The herd is on the move! It doesn’t matter if you see black stripes on white bodies, or white stripes on black bodies, the one thing we can all agree on is that zebras are awesome. If you don’t agree you can take your post reading elsewhere (like the next post for instance, it’s zebra-free!).

Besides, this post isn’t about zebras, per se, but rather where they are running. That’s the Okavango Delta in the Republic of Botswana, you can’t miss it. Botswana, for those of you playing along  at home, is landlocked, claims one of the stronger economies in the world, and has a democratic government. Also, it’s hot.

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta in the world. It is produced by seasonal flooding from the Okavango River and, fun fact, instead of draining to the sea, the majority of the water is taken by plants and evaporation.

The delta is home to a variety of wildlife which has developed into a fairly lucrative tourist attraction. In addition to our zebras (above) you can find (from Wikipedia):

African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, African Wild Dog, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Warthog, Chacma Baboon and over 400 species of bird.

I’m pretty sure it’s where they filmed the Lion King.

If you are planning on taking a safari vacation in the area, consider one of the many lodges with environmental-friendly policies. It’s a nice touch.

Tell the zebras I said hello.

Photo: Okavango Delta by Balfour/Getty courtesy of Life Books

Elvis has World Cup fever.

Congratulations to the U.S. soccer team for winning their World Cup group and advancing to the round of 16!

If you ever wanted to visit South Africa, now is a great time to do it. Just ask Elvis.

This post is a Wordless Wednesday post with some words added at no extra charge.

Photo by Shine2010 (via Flickr)

Shhhh. Listen. Can you hear it? No? Listen again – with reverence. Listen more quietly. Sounds like it’s coming from South Africa doesn’t it?  It sounds like a chant. A droning, beating primal sort of sound. A sound filled with Joy and pride and excitement. I can hear that sound. I hear it every four years. It’s the sound of the World Cup.

The time is nigh.

In just four short days, the world’s pulse will be, if only briefly, one. There will be one common thought among the beautifully different people of the globe. Football. Or, as we (Americans) call it, soccer. The Beautiful Game. And it is most definitely that. Beautiful. In four days it starts. And there is a buzz of electricity everywhere. Read More »

The Stellenbosch area of South Africa is the country’s famous wine-producing area and is home to over 100 wineries. Located about 40 kilometers from Cape Town, it makes an easy day trip from the city. You can rent a car and drive yourself, or hire an knowledgeable wine guide to show you the best the area has to offer.

Tsiba Tsiba wine tours offers guides who are passionate about wine, and who have the extensive wine knowledge to back it up. Guides will ask questions about your wine preferences, offer suggestions for which wineries to visit, and will make all the arrangements necessary to ensure a flawless wine-tasting trip. Read More »