After a respite from our travels in June and half of July, we’re back in gear and heading for Africa. Our 3 week itinerary includes a safari in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, a trip to Victoria Falls, and time in Capetown and the surrounding wine country in South Africa.

It’s a Wednesday afternoon at Frederick Douglas Airport in Rochester. The air is yellow and we can’t see the sun due to wildfires in Ontario and Minnesota. It feels apocalyptic; It feels like we’re on the last plane out of a disaster, and the mood is subdued as we board. But we’re just going to Atlanta. From there we have a fifteen hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. Melissa’s sister Patty and her husband Steve are on another plane and will meet us there.

We’ve packed light for this trip, both to avoid checking bags and due to weight restrictions on smaller planes in Africa. It’s winter there, but temperatures are pleasant, with lows in the mid 40°’s and daily highs in the 70°’s. It should be sunny in Botswana, but Capetown is likely to be wetter and cooler.

Plane is loaded, doors closed, and we’re off. See you in Jo-burg.