The Laid-Off Peripatetic (LOP)

Ah, traveling. When I’m not doing it, I’m thinking about it—where I want to go, how to get there, sometimes even questioning why. In my spare time, I plan trips all over the world to the last detail including reference checks of tour companies specializing in destinations where I prefer not to travel solo. Africa is on that list and is my next adventure. (Travel dates to come, depending on how much money I make between the lemonade stand and plasma sales. Anyone need a surrogate?) I planned my trip with no time or financial constraints in mind because otherwise, what’s the point of an imagination?

My itinerary is roughly this: A flight into Capetown where I spend a few days exploring. Next, imbibing in wine country and a leisurely tour of the Garden Route, which will take maybe a bit longer than one week. From Cape Town, I join a safari tour that includes the sand dunes in the Namib Desert; watching wildlife from the safety of a very well equipped jeep (including a full tank of gas and maybe some raw meat to distract a critter that might be interested in me as a meal); and white-water rafting in Victoria Falls. Those are highlights on my safari, but I’m willing to incorporate other destinations as long as the mosquito spray and netting both hold out.

But wait, there’s more. Next, I fly to Bazaruto, an archipelago off the coast of Mozambique, for a week of exploration and diving in its unspoiled waters and coral reefs.

Bazaruto, Mozambique

In my imagination, the sharks are friendly and speak fluent English, but with a British accent. They take me diving because I grow gills under water. While I’m there, I snag Clive Owen as my husband. Erin Owen…kind of rolls off the tongue with a lilt.

(Sure the photos look as though we are in separate milieus, but I can assure you, he was staring right at me when he popped the question.)

Enroute home to the States, I’ll stop in London to see a few friends I made while I was on walkabout. There, I’ll let the arrows painted on the street guide my gaze so that I don’t get smacked by a car. Going tits up isn’t on the agenda just yet—I still have myriad trips yet to take.

For current travel information about Africa, I like the Go2Africa e-newsletter. The information covers the entire continent including safari tour companies, lodging, hotel, guides, maps, etc. If you are looking for a reputable safari tour operator, Go2Africa.com is a great place to start your research.