August 11th
Aaaaand we are off! (Again!) Keep reading for our Southern Africa tour diary.
Nico and I are on our flight to Amsterdam and then on to Johannesburg and Zimbabwe for our first ever Southern Africa tour. It was quite the puzzle to pack for, but I think we’ve managed well. For my Africa packing video, head over to youtube!
As always, there is a tiny hiccup. On the way out the door I forgot my fleece that I bought specially for this trip, a beige one that will work for cold animal trekking mornings. I was so mad at myself for forgetting it but I was distracted by our kitten who did not want us to go.
Since I have no other warm jacket in my bag, I had to buy one at the airport. No worries, though, ExOfficio came to my rescue and I found an almost identical jacket for a great price. This is not the first time that I’ve had to prowl the ExOfficio shop for things I forgot, but the lesson here is that you should never panic. You can replace almost anything you’ve forgotten, even credit cards and passports.
See you on the other side in AFRICA 
Andiamo!
August 13th-15th
Southern Africa Tour: Zimbabwe
Note: All of these photos were taken with an IPhone.
It’s been a wild day and there is so much to report!
We started the day with an early morning game drive. Almost immediately, we found giraffes, zebras, baboons, impalas and tons of birds. After a coffee break, we found the star of this show, the African Black Rhino. At the end of the drive, our hosts set up a marvelous breakfast in the bush with eggs and all the fixings.
After a rest at our lodge, our next excursion was a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. I’ve never been in a helicopter before! It was not scary at all, and afforded us a wonderful view of the falls.
As soon as we returned, a small group of us went off for en evening game drive. We roamed the Zambezi National Park and saw more giraffes and zebras, but also buffalo, and eventually elephant. It wasn’t just one elephant, but a herd of about 20, all going to their favorite watering hole. Our guide set up a tailgate party above the watering hole, where we watched another magnificent African sunset. We were making jokes about the Lion King today, but it’s really no joke—the majesty and diversity of species in such a concentrated area is unrivaled.
Videos from these first few days: Boma Dinner Victoria Falls Safari Day
August 16th-17th
Last look back at Zimbabwe/Zambia
This is Angel’s Pool at the top of Vic Falls. Some of us were even brave enough to do the super scary Devil’s Pool but honestly I wasn’t feeling it. And that’s ok.
I don’t gratuitously post a swimsuit shot, especially because I’m certainly not as young or thin as I might have been years ago, but even so, I think this is a smokin’ shot. I sat in Angel’s Pool, on the edge of Victoria Falls with water going over me and crashing hundreds of feet below. And yes, I did it in a bikini at somewhat more than 40 years of age and you know what? I loved it. I’m proud to be this old in this body and this brave to live my best life. And I’m super happy I get to help others experience their dream trips as my profession.
I’m also posting this because I know a few of you out there would really like to try a bikini rather than a voluminous and heavy one piece and I’m here to lead the way. Who cares! Go be comfortable!
It was a very good day. Now, on to Botswana!
August 18-19th
Adventures in Africa: Botswana
We have been in Chobe National Park for a couple of days, doing a sunrise and sunset animal drive. What we’ve seen is pretty incredible. I have too many pictures to share so I’ve just taken the best (plus one from a guest-thanks Keri!) to give you a feel for it. I’ll post a video to compile the best bits, but see previous posts.
My takeaway is that I’m shocked by how many species coexist and are interdependent here. Nature is truly an impressive cycle. Not to get overtly Lion King on you, but we saw babies, we saw death, we saw mating, just about all of it. And in one sweeping view yesterday evening, we saw the majesty of hundreds of elephants, giraffes, crocs, hippos and innumerable birds all gathered on the banks of the Chobe for an evening drink and bath. It could not have been more cinematic.
I know for some, traveling to Africa seems like crazy talk. It’s so far! It’s so expensive! It’s going to be unsafe! I’m going to catch a scary disease or get malaria! Well, friends, I’m here to tell you that it’s not exactly all true. Yes, it’s far. But even with a two week vacation, it’s worth it. It’s not expensive, not unless you need five star hotels and western food. If you’re cool with the local style of basic living, (and excluding airfare) it’s cheaper than a trip to any big US city. As far as safety goes, I haven’t felt even a tiny bit threatened. The city I live in is far more dangerous. People here are absolutely lovely, super kind and genuinely welcoming. And as long as you’ve had a chat with your doctor and updated vaccinations, the threat of catching something is fairly low.
A safari is not an impossible dream, it really isn’t. And it’s one of the coolest adventures I’ve had yet, and I’m not some animal enthusiast. I actually hate zoos—taking my kids was always torture. After this experience, I hate zoos even more because the lyrical beauty and presence of African animals must be appreciated in context. The way the animals and the land help each other is breathtaking.
Please enjoy these shots (all from an iPhone) and pray for me as I try and filter through the hours of video I’ve shot 
If you’d like to see more photos or listen to me ramble on about how cool safaris are, come on over:
https://x.com/sarahrmurdoch/status/1692886597711049144…
Big thanks to Imprint Tours
Videos from Botswana: Chobe River Cruise Tsetilodi Dance
August 21st-24th
We’ve arrived on South Africa, Cape Town to be exact. This city lies on the far southwest tip of Africa, and has been a prime character in history, as the nearby Cape of Good Hope has shaped worldwide trade.
South Africa is a very complicated place. Unraveling the political and historical pieces is probably not going to happen in our four short days here, but Todd does a good job of giving us as much info as possible.
Our day today was spent exploring the coast outside of Capetown, from the Cape of Good Hope to Simons Town and the penguins nearby. I am impressed with the natural beauty of this coast, which feels like a mix of Italy, Scotland, and California…but with wild ostrich and penguins?
Videos from Cape Town: Bo-Kaap Neighborhood Signal Hill
August 25th-28th
Sorry I’ve been quiet but there’s not much internet around here. We are in Namibia and let me just say—WOW. Fantastic hospitality and gorgeous scenery. We slept in different little cottages and enjoyed more stars than you have ever seen.
August 28th
What can I say about the past week? I’m not gonna lie, Namibia isn’t easy. Roads are bumpy and dusty and extremely long. Cars break down and tires pop. Wind picks up and obscures views which you’re sure are magnificent. But, despite the ups and downs, I was struck by the excellent hospitality everywhere we’ve been. Hotels are beautiful and quirky, the food has been great (I’ve eaten every kind of game animal at this point) and the people have been so very kind. If you think African cities are disorganized or not clean, Windhoek will disagree with that notion. It’s spotlessly tidy and well organized, with the coolest crafts market I’ve seen in Africa. The natural beauty is what you come for, and we saw some pretty impressive dunes, along with random wildlife. The sunsets have been gorgeous.
All in all, Namibia is an intriguing destination that warrants more exploration. Luckily, I’ve made some new friends at @vision_tours_safaris and @comfort_tours_and_safaris who will help me get to know their country more in the future.
August 29th
When I say the going was rough in Namibia, I meant it. I tried to capture a bit of the atmosphere of our epic road trip, with some wildlife spotting and mysterious middle-of-nowhere restaurants. When I say middle of nowhere, I mean that we didn’t see a gas station or grocery story for DAYS, and toilet stops were occasionally a well placed bush. We drove more than 6-8 hours some days, and covered the distance from Cape Town to Windhoek. Come along, bumpity-bumping down the Namibian highway with me.
