A Family Vacation

Last month my sister and niece came for a visit (Pam and Amanda). After showing them some of our ministry, we decided to take some time out for fun. We had a great time, and some real adventures.


First we went to Vic Falls, Zimbabwe where we stayed at a very rustic lodge called "Lokatuhla." During the day we saw wart hogs grazing on the lawn, and in the evening we ate wart hog at a place called "The Boma." We were also entertained by African dancers, played drums, and tried other interesting foods.


The next day we traveled to Botswana for a one-day safari at Chobe National Park. The first half of the day was a safari on land in an open vehicle. We saw impala, wart hog, kudu and hippo, but our greatest sighting was that of a lioness stalking a herd of impala. At the last minute she decided she was tired and plopped down on the ground to rest.


The second half of the day was spent on a small boat on the Chobe River. We had waited all morning to see elephants, and there they were, crossing the river to an island where they like to graze. What an amazing thing to watch elephants swimming.


After the elephants moved on to the island, our guide took us into a small cove where we could sit and and watch. There was also a herd of cape buffalo grazing on the island. Suddenly the elephants decided they wanted to pass behind our boat to another small piece of land. At the same time, a huge croc that had been sunning himself on the bank, decide to take a swim. Talk about feeling trapped! One elephant turned and looked at us as if to say, "Don't come any closer."


As we pulled out of the cove and went on down a narrow stretch of the river, we got in the path of a hippo. He was not happy that we had come into his territory, and he began chasing our boat. Wes was laughing at us "women" who were just a little nervous. (Don't forget to read our next blog entry to find out that he who laughs first, laughs last.)


The following day we walked with two 18-month old lions (male and female). We were supposed to walk, that is, but the lions decided to go off in search of baboons, so we ran. My sister fell into a hole and hurt her leg. How many people can say they were injured chasing a lion. I'm thankful it wasn't the other way around!


After two days in Zimbabwe, we headed back to Zambia where we spent one night. Our adventures were not over yet. As we headed to town that night for a bite to eat, we came to a sudden stop behind another vehicle on a bridge. On the other side was a huge bull elephant. My thoughts were, "What if this elephant decides he wants to cross the bridge?" Thankfully a tourist bus came around us and courageously encouraged the elephant to get off the road.


The next day it was time to head back to our peaceful home in Gwembe, and then on to Lusaka to send my sister and niece back to America. It was a wonderful, sometimes hair-raising adventure in Africa, but the best part was just being with family!