Picture Show

Reverse chronological order, from the end of the trip to the start.

Please excuse the sideways picture. 

A hippo we encountered during a walk we took at lunch our third day on the river. We discovered him sleeping maybe 5 yards away from us. He faces us, we shit our pants, because these animals are extremely dangerous on land. It then turns around and walks away. By the time I had cleaned out my pants he was already this far away. 

Due to the construction of a dam about 50 years ago (the Kariba Dam, the world largest), the river has gotten much smaller, as land that was once under water now constitutes the banks of the river. The picture is taken just next to the river in some kind of drainage area. Very cool, very bizarre. Seemed like we were on mars. 

Jack and I on dusk of our second day. This campsite, on a sandy island in the middle of the river, was just so perfect. That night we celebrated the 4th of July, singing the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic numbers. Our guide Martin led us through a rendition of the Zambian national anthem in a show of solidarity. 

This sideways photo pits Jack and I at the bottom of the oldest tree in Africa. Not really, but it was quite large. Notice the moccasins sans socks. Fashion is always paramount.

As noted, fashion is always paramount. I felt as though I needed to take a picture of my moccasins, a shoe that I bought in Montana and has turned in exemplary service since. They handled the harsh African climate and topography with  ease, providing comfort and stability. They even made it out intact.

Jack and Carly to lookers left, then our guide Martin ahead. The mountains on the horizon. We asked Martin if we could get a guide to take us to hike them (they are the second oldest mountains in the world) but he said no one does that because of the dense foliage. I think Martin was probably full of it but oh well.

Hello. Elephant comes to the bank in order to greet us. What an incredible animal. Actually pretty intimidating in person.

A huge crocodile at the outset of the trip. A maybe 12 feet long, though this picture doesn't illustrate that.

And finishing with the beginning. Jack and I relax before floating the river. The banks of Zimbabwe in the distance.