Recommendations: 2 movies and a book

Two movies I heartily recommend:

 

1. "Invictus" (2009) about Nelson Mandela's early days as president of South Africa

 

2. "A United Kingdom" (2016) about the founding of the independent country of Botswana

 

. . . and a wonderfully funny book that inspired me to go on a safari:

"Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide"

Why this trip to Africa?

There are three big reasons for this trip.

1.  My world-traveling friend, Edwinna, always said that her favorite trip was a 2004 Friendship Force trip she took to Tanzania, which included a home stay with a local family. When I heard that the Atlanta Friendship Force group was planning a similar trip, I jumped at the chance. You can read more below about Friendship Force, a cultural exchange nonprofit that specializes in home stays.

https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/

2.  I have read all about Botswana through the adventures of Precious Ramotswe and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. The author of the 17-book series is Alexander McCall Smith (see link below). I will have two 3-day safari adventures in Botswana, followed by two days in Gaborone, the capital city, walking in the footsteps of the fictional Mma Ramotswe.

http://www.alexandermccallsmith.com/series/no-1-detective-agency

3.  There are African PENGUINS that hang out on Boulders Beach, outside of Cape Town, South Africa. I plan to hang out with them and see the sights at the very tip of Africa.

http://www.southafrica.net/za/en/articles/entry/article-southafrica.net-boulders-beach-penguins

Africa Itinerary (August 28 - October 10, 2017)

August 28 – Leave Atlanta 3pm, flying through Amsterdam

August 29 – Arrive 8pm at Mt. Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania
August 30 & 31 – Moshi, Tanzania; Join Friendship Force group 

September 1 – Slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro

September 2 – Tarangire National Park

September 3 – Lake Manyara National Park via Great Rift Valley

September 4 & 5 – Serengeti National Park, Leakey archaeological site, & hot air balloon ride (weather permitting)

September 6 & 7 – Ngorongoro Crater, including Masai village; Return to Moshi

September 8 & 9 – Drive to Iringa via Morogoro

Five night home stay with local family in Iringa, Tanzania (September 9-13)

September 14 & 15 – Ruaha National Park

September 16 & 17 – Return to Moshi via Morogora
September 18 – 4am flight to Nairobi, Kenya airport with connections to Victoria Falls

September 18 & 19 – Victoria Falls, on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, including tour of the falls.

September 20, 21 & 22 – Safari at the Shinde Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta

September 23, 24, & 25 – Safari at the Tau Pan Camp in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve

 

 

September 26 & 27 – Gaborone, Botswana (setting for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books)

 

 

September 28 to October 8 – Cape Town, South Africa

 

9 nights with rental car at Simon’s Town/Boulders Beach Airbnb to see Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain,  Robben Island (Mandela prison), and penguins!  Spend last 2 nights in Cape Town.

 

October 9 – Leave Cape Town, South Africa at 11pm, flying through Amsterdam

October 10 – Arrive Atlanta 5 pm