You don’t have to be a recent college graduate to have the adventure of a life time.  I just got back from 2 weeks visiting South Africa.  After winning a safari at a fund raiser last summer, I began to plan our African adventure with 3 friends from my book club.  We mapped out a few days in Johannesburg and a few days in Capetown to book end the 6 day safari in Zululand.  The things we saw, the people we met and oh those animals will be with us forever.  Here are just a few highlights of what we saw and why you should go too!

1. Seeing the lion cubs nurse n play

2. Feeding and touching the huge elephant’s tongue

3. Giraffes walking next to us at sunrise

4. Cheetah sitting in sun next to our truck

5. Cheetah drinking water near mom and baby rhino

6. Sunset view from Table Mountain, Capetown

7. Wine tasting with spider webs

8. Being dropped off at intersection in Maboneng Precinct of Johannesburg

9. Buying giraffe souvenirs made from wire and fabric from street artist

10. View from Cape Point lighthouse

11. Watching elephants drink water from river

12. Cable car ride to  the top of Table Mountain

13. Hot air balloon ride at sunrise

14. Babylonstoren farm

15. Saying Cheers with friends.

16. Hiking in Serkfontein Caves by the Cradle of Humankind

17. Drinking wine poolside at Winston Hotel

18. School children visiting the Apartheid museum

19. Penguins walking on the beach

20. Wild ostrich at cape hope.

21. Warthog in the mud

22. Harbor house lunch with seal Watching

23. Baby elephants hiding in the trees

24. Hippos making noises “the sound of Africa”

25. Wine tasting in Capetown

26. Putting toes in the Indian Ocean

27. Putting whiskey on my porridge at Bill Harrops Hot Air Balloon experience

28. Drinking champagne after the hot air balloon landed safely

29. Colorful houses in Bo Kaap

30. View of Robbin Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 17 years

31. Appreciating my life after seeing how thousands live without running water in the informal settlement outside Capetown

31. Sundowners – drinks at the end of the day on Safari

32. Friendly greetings. Genuine “How are yous” from the South African people

33. Friendly and attentive service

34. Learning about different and unique plant and bird species

35. Goats and cows on the side of the highway in farmland

36. Fever trees that glow in the night

37. Buffalo thorn to help bring spirit home

38.  Learning that some zebras have brown stripes too

39.  The nightly sounds of Zulu musicians during dinner

40. Ostrich Carpaccio – yes raw ostrich was very yummy

41. Witnessing a lioness stalk and pounce after a warthog

42.  Hearing the warthog squeal as it got away.