Three More Months in Southern Africa

Hello, fellow bird lovers, big mammal enthusiasts, and Southern Africa fans!

The title of this second travel journal obviously references the one that came before it: Three months in Southern Africa in a Ford Figo 😉

That was back in spring 2016, and I was discovering this incredible region of the world with wide-eyed wonder. Though absolutely enchanted by my trip, I’ll admit: I didn’t think I’d be back so soon.

Fortunately, circumstances had other plans. For their 70th birthdays, my parents had the wonderful idea of inviting the whole family—my sister, my brother-in-law, my three nieces, and me—for two weeks in the Cape Town area and Namibia. The only one missing was my godson (the eldest), who was tied up in Switzerland for his air traffic controller training.

Of course, I wasn’t going to settle for just this (delicious) taste of adventure… so, as an appetizer, main course, and dessert, I added two and a half months of travels through South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe (the last two being new to me). What can I say? I’m a travel glutton! 😛

Here’s the general outline of my itinerary, with details to come as I share the story:

With family (March 29 to April 13, 2018)

South Africa (5 days) Namibia (9 days)

Solo (April 13 to June 30, 2018)

Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (5 days) South Africa and Lesotho (26 days) Mozambique (21 days) Zimbabwe (10 days) South Africa (15 days)

And since I need a cliché to illustrate this journal... ... it’ll be the famous lilac-breasted roller (lilac-breasted roller), one of my little favorites (I might even make it my profile picture, actually)!

I have to say, in 2016, exploring Southern Africa multiplied my interest (already strong, but mostly limited to vultures and raptors) in avian wildlife. 🙂

Happy reading!

P.S. Beyond sharing, I’m also counting on this journal to motivate me to finally sort through the roughly 10,000 photos that have been sitting on a hard drive for four months. 🤪😏

Hi Frank Olivier,

Cool, a new travel journal! I’m excited to see new photos and read your latest story—I was captivated by the first one 😊

Myriam

A new story and lots of great photos coming soon. Can’t wait to read you again.

Given the beauty of the photos in the previous travel journal, I’m rushing to jump in!

And since we have to pick a cliché to illustrate this travel journal...

. it’ll be the famous lilac-breasted roller

Oh, Master Roller, how lovely you are, how colorful! Pluck a feather, one that writes, A small one that sums up, or the long one that stands out.

Blend your sorted images with memories. And if your song matches your plumage, The journey will be magical.

I'm sure the photos from Zimbabwe are already sorted. Could you start with those?😇😊😉

Cool, a new travel journal 🙂 ! I really loved your old avatar... 😕

3 months of wandering and stunning photos ahead—I’m off! 🙂 Muriel

Bird-loving friends, big mammal enthusiasts, and Southern Africa fans, greetings!

Hey there! (oh my brother..."Bérurier Noir")

Birds: got it, I'm in! Big mammals: yep, that works for me too. Southern Africa: still a yes—count me in!

Awesome! Let’s keep the journey going, with or without Figo 😛

Oh awesome! A new travel journal from Bof—this is gonna be interesting (and we’re in for some amazing photos!). I’m in.

1a) South Africa - Cape Town (March 30 - April 4, 2018)

Well, there are quite a few of us here! 🙂 For sure, a Figo wouldn't cut it... 😏 Luckily, my parents went a bit bigger: not one, but two Hyundai H1 8-seaters! That's 16 seats total, and on the morning of Friday, March 31, there are only five of us landing at Cape Town International Airport... 🤪

Because the trip started with a drama. Thursday evening, in transit at Frankfurt, already stressed by the big delay of our connecting flight (from Zurich), the sky fell on our heads: impossible to board without presenting the birth certificates of my two youngest nieces (aged 15 and 13). And we don’t have them! 🏴‍☠️

Since June 1, 2015, all parents are required "to present proof attesting to the parent-child relationship for their minor children, both when entering and leaving South African territory. In addition to the child's personal passport, they must provide a full copy of the birth certificate translated by a sworn translator or its multilingual birth certificate extract.

Source: www.tourmag.com/...ce-lundi_a74226.html

My parents, as the organizers, had no idea about this directive: the airline documents only mentioned passports. I didn’t know either. As for my sister and brother-in-law, who have already traveled as a family to several non-European countries, they were stunned.

We try to negotiate, but the flight attendant is unyielding (and unbearable...). Plus, the plane is waiting for us, and time is running out. My godson, who stayed home, sends us photos of the birth certificates on our smartphones. Refused! The originals are required. 😠

Faced with a fait accompli, we make the only possible decision: leave as five and leave my sister in Frankfurt with the two youngest (my third niece turned 18 in 2017), hoping for a little miracle...

On the eve of a public holiday, how on earth are we supposed to get those blasted birth certificates from Germany, 500 km away from our home region?! Are the long-awaited holidays going to be ruined for three of us?

Find out in the next episode... 😇

Oh Master Rollier, how lovely you are, how colorful you shine! Pluck a feather, one that writes, A small one that sums up, or the long one that stands out.

Blend your sorted images with memories. And if your song matches your plumage, The journey will be enchanting.

I bow. 😮

I'm sure the photos from Zimbabwe are already sorted.

Nope, I haven’t even started. 😏

Is that your next destination?

That damn birth certificate! 😤

I can't wait for what's next!

You guys started off incredibly strong, for sure! 🤪 We're leaving tomorrow—our passports AND birth certificates (multilingual ones!) have been sitting on my dresser by the front door for a week just to make sure we don’t forget them. 😏 What a teaser! Come on, send the rest!!! 😎

A week in Zimbabwe, the rest split between South Africa and Botswana...😛

If you need some encouragement for the next episode... I’m clapping and stomping my feet to hear what happens next! 🙂

That’s true, Bof is keeping us waiting! 😉

Hi Frank-Olivier,

Thanks for this first part of your travel journal—it’s incredibly well written.

I’m really interested in the solo part of your trip through Mozambique and Zimbabwe. What route did you take in those two countries? In Zimbabwe, didn’t the currency issue bother you there?

Thanks for your feedback,

Pierre

Thanks for your kind messages and sorry for this somewhat sluggish start! I'm getting back into it... 🙂

1b) South Africa - Cape Town (March 30–April 4, 2018)

Thursday, March 30, 8:45 PM. The five of us board the Condor flight. The mood isn’t exactly celebratory, with three people stranded in Frankfurt. My dad, always organized and prepared, checks the documents he has one more time: the birth certificates aren’t mentioned anywhere. 😕 The plane takes off soon, and no further communication is possible. We feel helpless.

But dwelling on it won’t help! We try to relax a bit, even though Condor really isn’t making it easy. First, the legroom is seriously tight for a long-haul flight, and I’m expecting to suffer with my 1.88 meters (yes, I’m speaking Swiss—already used "a bit" instead of "the slightest" at the start of the paragraph 😏). Then, two of our five screens don’t work. Finally, only two movies are available for free, including... the second episode of a trilogy—*The Lord of the Rings*—that everyone’s already seen. No comment. 😛 The meal? I don’t remember it: that’s probably a good sign. 😄

We land around 9 AM, as eager as we are anxious to find out how the situation has evolved. What we don’t know yet is that a full-blown rescue operation kicked into gear as soon as we took off. My sister, from Frankfurt, my godson who stayed in Switzerland, his girlfriend, and her family pulled out all the stops to save the day.

At 9:38 AM, the first message we read is: "We found a (nearly) solution 😊 but we have to wait until this afternoon to confirm!" Phew. However, the postal option didn’t work out. On Good Friday, an international shipment would take at least two days. Too long!

My godson, tied up with his studies, couldn’t join us in Africa. Thankfully, I’d say! Because the Easter weekend still gave him the chance to spend four days in Bordeaux with his girlfriend and her family... with a departure early in the afternoon from Geneva-Cointrin Airport. Our only hope: convince a passenger flying to Frankfurt to take the precious envelope and hand it over to my sister in person.

And... that’s exactly what happened in the end! Luckily, not everyone follows the usual advice warning against accepting anything from a stranger. 😇 To think that the passenger in question not only refused any reward (well-deserved, though) for the favor but was also just transiting through Frankfurt: boom, an extra customs check and security screening... in exchange for our eternal gratitude, of course! 😎

It wasn’t until 1:45 PM that we got confirmation the certificates were about to depart... and at 5:48 PM that they arrived safely. On top of that, my sister managed to find three tickets for that very evening via Windhoek, with Air Namibia. 🙂

Meanwhile, we picked up our luggage, settled into a residential suburb of Cape Town, and headed downtown.

Welcome biscuit at Chaston Manor, our accommodation for the next five nights.

My brother-in-law and my oldest niece having fun at Greenmarket Square. 😉

The reunion is set for 10 AM the next day. The trip can finally begin.

Well, what a stressful start, but it all worked out in the end! 😄 We’re heading to South Africa (Cape region) at the end of the year, and Namibia next summer—I’ll definitely be picking up some great tips from this travel journal! 😊 Thanks for sharing!

Glad this terrible mishap ended well, and so quickly too. Great idea to make those certificates travel 🙂!

two of our five screens aren’t working. Plus, only two movies are available for free

Condor still hasn’t improved. We had the exact same experience, and the kids made us promise never to fly with them again!!

The worst thing about this airline is that the prices aren’t great!

not quite the end of the suspense— the whole family isn’t together yet, but we’re on track for the Swiss crew’s trip to African lands to kick off soon.

Can't manage to get the whole family together? Definitely a tough start! 😉 Muriel

I’m really interested in the part of your trip where you traveled solo in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. What route did you take in those two countries? In Zimbabwe, didn’t the currency issue bother you there?

Hey Pierre! You’ll have to be patient to hear about my itinerary in those two countries. 😛 One important thing, though: I absolutely loved it. 🙂

In Zimbabwe, yeah, I had currency issues... among other things. 😏 You’ve gotta bring everything in cash.

Starting off is definitely tough! 😉

You’re telling me. 😛

My long absences make life in Switzerland not always easy. Gotta earn the cash for the next trip. 😉

Not that I’m complaining, though. And like Pir971 said in their latest travel journal... I’m ahead of schedule! 😏

1c) South Africa - Cape Town (March 30-April 4, 2018)

No early fish on this April Fools' Eve! 😛 As "planned," and despite untranslated birth certificates, our team of happy vacationers is finally complete. 🙂

Luckily, we’d allowed plenty of time for our South African leg. As a result, all the more or less planned visits took place... except for Robben Island: the excursion was "fully booked" for the entire Easter period (during high season, I’d advise those interested to book their spot several days, or even weeks, in advance!).

Camps Bay

Classic (but still stunning) panorama from Signal Hill

The next morning, a (brunch) breakfast stop in Kalk Bay on the way to Boulders Beach

The famous penguin beach

Some adorable cuddles...

... and more if you're keen! 😏

Unlike in 2016 (when I arrived at opening time), the beach is far from deserted

Next, we head to the Cape of Good Hope (photo taken along the way)

Both the flora...

... and the fauna are very rich here (this is a group of ostriches)



Sacred Ibis (African Sacred Ibis)

On the way back, we take Chapman's Peak Drive, which I hadn’t driven in 2016. Lovely!

don't believe it, but there are still readers for the next adventures! 🙂

Thanks Françoise! 😉

1d) South Africa - Cape Town (March 30–April 4, 2018)

What would a trip to Cape Town be without climbing the massif that overlooks it, the famous Table Mountain? This time, no question of hiking up on foot—we’re taking the cableway.

Contrary to what the ads claim, the round-trip isn’t cheap: 330 Rands (around 20 €) for an adult tourist. 😛

At the top, lizards lounge around...

... and rock hyraxes (dassies).

In 2016, I went up and down via the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden. It’s much busier, but the view is just as stunning from that side!

After lunch (eaten at the self-service restaurant at the top), it’s time to head back down.

I prefer milk (see below)... sometimes with a little ice cream! 😎

The next day is dedicated to the wine valleys surrounding the city. Generally, my parents, my sister, my brother-in-law, and my oldest niece never turned down a chance to taste the (excellent) South African wines throughout the trip... especially since the prices are nothing like those in Switzerland. 😉 And since I don’t drink alcohol, they had a designated driver! 😏

Stellenbosch and its stately homes

Hadada ibis, in the park of the estate where we stopped to eat.



Franschhoek: aside from a few charming art galleries, the town itself didn’t hold much interest for me, but the road there is gorgeous.

District Six Museum in Cape Town, named after the neighborhood gradually emptied of its residents by the Apartheid regime starting in 1966.

In the V&A Waterfront, a perfect spot to wander and wrap up our stay in Cape Town.

The next day, off to Windhoek and Namibia! 🙂

Wow, the photos! Hats off to you. Can't wait for the rest of the travel journal 😊 Cathy the impatient

It's always a pleasure to admire your photos. I hope you'll share the rest of your adventures here 😉

Hello Bof,

On this Sunday morning, while my whole little family is still fast asleep, I just devoured your 2016 travel journal about your trip through Southern Africa, and I checked out this one. Your photos are still as gorgeous as ever 🙂

I know finishing a travel journal is a pain. Our minds are already on our next trips 😉 Do you think you’ll get a chance to continue this one? I’d love to see your return to the Lesotho part.

Have a wonderful Sunday, Pascale

Thanks Cathy, Laura, and Pascale for your messages!

The winter was a bit hectic, and I’m currently recharging in India (for a month now), but yes, I do plan to continue (and finish ) this travel journal one day. 🙂

Stay tuned, as they say. 😛

Following up on the compliments, your profile photo is just amazing! I was waiting for the next part of your Mozambique travel journal for the great tips and photos. Wishing you a great continuation of your trip in India—what a unique country! It must be getting really hot there by now. 😎 Françoise

Hi there,

I’m jumping on this lovely travel journal too. Its super chill pace will let me read and re-read the last one. Have a great trip in India! Jean Luc

Wait... what do I see? VoyageForum is back?! It even looks like some legendary figures (dare I say "dinosaurs"? 😛) are already staking their claim in the African section. 😏

This is just the motivation I needed to pick up this travel journal I so shamelessly abandoned back in the day. This weekend, I’m diving back in—elephant’s promise! 🐘

Hey Bof,

So great to catch up with fellow Africa lovers! 😊

I’m patiently waiting for the next update! 👀

Great !

One more happy traveler.

This weekend, I’m getting back into it... pinky promise! 🐘

You’d better... dinosaur’s honor!

(Oh come on! 😏)

Hello to Françoise, Nathalie, Michel, and Jean-Luc (who I clearly can't compete with 😏)!

2) Namibia: Mariental and Sesriem (5-7 April 2018)

After this admittedly eventful but ultimately beautiful start to the trip in the Cape region, it’s already time to change the scenery... and the country.

April 5th marks a day of transition: a flight to Windhoek (10:00 AM–11:30 AM), picking up the rental cars, and driving to Mariental (310 km), on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. We arrive at our accommodation around 6:00 PM, just before nightfall.

The next morning, my brother-in-law and I wake up at dawn to enjoy the property a bit. But I won’t be recommending the place, given the owners’ unfriendliness. 🙁







Today’s destination is a classic Namibian highlight: the Sesriem region. We arrive without any issues in the early afternoon after 275 km of driving. After grabbing a snack in the village and checking into our rooms at the Sossusvlei Lodge, we end the day exploring the Sesriem Canyon and Elim Dune—not without getting a flat tire in between. 😉

Sesriem Canyon



Thanks to my parents’ generosity 😇, the standard is noticeably higher than my solo trips. The comfortable lodge with a pool is a welcome upgrade from a tent or sleeping in the car, and the grill buffet replaces cooking on a camp stove. 😏 That evening, I try zebra and eland for the first (and probably last) time in my life.

But we’re really here to admire these unique landscapes—clay pans surrounded by towering red sand dunes and dotted with century-old acacias, frozen and parched under the scorching sun. The famous "Deadvlei," which I skipped in 2016 to explore more remote areas, was well worth this return to the land of the brave. This time, the awe is shared by all.

The desert antelope (oryx) in its natural habitat

Photo or painting?

The travel journal is still as beautiful and well-told as ever 🙂

Great, we're gonna love this travel journal series! :)

Hey Franck and hey everyone,

I’m jumping back on the bandwagon! 🙂

So happy to be reading all of you again!

Well, well, this username rings a bell 😄 Everyone comes back from Bof saying “meh” !

Cool, it’s happening again—and Namibia this time! Love it… but now I’m reminded I need to sort through this summer’s photos.

So glad you're picking up your travel journal again!

I’ll admit, it’s not *just* for your gorgeous 😇 photos. I’m planning a self-drive trip to Zimbabwe in May 2026 (4x4 with camping and lodges), and info on the country—aside from Victoria Falls—isn’t exactly easy to come by.

Can’t wait to read more! And lots of luck with the writing! 😉

Pascale