Travel Photos - Elephant Swim, Antelope Park, Zimbabwe

We had a fabulous time at Antelope Park (http://www.antelopepark.co.zw/ ) - we can highly recommend it. On one of the days, we had some chill time before going on a swim with the elephants. We had no ideas what this involved before we got there – were we sitting on them or just splashing around? - we had no idea.




We were the first in our group to go and so still had no idea when we were told to get on top of an elephant and hold on to the elephant driver. He had a wetsuit on which should of given us some hint.




Our elephants (Scotty was on another elephant at the same time as us) plodded off towards a lake, them entered the lake and then with some encouragement from their driver proceeded to go under the water with us on them.




Now each elephant went under the water slightly differently – Scotty’s elephant rocked form front to back and went under but not our elephant. Our elephant decided to roll over on its side. There is no saddle so we were just holding on to the person in front – Helen held onto the guide, I held onto Helen. You couldn’t grip your legs around the elephant’s back, it was too wide. Then the elephants, each in their own style, went under the water and so did we.




At one point someone said that we were all under the water except for the two elephants trunks that were out of the water breathing. We were a little scared at first but we eventually got used to it and settled in.





It was great fun! At one point both of the elephants got really close and as ours went over on its side, it was endanger of crushing us against the other elephant. We all survived though and it was all over too quickly – we loved it.

Travel Photos - Adrenaline Day, Vic Falls, Zimbabwe

We all woke up the next morning raring to go – this was the day many of us had been looking forward to in Vic Falls, some had been dreading. This was our adrenaline day. We were bussed over to the gorge were it all happened. Our base for the day was on top of a cliff that had a 60 metre drop to the valley below. We were split into teams so that we all took turns on the various activities that were on offer. We started off with abseiling.





We hadn’t done this before, but basically you get strapped into a harness which is roped in and tied to a tree or rock and then using the device on the harness to let out the rope, you walk backwards over the side of the cliff. If you’ve never done it before, its very scary but once you’ve walked over the edge and got the feel of the rope travelling through the device on the harness, its very easy, watch out for rope burn, and only grip with the hand behind your body, the other hand is useless. It was great fun. The trick is also to lean out so that your body is as horizontal as possible and your feet are flat against the cliff face.





We had several goes at this as both Helen and I felt as though we wanted to improve on our technique. After we’d got down to the valley floor, we had to run around up the valley and back up the cliff to have another go – the trek out of the valley must have been about ½ mile. We were so keen we were running out of the gorge to get another go!




After a few goes of this, the guides then encouraged us to do the same but walking forwards! Whilst this might sound easier than going backwards, trust me, its not! Just think about it, walking over the edge of the cliff until you’re horizontal and then walk (or if you’re very skilled, run) down the cliff wall. We both did that once and that was enough. It took me some time attached to the rope to drum up the courage to do it, but with a dozen 20 somethings screaming encouragement, you soon do it.




Our next activity was the flying fox – again we’d never done this before. There was a steel rope across the top of the gorge – you got into a harness and then this was attached to a pulley system to the steel rope across the gorge. You then got on a 20 metre long platform at the top of the cliff and ran towards the edge of the cliff trying for as big a launch as possible so that you “flew” across the gorge. The first few times were pretty scary, but after about 3 or 4 goes, you got pretty casual about it and on my 5th or 6th go, as I launched myself off the platform I just had to have a quick think to make sure the guide had strapped me in before I launched myself off a cliff – the day was all pretty casual, (health and safety appeared to take a back seat), but just lots of great fun.







Finally we got to have a go on the gorge swing. This was very similar to a bungee except that there was another steel wire across the gorge with a bungee rope attached to the steel rope in the middle of the gorge. When we launched ourselves off the platform into the gorge, you had about 5 seconds of freefall before the bungee stretched and you just swung across the gorge bouncing up and down. It took Helen and I a lot of convincing to do this, I wanted to but with a fear of heights I knew I had to just do it and not think about it. We watched a couple of others do it and they walked up and out of the gorge with smiles and all looked fine. I went first, jumping off forwards. I was seriously scared when I stepped up to the platform and the guide was saying a little nearer, a little nearer … he meant towards the edge. Everyone was shouting encouragement from a lookout nearby. I willed myself just to do it, not to think about it, I knew if I bottled it and didn’t jump the first time, that would be it. The guide told me to just look ahead, don’t look down, he counted me down, 3, 2, 1, goooooo……. “holy sh$$$tt, bo$$ox, aaaarghh, sh$$$t”….. what a thrill, it was such an adrenalin rush, it was amazing.




I waited down the bottom for Helen, she jumped but backwards, she screamed, no swearing though. She got down and had a buzz aswell, amazing! We both rushed back out of the valley to have another go, we both wanted to try what the other had done, I wanted to go backwards and she forwards. We both had another go. Backwards was weird, you watched the sky, the cliff just disappearing past you, a great buzz still.





The next time, we had the option of going together… tied together on the same bit of rope, so we’d have to jump together. We did this one backwards. When we went off, I just screamed, no swearing. Helen wasn’t expecting this and she spent the entire swing (all 30 seconds of falling and then 3 minutes of bouncing before they lowered you down to the valley floor) thinking that I’d spotted something wrong with the harness! I hadn’t of course, but that was a blast and all the better for doing it together.

What a fabulous day and if it wasn't for our 20 something compatriates on the Oasis overland truck, we probably wouldn't have done any of this, so thanks guys, what an amzing day, it'll stay with us for a long time!

Travel Photos - Black Mountains, Wales

August Bank Holiday weekend, we went to Wales, now you just know with that combination its going to rain and sure enough it did but not before some amazing walking in the Black Mountains.



We'd taken Herbie (our dog - more of him later) so we hunted around for somewhere to stay that would accommodate Herbie aswell. We found it in the Baskerville Arms (http://www.baskervillearms.co.uk/) in Clyro near Hay on Wye. This is a great place to stay if you want to take the dog and do some walking, canoeing, cycling etc. The Baskerville Arms serves great food both in the evening and at breakfast time (although you may have to wait a little for your food at breakfast if a couple of families arrive at the same time as you) and they also serve great beer - they're in the good beer guide for 2009 apparently and its well deserved I can vouch for that!

If you fancy something a little more spicy to eat, you can't go far wrong with Red Indigo Indian Restaurant (http://www.redindigo.co.uk/) in Hay on Wye. The food was superb, the service was very professional but it may pay you to book ahead during busy weekends.







On the Saturday, we decided to do a walk taking in Hay Bluff - 677m (as recommended by my mate Rab in Brum). It took us a while to find it (head south out of Hay and after the Hay Cinema Bookshop, turn left for about a mile, road narrows and then bear right for a further 2-3 miles until you reach open land and a car park on the right just below a steep hill - Hay Bluff). The photo above shows the steep walk up to the path from the car park.








We planned to walk the ridge from Hay Bluff, taking in Twmpa - 689m (affectionately known as Lord Herefords Knob) and then on a little further to another peak and then return the way we came. The views from Hay Bluff are amazing and far reaching. The photo above shows Twmpa in the middle of shot.





Mean while, Herbie had found another game, splashing in all the puddles and discovering why the Black Mountains are probably so named. He was covered in head to toe with thick black mud and wouldn't go near a clear pool of water unless it had thick mud at the bottom of it. He was determined not to get clean for a while yet!

The path stretched out ahead of us with some fantastic walking, most of the hard work being done in the first 30 minutes to get to the top of Hay Bluff. You could see for miles up here, a great place for a day out.

Crossing the road coming down from Hay Bluff and on our way to Twmpa, you can see down the valley, this would make another good day out to explore. There's a great ridge walk heading out from Llanthony down this valley - we did it on the sunday when the weather wasn't as kind, I didn't fancy getting my camera out it was that wet but the views from the ridge would be amazing in better weather - we got soaked!

Photo above shows the view of Hay Bluff with the road below it whilst climbing up Twmpa. We decided to extend our walk today and walked for another 2 hours taking in the high point of the Black Mountains - Waun Fach - 811m. This isn't that much of a challenge although it did get very muddy towards the summit, something that Herbie just loved!

On our return we decided to head down an "obvious path" just before Twmpa and do a low level walk to return to the car - the views were just as good and the gliders were out taking advantage of the ridge - it felt like they were buzzing us.





We headed back to the Baskerville Arms for a much needed shower, good pub food and a much needed drink! We'll definitely be back to the Black Mountains - there's so much more to the Brecons than just Pen Y Fan.

Travel Photos - Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree Climb, Western Australia

We had a busy morning before our drive thru the Blackwood Valley. A daunting prospect first thing was a scale up the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree near Pemberton(http://www.pembertontourist.com.au/). The tree has been pegged with steel spikes in the side and you just start at the bottom and walk up - sounds easy except this tree is 75m (that's 230 feet) high and you're not roped in or clipped in or anything! There is a half way station which is good but this also gives you a chance to chicken out as its here that the tree starts to sway in high winds!



Photo above is actually 2 photos stitched together as I couldn't get the tree in one shot, its that tall. Squally showers and a sign advising us not to climb in the wet put us off our first attempt which saw us reach the first platform, roughly half way up.





Photo above is from the half way station looking down.





After this “practice run” and a break in the rain we did the job properly and made the top of the 75m tree to see mist rising over the top of the forest. Its 135 steel pegs to the top of the fire lookout tree in Warren NP and its quite tiring and you do use muscles that you don't normally use (unless you're a fire lookout in Warren NP that is). A great sense of achievement hits you when you reach the top. But there's only one way down!






Lookout trees were used as an ingenious way to spot bushfires in the 1930’s and 1940’s. The Karri tree is the tallest tree in Australia and the 3rd tallest in the world. The views are amazing, even on a damp day, the photo below shows the mists rising above the forests as viewed from the 'summit' of the tree lookout.

You can still climb the trees as they are open to the public, the ones we know of are:

The Gloucester Tree in the Gloucester National Park is only 3kms from the Post Office in Pemberton. This is 60m high. Great views.

The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree in the Warren National Park is a 15mins drive from the Pemberton township. It is 75m tall. Awesome.

The Diamond Tree in the Diamond Tree National Park is also a 15 minute drive from town.

You can get all the info you want by calling into the Pemberton Tourist Centre (http://www.pembertontourist.com.au/) for any information on these climbing Trees. They are open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm.

Travel Photos - Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

After breakfast, we popped down to see the falls – we couldn’t believe that we’d been in Victoria Falls for 3 days and hadn’t seen them yet. The falls have been hyped up since 1855 when Dr Livingstone first set eyes on them. As we got nearer the gentle rumble reminded us that this is one of the finest natural spectacles on earth. It’s a World Heritage Site and one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World – it’s the largest curtain of falling water on the planet! We weren’t disappointed – the spray covers you from head to toe – it’s actually really refreshing. The noise is amazing, the volume of water and the shear power is incredible – 9 million litres of water per second come over the falls in its height - it’s just such a fantastic site, just awesome!

The falls are located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls is the name in use in Zimbabwe. The older, indigenous name of Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is the name in official use in Zambia. The World Heritage List recognises both names. While it is neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, it is claimed to be the largest. This claim is based on a width of 1,708 metres (5,600 ft) and height of 108 meters (360 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls' maximum flow rate compares well with that of other major waterfalls.

After a heavy night on a river cruise, aka booze cruise, we had fortunately not planned anything too demanding the next day. Helen and I went down to the border crossing and paid our $10 to go over to Zambia and see the falls from the Zambian side – they are supposed to be better from this side. They were, although with hangovers we didn’t completely appreciate them apart from the spray that we got – that really refreshed us temporarily. So we had seen the falls now from both the “Zim” and “Zam” sides.





The Victoria Falls Bridge crosses the Zambezi River just below the Victoria Falls and is built over the Second Gorge of the falls. As the river is the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the bridge links the two countries and has border posts on the approaches to both ends, at the towns of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Livingstone, Zambia.

That afternoon we took the Flight of Angels! This is a helicopter ride over the falls – the falls were called the “Smoke that Thunders” long before Dr Livingstone came around the corner. You can see why when you’re up in the air – you can see the mist or spray of the falls from over 30km away. It was our first time in a Helicopter, it was just amazing. The flight was incredible, you got to realise exactly were we’d walked in the morning and it made us realise the enormity of the falls. It’s just like a huge gash in the land that water just seems to be falling into at a huge rate – absolutely stunning.

After our flight over the falls the helicopter swooped down and flew down the mighty Zambezi over all the rapids that we’d rafted down a few days before – the rapids didn’t look as bad 50 feet off the river. It wasn’t until we saw a raft in the river that it made you realise what we had done – this put some perspective on the river and made us appreciate how huge some of the rapids were.

If you're going to Zimbabwe, you've got to do Victoria Falls (aswell as Antelope Park) and if you're coming all the way to Vic Falls, you've got to see them by Helicopter, a real must!

Travel Photos - Lion Walk, Antelope Park, Zimbabwe

During our travels in Africa, we visited Antelope Park (http://www.antelopepark.co.zw/) in Zimbabwe. Located just outside Gweru, the 3rd largest town in Zimbabwe, Antelope Park is a must see if you're coming to Zimbabwe. They say that you've got to see Victoria Falls when coming to Zimbabwe but hot on the trail of that is Antelope Park - you could spend weeks here quite easily, there is so much to do and see here - be sure to bring your cameras, its amazing. In fact, you could say that Antelope Park is what got Helen and I out travelling round the world.

Helen was thinking about leaving her job and her plan was, in between jobs, she would do some volunteer work. She'd done quite a bit of research in to this and was seriosuly considering it and had come across Antelope Park in her research. You could spend several weeks here, helping them research the lions and helping out on the rehabilitation projects they have going on here. Antelope Park is about all sorts of animals but it was the lions that Helen was particularly interested in.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I was going to join her on 2 weeks holiday whilst she was out here when it suddenly dawned on us that we could both do something like that, then it got expanded to "lets travel to Africa for 2 months", then, well, "we could just go over to Nepal aswell whilst we were doing Africa" and before you know it, the plan was to go off travelling round the world. And we owe it all to Antelope Park!

Anyway, whilst at Antelope Park, one of the must do's is the walk with the lion "cubs" - this conjours up all sorts of images of fluffy little bundles of joy. We started off just walking out into the plains with a couple of guides. They explained that as part of the rehabilitation programme, they like to walk with the cubs to get them used to going out in their pride, we would be part of their pride today. We got so far and then saw our cubs, 3 of them, come running towards us. They looked like fully grown lions! All sorts of nightmares went through your mind at this point - had they let out the wrong lions? were these just 3 wild lions? were we breakfast for these 3 lions? etc etc. This was very scary as they came running at us. The guides were great, told us not to panic and we all calmed down. Besides we’d been given a stick each to pat the lion on the nose when they give us a “naughty look”. “When will we know what one of those is?” we asked, “oh, you’ll know” they said.

Their names were Phyre, Praise and Paka. They were about 18months old, stood about 1 metre high and nose to tail tip about 2.5 metres long. They were gorgeous.

The lions came amongst us and were just roaming free, just left to their own devices. At once point a lion lay down and we could crouch down (but not sit so you could get away quickly) next to it, that was amazing!

You were always on your guard, these were wild lions that were being rehabilitated to be let out into the wild, they weren't pets. At one point when we crouching by one of the lions it moved one of its paws a little quickly, we were up on our feet as quick as a flash. Their pads are enormous and they have claws!

Another lion got up a tree, almost on cue for a photo call and just lay in the tree with its front legs just resting over the branch of the tree – a perfect photo opportunity. It took the guides about 10 inutes to get her out of the tree. Volunteers were recording the behaviour of these 3 lions, whilst out on the walk all the time, what they ate, did, etc ready for their release.

Then towards the end, so that to leave us in no doubt whatsoever, they started to have a little fight over a sod of grass. The roars were real and very loud. They were so quick with their legs to hit each other on the nose – we had been sat next to these just 10 minutes before and that could easily be our forearm they were lashing out at. It was truly an amazing experience, wild lions just walking around the group, fantastic!