Lynnak

OH NO!!!!

Two Shosholoza Meyl trains involved in a serious accident. One hundred people injured and R30 million in damage!!!

http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthA...in_train_crash

atravelynn

That's terrible. How awful about the train accident.


Bet that sends shivers down your spine, Femi. Glad you enjoyed your Vic Falls viewing! I think you chose well to do the river cruise later. Too bad about the aggressive driver you had for the land part of your trip.

Femi

Yikes! That report did make me shiver. Of all the things I worried about, a train crash was not one of them (ignorance was bliss).

Yes Lynn, I thought there would be more to see on the cruise in the evening, but those who had gone during the day reported seeing just as much for both river cruises (Chobe and Zambezi). I can't tell you how excited I am about being able to go back on a proper safari next year (Kruger)! I haven't been able to stop thinking about it! I just wish &beyond had more of a presence in Zimbabwe. I'd have returned in a heartbeat.

DBus

I want to thank you Femi for the detailed report. As you might know there is very little info available on the web. Even the Shongololo site has very little details. Your opinions were very interesting. So, 4 of us are booked to do the Oct. 6, 2010 trip from Vic. Falls south. Thanks again.

DBus

Leanna are you booked for the October 6, 2010 Shongololo train trip?

Louise

Hello, DBus - I am the person who answered your post on Tripadvisor. Leanna and I are booked and also my niece. We will look forward to meeting up with you. Did you check out the write up on the ITN travel magazine website. I think you will enjoy reading the report.

Femi

I get excited thinking about you guys going! You have a great trip ahead of you. October was a wonderful time of year to go.

LEANNA

Hey hey...just got home but here I am. Yep we is all agoin! 7 more months to go!!!!! Whose packed?

DBus

Great! We are 2 couples Anne & Bob, Barb & Doug(me). DBus is what they kept saying on a coach tour of Ireland everytime we stopped! I have just read the article on ITN. Gets me excited (7 months you say). Please send along anything else you might find re Shongololo. I was thinking of using Femi's list of animals and birds to put together a little picture book to help me identify some of the lesser known ones. I have already used Google maps to follow the railway tracks for most of the trip. I know crazy but I think it improves my experience. Yes, that was me on TripAdvisor but stopped checking lately.
PS. Femi thanks alot!!!!!!!!

LEANNA

Is this your first trip to Africa? S. Africa? I think this will be one big adventure......and it will be fascinating i think.

Femi

I mapped out the route on Google maps before I left too, LOL. I think it did make a difference. It was also fun too look again after I returned.

DBus

We have been to Tunisia and Egypt but never south of that in Africa. For me the animals will be the main focus of this trip. I am also interested in the history. You will not find me shopping!
We are near Toronto (Canada)and plan to stop for a few days in London on the way. Where are you coming from Leanna?

LEANNA

Southern Calif...and will fly thru Munich and then on.

You are smart to make a stop...its a long flight....but then so many are!!! If you want to see the world...you just have to get out there and do it no matter what.

I had been told by many including Louise how fantastic it was to sit and look at the animals and when I experienced it myself it was indeed....very very special...its fun, spiritual, amazing and miraculous.

DBus

"The Wildlife of Southern Africa: The Larger Illustrated Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region."
Wow! you do have a long flight. Last fall we went through Frankfurt on the way to Tel Aviv.
We have ordered the above book which has more than animals & plants. You can see a few pages and a complete index on Amazon.com. It looks very complete and will help in keeping a list of things we saw. Anyways that is the plan.