19 January 2024: Day 1, Fly to Johannesburg, South Africa — Highway Pupil Southern Africa Birding Safari
Observe: All the articles about this travel to Africa have been written weeks in the past according to the excursion itinerary. This morning I start my adventure at Pittsburgh World Airport the place snow is gathering 1-3 inches earlier than my flight leaves. The elements might regulate how quickly I am getting to Africa.
These days I’m on my approach to Highway Pupil’s Southern Africa Birding Safari: From Zimbabwe to Zambia & Past. The excursion starts day after today in Johannesburg, South Africa however it is going to take me 24 hours to get there.
Africa is very large — greater than thrice the dimensions of the continental U.S. — so we will be able to see just a small a part of it. For many of the travel we’ll be throughout the crimson circle (beneath) in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana. All 4 international locations meet at the one global quadripoint on this planet, the 4 Corners of Africa.
After Johannesburg we will be able to fly to Victoria Falls to start out our regional excursion of birding hotspots and nationwide parks in safari automobiles, by means of boat and once in a while on foot. Overdue January is the wet season and the peak of summer season with highs up to 100°F and lows within the 60s.
We’re certain to peer the Large 5 mammals at Hwange and Chobe Nationwide Parks — elephant, lion, leopard, Cape buffalo and (perhaps no longer) rhinoceros — plus diverse different critters on our travels. Right here a only a few from my Want Record.
We’ll additionally see birds! As much as 400 species and the vast majority of them Lifestyles Birds. Maximum are distinctive to Africa. Some have migrated from Europe or Asia to spend the iciness. I am hoping to peer the endangered gray-crowned crane (Balearica regulorum), at best, and the birds on this slideshow beneath plus many extra.
On account of the 7-hour time zone distinction and the on-the-go birding agenda I’ve written all 15 days of articles prematurely. I’ll put up to Fb and X (Twitter) when I am getting an opportunity however I will’t ensure it. Should you don’t see me on social media, search for my newest posts right here at the weblog’s house web page.
For the following two+ weeks I’ll be most commonly off the grid.
(photograph and maps from Wikimedia Commons and Highway Pupil. Click on at the captions to peer the originals.)