A swimming parade of elephants...in Botswana!

While in the beautiful Chobe National Park in Botswana,

a Chobe River safari brought me to this wonderful moment:

A small herd of elephants crossing the Chobe River.

It was so amazing to watch the elephants cross the river.

Here's a peek:

The most breath taking part?  The way they help each other cross.

Part two of the crossing:

The elephants linked their trunks to tails and at times rested on the other elephants.

How beautiful are they?

Here they are coming out of the river:

Living in southern Africa has reaffirmed my love of elephants.  There really is no animal like them.

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A Hwange safari parade...

On safari in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, I came across this lovely elephant parade.

Every safari reminds me of Zimbabwe's remarkable beauty.

Why, hello, you beautiful giraffe, you!

My heart is reserved for the elephants of Zimbabwe.

Love.

Baboons found an electric tower to hang out on.

This one kept sliding down instead of climbing down. 

Elephants drinking at the Ivory Lodge's pan.

Hwange graced us with a beautiful sunset.

Stunning, isn't it?

For some reason this phone booth really cracked me up.

So random, and so not the right era....

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A City of Stone

The Great Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe near Masvingo, Zimbabwe.

The walls of the Great Enclosure are as high as 36 feet (11 meters).  The height is overwhelming and awesome.

Inside the Great Enclosure is the Conical Tower.

If you look at the first photo above, the Conical Tower is just visible in the left corner of the enclosure.

The tower's purpose is unknown but there are some theories: representation of a grain bin, symbolizing

harvests and prosperity; a chief's residence; a court for the chief's wives; or a premarital initiation school (whatever that means...)

The Hill Complex as seen from just outside the Valley Complex.

For some photos of the Hill complex, go here.

How amazing is this?!! The Hill Complex blends so very perfectly into the landscape that if you didn't know there was an entire fortress and city at the top of this hill, you'd never know.  So very impressive.

Some more information on Great Zimbabwe: a really interesting article.

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