so any sensible animal is going to be in the bush for shade. Take a look.... (www.elephanthillsresort.com)

Don't leave the doors open... is the warning from the hotel staff. Either slide the screened shutter doors shut or the glass doors and make sure to put the latch in place BECAUSE... if you don't the monkeys will be in here and through your things..... and over the bed and in the bathroom. It is dusk and the warthogs are running about the lawn in front of me. Another sort of badger like animal is trying to avoid them and pick up scattered fruits. We are off to BOMA.... a barbecue food festival with spitted lamb and an open fire pit, wood charcoal open grills with warthog meat and crocodile tail. Music, drums, dancers, color and FOOD. Back through the bush roads in the dark, feeling eyes but not seeing any movement.

Sooooo tired. I promise to tell more and that we stay here for a couple of days but right now I have to sleep.