Yeah, been to Capetown, Jo'burg, and the Krueger. Jo'burg, I could live without... too much like my native Detroit. Otherwise, South Africa is a beautiful, beautiful place, with a lot of challenges. I did not quite get over to Pretoria but hope to someday, just to punch the ticket.
The Krueger was the most amazing thing I have ever seen with my eyes, andI have been a few places. Spent a day and a half cruising the Park in a rental car with some experienced Afrikaaners, nothing else to say but "awesome". Saw all big 5 (and a defensive rhino mother and baby waaaay too close) but the most staggeringly amazing thing was my first bull giraffe appearing out of nowhere at about 30m. It is really amazing how gigantic animals can just appear out of relatively flat bush at close range. The variety and diversity of game creatures was astonishing.
I was with sinners and learned about kippies and coke (yeccchhh) and also about Mainsail cane liquor (that was better). I hope to go back, and also see Namibia someday. I would have liked airgunning for monkeys, also... there is no shortage of them and they will steal your beer.
I have always been a Boer War aficionado and knew more of the history than some, not all, of the locals. I like the Afrikaans (even the dry ones) but they have a very tough row to hoe in coming times. The wildlife is simply amazing and the countryside is dramatic. Capetown was much like San Diego, but more scenic, with better beer, and some very pretty girls, for those who notice such things.
