Podcasts about zambezi river

In 1994, a relaxing fishing trip on the Zambezi River turned into a brutal fight for survival when a hippo attacked a family boat, flipping it in crocodile-infested waters. One man, safari guide Alistair Gellatly, was dragged under by a crocodile and nearly killed. After escaping the predator's jaws, he collapsed on the riverbank. His companions were trapped on a sandbar, mid-river. Both groups were surrounded by top predators. This is their story.SUPPORT THIS PODCAST:  https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast⁠MONTHLY:Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/user?u=42048051&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link⁠Spotify:⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/twisted-travel-and-true-c?ref=radiopublic⁠ONE TIME:Venmo:⁠⁠https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3248826752172032881⁠⁠Paypal:⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/twistedtravelandTC⁠⁠Social Media Links:⁠https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/twistedtravelandtruecrime⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/twistedtravelandtrue_crime⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@twistedtravelandtruecrim?lang=en⁠Gmail:  ⁠twistedtravelandtruecrime@gmail.com

In the final part of our Man eater episodes, we finish things off with the Mfuwe man eating lion, and a killer croc who would claim the lives of children in the Zambezi River. UPDATE: It is with complete heartbreak that (a day after this episode was recorded) Morris the celebrity alligator that I mention in this episode passed away in his home in Mosca, Colorado at the Colorado Gator Reptile Park on Mothers Day. Rest In Peace sweet boy. Dedication: Morris the Movie star Alligator CREDITS & LINKS MUSIC COURTESY OF:

In this episode, Dr. Samuel B. Lee, MD sits down with Christopher August, founder of Beats & Breath, author of Master Your Breath, and a pioneer in the conscious breathwork movement. From escaping the corporate grind to a near-death experience in the Zambezi River, Christopher's journey is a profound exploration of soul awakening, trauma release, and divine remembrance through the breath.Christopher shares how a drowning accident sparked a rebirth and awakened his mission to teach breath as a spiritual technology. He speaks deeply about the somatic intelligence of the body, his time in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, and how merging ancient breathwork with cannabis and music has helped thousands heal and awaken.This episode dives deep into parasympathetic breathwork, trauma stored in the body, and the sacred intersection of breath and intention, offering powerful tools for those seeking grounded healing, spiritual insight, and an embodied sense of purpose.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 30th of April, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go to the Gospel of Luke 5:16: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” Who am I talking about here? I am talking about the Son of God, I am talking about Jesus Christ, I am talking about Immanuel - God with us. Now, if He had to do that, how much more should you and I be doing that? He did it often, not now and again. Oh my dear friend, I think this message is aimed more at me than it is at you! Contemplation - when you contemplate something. I looked up the Oxford Dictionary to find out the literal meaning of the word, “contemplate”. It means to look at thoughtfully, to think about, to think deeply and at length. It says that to contemplate is to look at, gaze at, stare at, view, regard, examine, inspect, observe, (are you getting the story?) survey, study. He contemplated. We need to ponder, you and I, how many times are we taking time out to think about the way forward? We don't, do we? We just go for it, we wing it. It is one of my favourite things and I hate myself for it. There is no time left in the world to wing it. We need to concentrate on something called time management. Remember Jesus was never late, He was never early, He was always spot on time. We think about Lazarus, His friend in the grave. “Lord, if You had come, my brother would have lived,” but the Lord commanded him to be raised from the dead. You know, it is first the mountain, and then the ministry, or your work or whatever else. If you don't spend time up the mountain, not a literal mountain, but time in the morning, praying, reading the word of God, and contemplating about what you are going to do that day, you will make some very poor decisions. Now, let us start to think.I remember, very clearly, sitting at the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, which separates Zambia from Zimbabwe, about to go across that river on a pontoon with that 20-ton Mercedes Benz truck for six weeks, leaving my young wife and children back on the farm. I was contemplating things very seriously, crying out to God to protect my family and He did. We need to hear from God first before we make any decisions. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful day,Goodbye.

When Mandela Leola Van Eeden was a child roaming the South African outback, her father would run a flag up a tall pole above their cabin so that she and her dog would be able to find their way back home. Her mother is from Valier, on Montana's Hi-Line, and Mandela grew up mostly in Billings, steeped as much in the Montana outdoors culture as she was in her father's native South African farming and ranching world. She is a hunter and an angler, an international whitewater rafting guide and explorer,  musician, Ashtanga yoga teacher, and host and producer of the hugely popular podcast The Trail Less Travelled. The foundation of her life and her work is the beauty and power of the natural world, conserving it, honoring it, being a part of it. Mandela serves on the board of the Montana Wildlife Federation, and is a critical voice in African conservation efforts, from the Zambezi River to watersheds in the Atlas Mountains. Join us for a conversation that is almost- but not quite- as wide-ranging as our guest. -- The Podcast & Blast with Hal Herring is brought you by Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and presented by Silencer Central, with additional support from Decked, Dometic, and Filson.  Join Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the voice for your wild public lands, waters, and wildlife to be part of a passionate community of hunter-angler-conservationists.  BHA. THE VOICE FOR OUR WILD PUBLIC LANDS, WATERS AND WILDLIFE. Follow us: Web: https://www.backcountryhunters.org Instagram: @backcountryhunters Facebook: @backcountryhunters    

In this episode of the podcast, Nana Dolce, a guest and author, discusses the powerful themes from the Old Testament book of Exodus, particularly how it points toward Jesus. The conversation begins with a reflection on favorite Old Testament books, where Nana shares her deep affection for Exodus, highlighting its role as a foreshadowing of Jesus, the greater Redeemer. The Book of Exodus is seen as a narrative of God's deliverance, with significant moments like the burning bush and the Red Sea crossing, and Nana connects this historical story to the Christian journey of salvation.The main topic of the episode is Week 3 of Nana's devotional “You Are Redeemed,” focusing on God's provision. This section explores the Israelites' journey after their deliverance from Egypt, especially their struggle with thirst in the wilderness. Despite their miraculous escape from Pharaoh's army and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites quickly begin to complain about their thirst. This transition from praise to grumbling serves as a reminder of human weakness and our tendency to forget God's provisions when faced with new challenges.The conversation includes an illustration about a man named Chaz Powell, who walked the Zambezi River trail in Africa without adequate water, underscoring the desperation of thirst and the crucial need for water. Nana draws parallels to the Israelites' experience, showing how their situation led them to bitter water at Mara, which, despite their hope, turned out to be undrinkable. However, God shows mercy by healing the water and providing them with sweet water and leading them to Elam, where they find twelve springs of water.The episode dives deeper into how God's provision is not just about physical sustenance, but also about spiritual healing. Nana shares that even in moments of longing and dissatisfaction, God provides us with the living water that satisfies, as seen in the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well in the New Testament. The episode touches on real-life issues like disappointment and unmet desires (such as in marriage) and encourages listeners to trust that God, through Jesus, is the ultimate source of fulfillment.The conversation also highlights the importance of prayer and spiritual practices in finding contentment. The hosts share insights on how moms and women, in particular, can turn to prayer to combat feelings of fatigue and dissatisfaction. There's a recurring theme that despite feeling empty or frustrated, turning to Jesus and acknowledging the dryness in one's soul leads to sweet mercy and a renewed sense of hope. The hosts emphasize that by relying on God's strength and grace, even in the mundane aspects of life (like parenting and marriage), individuals can experience God's provision in deeply meaningful ways.The episode ends by promoting Nana's devotional series, encouraging listeners to engage with the devotional to experience more of God's redeeming power in their lives. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29

In this episode of the podcast, Nana Dolce, a guest and author, discusses the powerful themes from the Old Testament book of Exodus, particularly how it points toward Jesus. The conversation begins with a reflection on favorite Old Testament books, where Nana shares her deep affection for Exodus, highlighting its role as a foreshadowing of Jesus, the greater Redeemer. The Book of Exodus is seen as a narrative of God's deliverance, with significant moments like the burning bush and the Red Sea crossing, and Nana connects this historical story to the Christian journey of salvation.The main topic of the episode is Week 3 of Nana's devotional “You Are Redeemed,” focusing on God's provision. This section explores the Israelites' journey after their deliverance from Egypt, especially their struggle with thirst in the wilderness. Despite their miraculous escape from Pharaoh's army and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites quickly begin to complain about their thirst. This transition from praise to grumbling serves as a reminder of human weakness and our tendency to forget God's provisions when faced with new challenges.The conversation includes an illustration about a man named Chaz Powell, who walked the Zambezi River trail in Africa without adequate water, underscoring the desperation of thirst and the crucial need for water. Nana draws parallels to the Israelites' experience, showing how their situation led them to bitter water at Mara, which, despite their hope, turned out to be undrinkable. However, God shows mercy by healing the water and providing them with sweet water and leading them to Elam, where they find twelve springs of water.The episode dives deeper into how God's provision is not just about physical sustenance, but also about spiritual healing. Nana shares that even in moments of longing and dissatisfaction, God provides us with the living water that satisfies, as seen in the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well in the New Testament. The episode touches on real-life issues like disappointment and unmet desires (such as in marriage) and encourages listeners to trust that God, through Jesus, is the ultimate source of fulfillment.The conversation also highlights the importance of prayer and spiritual practices in finding contentment. The hosts share insights on how moms and women, in particular, can turn to prayer to combat feelings of fatigue and dissatisfaction. There's a recurring theme that despite feeling empty or frustrated, turning to Jesus and acknowledging the dryness in one's soul leads to sweet mercy and a renewed sense of hope. The hosts emphasize that by relying on God's strength and grace, even in the mundane aspects of life (like parenting and marriage), individuals can experience God's provision in deeply meaningful ways.The episode ends by promoting Nana's devotional series, encouraging listeners to engage with the devotional to experience more of God's redeeming power in their lives. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29

In this episode of RTE-Travel Talk, host Ken sits down with Beth Schulberg, owner of Cruise & Travel Specialists, for part one of a two-part series reviewing their luxury African safari experience. Broadcasting from the stunning Little Governors' Camp in Kenya, Beth and Ken share highlights from the first leg of their journey. The adventure begins with a visit to Victoria Falls, where they discuss their hotel stay and a breathtaking sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. They also describe the unforgettable experience of a helicopter ride over the falls and surrounding area. The conversation moves to Nairobi before diving into the highlights of Little Governors' Camp, including the game drives, the iconic Karen Blixen estate, and a magical hot air balloon ride. They also touch on the 5-star dining and all-inclusive offerings at the camp, along with practical tips like the best way to travel between destinations and managing luggage. Be sure to stay tuned for part two, where the adventure continues!

Darby McAdams holds many places in the river world: kayaker, film maker & instructor of both kayaking and film work for young paddlers. In November of 2024 her new film NEAR THE RIVER went public. In this episode Darby moves through her kayak path, her film path and talks about NEAR THE RIVER and its story about the people of the Zambezi River in Africa. DARBY MCADAMSNear the River filmIGRiver Roots Film ProductionNRS Dirtbag Diaries:  “Darby McAdams & the Evolution of Passion” by Chandra BrownSPONSORSDenver Area Nissan Dealers@nissanusaOver It Raft Covers@overitraftcoverspromo code, free shipping: riverradius   THE RIVER RADIUSWebsiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastSpotifyLink Tree

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 28th of November, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start off in the Book of Psalms 1:3:“He shall be like a treePlanted by the rivers of water,That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.” What a beautiful promise for the children of God from our Heavenly Father! Then just to confirm that we go to the Book of Ezekiel 47:12: “They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” What a beautiful promise from Jesus Christ for you, my dear friend and for me, today. When I think of rivers of living water, I think of the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the wonders of the world. Maybe you have never had the privilege of being there. I want to describe something to you. I want you to think of Dr David Livingstone, the missionary, who was walking through the bush for days if not weeks - flat, dry land, no mountains, no valleys, just flat, with a lot of thorn bush. He must have woken up one day and as he was walking he saw a column of smoke going right out of the ground and into the sky. He must have seen it many, many miles away. As he got closer, he realised it wasn't smoke, it was mist. It was coming from a river, the mighty Zambezi River, and then he saw the wonder of God, the Victoria Falls. There is a depression in the ground. There is no mountain, there are no waterfalls, the river is running and it disappears into a crevice. The Africans call it Most-Oa-Tunya, The Smoke That Thunders. The ground literally trembles under your feet in the rainy season. You can hardly see anything with this beautiful water. There is a forest there, a green lush forest that looks like a tropical jungle, walking out of those dry wastelands. Now I want to say to you today, that is what Jesus is to you and I, but you need to be thirsty. He was very thirsty, I am thirsty and I am sure you are. That water brings healing to your body. It is a soothing feeling in your very innermost being. It is food, it is life, it's cleansing, it's restoring and it is for every season of life. Today, put your feet in the beautiful, cool water and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will soothe you, refresh you and take away all your fears and all your doubts. In Jesus' name, amen.

THE Tiffany Haddish joins Seth and Josh on the pod this week! She talks all about working for the airlines and taking trips with her perks, seeing the world's largest buddha in Thailand, traveling to Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River during a full moon, officially becoming a naturalized Eritrean citizen, stories of skeletons of giants in the Grand Canyon, and so much more! See Tiffany co-host Black Comedy in America Tuesdays at 10PM ET/PT on VICE TV. Support our sponsors:AirbnbThanks to Airbnb for their support of Family Trips.  Visit Airbnb.com today and book a guest favorite.  These are the most beloved homes on Airbnb. Public RecUpgrade your wardrobe instantly and save 20% off with the code TRIPS at https://www.publicrec.com/trips #publicrecpod #familytrips #sethmeyers #joshmeyers #tiffanyhaddish  Executive Producers: Rob Holysz & Jeph Porter Creative Producer: Sam Skelton Coordinating Producer: Derek Johnson Mix & Master: Josh Windisch Episode Artwork: Analise Jorgensen

Episode 456 ~ November 14, 2024 Podcast Info / Topics Kevin Callan’s latest Explore Magazine article talks about his 5 top most useful gear picks for 2024. A trio of paraplegic paddlers took a 300km paddle down the Zambezi River. Accessibility has come a long way. A missing kayaker, a search party, and clues that […]

Episode 456 ~ November 14, 2024 Podcast Info / Topics Kevin Callan’s latest Explore Magazine article talks about his 5 top most useful gear picks for 2024. A trio of paraplegic paddlers took a 300km paddle down the Zambezi River. Accessibility has come a long way. A missing kayaker, a search party, and clues that […]

From the banks of the Zambezi River to Victoria Falls – with a safari in Hwange National Park in between – our Travel Expert, Cheryl, planned a life-changing holiday for Inspiring Travel's Business Development Director, Di. In this episode, they both share their incredible experiences in Zimbabwe – one of Africa's most spectacular luxury touring holiday destinations. Product & Travel Specialist, Cheryl, has over thirty years of experience in the travel industry, and has visited Africa more times than she can count! When Di approached Cheryl about planning this trip-of-a-lifetime for her family, they created a holiday filled with extraordinary experiences that surpassed Di's wildest expectations. * Please accept our apologies for the sound issues at the start of this episode – we had a few technical quirks! Find us across social media for more travel inspiration. Check out some of our top offers, and remember, our dedicated teams of Travel Specialists are here to help you start planning your next tailor-made adventure, wherever you want to explore next.  Inspiring Travel Website Instagram: inspiringtravelco TikTok: @inspiringtravelco Facebook: InspiringTravelCo X: @ITCTravel Music: Jakob Ahlbom | Sense of Space | courtesy of Triple Scoop Music by Getty  Music: David Keen | Serengeti Plains | courtesy of Triple Scoop Music by Getty 

Despite the fact that Hein Wagner has been blind since birth, he has taken on more adventures than most sighted people. He has completed the Absa Cape Epic, run the Antarctica Marathon, the Two Oceans and New York Marathons, completed Ironman, competed in the World Triathlon Series in Cape Town, finished several Cape Town Cycle Tours, tackled the white waters of the Zambezi River, climbed the ten highest mountains in the Western Cape, completed the Cape to Rio Yacht Race, holds the World Blind Land Speed Record at 322.52 km/h, and much more. But Hein also believes in giving back. He formed the Hein Wagner Academy in 2019. A training facility catering for the training needs of the visually impaired Hein Wagner. The blind man with exceptional vision joins us in studio now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Templer was an experienced river guide working on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe when an aggressive hippopotamus attacked him.  

More Information: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2024.101030 Episode Sponsor: Naturalresourcetoday.com is a South African scientific research services company, reaching thousands of listeners and readers worldwide.

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Have you ever wondered how to blend modern witchcraft with trauma-informed care? This episode of "Your Average Witch" features the incredible Megs Emerson, a Reiki master, yoga teacher, breathwork coach, and life coach. She shares her innovative approach to integrating yoga, breathwork, and energy work to help individuals heal from trauma and achieve alignment with their true aspirations. We'll also hear about Megs' perspective on imposter syndrome, the contemporary use of the term "witch," and her rich family history of energy workers and clairvoyants.Navigating the complexities of personal practice and community service is no small feat, particularly when battling imposter syndrome. Megs lays out the duality of service and the necessity of vocalizing doubts to diminish their power. Our conversation explores how balancing personal practices with parenting and being of service to others creates a fulfilling cycle of energy exchange. We delve into the grounding effects of witchcraft tools like breathwork and crystals, and Megs shares a memorable story about a whitewater rafting trip on the Zambezi River that underscores the profound impact of seemingly simple choices.To wrap things up, we discuss overcoming magical slumps, especially those influenced by menstrual or lunar cycles, through intentional nature engagement and digital detox. Megs advocates for compassionate dialogue within the witch community, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care in a post-pandemic world. She highlights influential figures like Starhawk and Pixie Lighthorse and offers practical advice for new practitioners. Tune in to deepen your connection to witchcraft and healing practices with this rich tapestry of wisdom and practical advice.Support the Show.Support the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

In dieser Folge stellen wir euch den nächsten besonderen Nationalpark vor. Der Lower Zambezi ist bekannt für seinen wunderschönen Zambezi River, seine beeindruckenden Landschaften und seine Tiervielfallt. Dabei erzählen wir euch von eigenen Erfahrungen und Besonderheiten und stellen euch mit „Classic Zambia“ und dem „Zambezi Grande“ zwei besondere Unterkünfte vor Ort vor, die verschiedener nicht sein könnten. Sambia buchen: https://www.safarisambia.de Kontakt: patrick@mediasafaris.de Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/couchsafaripodcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Born in England and raised in Canada, Michael has spent his adult life in Europe and South Africa. Michael's father was a Canadian soldier who met his wife, an English girl, in Croydon, south of London during World War II. Michael emigrated to Montreal, Quebec, with his mother when the war ended, and there he grew up. After a stint in the military and his university studies, Michael spent a year back in Croydon, worked in London and explored the UK with his wife. He then moved to Heidelberg, Germany, where he worked in medical research, learnt German and explored Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria and northern Italy for seven years. Afterwards he spent three years working in Paris and got to know most of France and Spain. Following another stint in Germany, Michael moved with his family to Johannesburg, South Africa. He travelled the length and breadth of Africa's southern tip from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland (now Eswatini) and Mozambique. Up to now, Michael has visited more than 44 countries, 300 cities and countless towns and villages worldwide. An avid freshwater angler, Michael began fishing with his father at the age of four on the St Lawrence river, including ice fishing. He went on to fish in rivers of the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec and along the east and west coasts of Canada, the Florida Keys and the Shenandoah River in the U.S. He has fished north of the Arctic Circle in Norway and south of the equator in Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, the Okavango River of Botswana, the Zambezi River of Zimbabwe and Lake Victoria of Kenya. A lover of nature, Michael has also spent quiet time in the Laurentian Mountains, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Drakensberg Mountains of Southern Africa. The nature reserves throughout Africa have always been for him a beloved destination.In addition, history has always been Michael's passion. Not surprisingly, it led to an exploration of his own fascinating family heritage. Years of extensive research culminated in his writing The Rutherford Chronicles, a series of four books based on his ancestors' lives, their friends and their families in the turbulent years of the 20th century. Michael's diverse background, combined with his zest for life and voracious curiosity, forges in The Rutherford Chronicles a moving saga of unsung heroes and tempestuous times. Michael G Bergen websit --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/somethingsomethingpodcast/support

Things go horribly wrong for a safari guide on the Zambezi River when he comes face-to-face with a rogue hippo. And Dr. Ray Christian breaks the first rule about Fight Club and tells us all about it. This episode contains graphic imagery. Please take care while listening.STORIES Belly of the BeastThings go horribly wrong for a safari guide on the Zambezi River when he comes face-to-face with a rogue hippo.Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story with Snap! Check out Paul Templer's memoir, What's Left of Me.Produced by Erika Lantz, original score by Renzo Gorrio, artwork by Teo DucotFight ClubThe first rule about fight club is you do not talk about fight club. Dr. Ray Christian breaks that rule.You can hear more of Ray on his podcast: What's Ray Saying?Produced by Mark Ristich, original score by Renzo GorrioSnap Classic - Season 15 - Episode 15

 Walking the length of Africa's Zambezi river, explorer Chaz Powell entered a small village and saw something that he will never forget. Witchcraft, the exorcism of a demonic spirit and the heavy presence of evil. A strange but true story as told by one who lived it. Chaz Powell is an Explorer, Expedition Leader and Survival Guide. Recognized as Explorer of the Year 2021 by the Scientific Exploration Society His ongoing project ‘The Wildest Journey' is all about his explorations by foot along Africa's wildest rivers with an aim to raise awareness for wildlife conservation and anti poaching. In his full episode on the podcast Whiskey and a Map, Chaz shares his experiences exploring wild Africa. Charged by elephants, imprisoned by villagers, suffering extreme dehydration and encounters with witchcraft, Chaz has ventured to places where few outsiders have ever been. Follow Chaz on his website TheWildestJourney.com The podcast Whiskey and a Map is hosted by Michael J. Reinhart True stories of adventure and exploration as told by those who lived them. MichaelJReinhart.com An adventure and Exploration Podcast 

Paul Templer has one of the most wholesome jobs imaginable: paddling entranced visitors along Africa's beautiful Zambezi River to the majestic Victoria Falls. But one day, his tour party is attacked… by a ferocious bull hippopotamus. As panic descends, Paul must do his utmost to ensure no man is left behind… A Noiser production, written by Susan Allott. For more on Paul's story, read Marked for Life: Finding Grace and Grit Where You Least Expect It. For ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you're on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions If you have an amazing survival story of your own that you'd like to put forward for the show, let us know. Drop us an email at support@noiser.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite a life-altering hunting accident in 1997 that caused him to lose his sight, Lonnie found the courage and determination to raise his three daughters as a single father in small-town Indiana, teaching them all to hunt and fish — and, against all odds, to drive. After the kids were grown and moved out, Lonnie was looking for another challenge. Through adaptive sports organizations Lonnie began to get the opportunity to do some amazing adventures. Fast forward a few years and Lonnie is a National Geographic 2015 Adventurer of the Year. He has kayaked some of the most challenging whitewater in the world and is responsible for first blind descents of Africa's fabled Zambezi River and West Virginia's world-renowned Gauley River. Lonnie is best known for his first descent of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In May of 2023, Lonnie Bedwell became the first blind veteran to climb Mt Everest. He was accompanied by friends and climbing partners Michael Neal and Bryan Hill. Before the climb, Michael and Bryan rode their bicycles across India to set a world record for the fastest known time from sea level to Everest's summit. We'll have Michael on next week to share that story. Sightlesssummits.comhttps://www.instagram.com/lonnie.r.bedwellhttps://lonniebedwell.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Green Chef and use my code asp250 for a great deal: https://www.greenchef.com/asp250* Check out Oris Watches: https://www.oris.ch* Check out Roark and use my code ASP15 for a great deal: https://roark.com/* Check out Shopify and use my code asp for a great deal: https://www.shopify.com/aspSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/adventure-sports-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What are the mindset of a man that during his ‘The Wildest Journey' expeditions was facing kidnapping, hunger and near death whilst coming face to face with and overcoming some of the most difficult challenges life could throw at him? What can you learn from it? How can you implement that kind of mindset in your everyday life?   Chaz was awarded with the honorary title of ‘Explorer of the Year 2021' by the Scientific Exploration Society After exploring and hiking the globe for the last two decades. Chaz now lives his life as an Explorer, Expedition Leader, Bushcraft Instructor and Ranger.   His project ‘The Wildest Journey' is all about his journeys by foot along Africa's wildest rivers, with an aim to raise awareness for wildlife conservation and anti poaching. In 2016/17 Chaz spent 137 days walking over 3000km from source to sea along the Zambezi River, and in 2019 spent 47 days walking 1120km from source to sea along the Gambia river and in the same year leading a small team for 800km over 29 days from east to west across Madagascar whilst walking source to sea along the country's longest river, The Mangoky.   We talk about: Being in jail at 19 and how life changed Seeking a different life Never going back to the same place Being kidnapped Meeting a black mamba Near death experience How it is to try living a "normal" life And lots more! Enjoy!

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 17th of August, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.We start off in the Psalms, Psalm 37:5, the Lord says:"Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass."The Lord gives us enough strength for the day, strength for the strain. You have heard me say that before. I was looking through an old diary and came up with an entry I made in August, 2001 - 22 Years ago! My, where has the time gone? I really want to read this to you but before I do, I want to say that we need to sit down and count the cost. We need to stop rushing around. When we do that, we will accomplish what the Lord has done for us. Remember, He only gives us enough strength for each day, no more and no less, just like He did with the Israelites in the wilderness. He gave them fresh manna every single morning but that manna would not last for two days. They had to collect it every morning. You and I need to sit down and count the cost and realise God has given us enough strength for one purpose, for one day. This is how my entry goes. I am just going to read it straight off and you can work it out for yourself:"The second expedition of the seed-sower, and I am sitting at a familiar place now on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, looking over into Zambia. Contemplating last year's campaign, I realise just how fast time is moving on. It seems like just a couple of months ago that we were last here. Thinking about the hardships, the home-sickness, the fatigue that we went through preaching in 11 campaigns, and setting up the stage, the sound, the lights, etc. every time, and then the follow-up material, then praying for the sick, then having to pack up and move on to the next one. The continual unending streams of people with you all the time, almost day and night, eventually it can become quite overpowering."Then Jesus clearly reminded me in my quiet time that He would give me enough strength for the strain, and that only as I need it, but also that through the strain, I would learn many new things, mainly about myself. Father has promised me that He will not allow me to be tempted above that which I am able to handle. My prayer at the Zambezi River is: Lord Jesus, please help me to keep the vision, to see the lost, the blind and the confused folk and help them. Yes, to bring in the great and mighty harvest. Amen.Jesus bless you and have a lovely day,Goodbye.

Today our magic jeep brings us to a town near the Zambezi River, where we meet the mighty hero, Makoma! On his journey, Makoma befriends a friendly giant and flame-spirit who lend him their powers. But when he's captured by the fearsome Mau-giri, will those powers be enough to escape? Join Miss Jo Jo to find out!

In this 13th episode of Fabulous Folklore Presents, I chat with Daniel Clarke, a Cape Town-based artist, illustrator and animator who has worked with BBC and Disney, among others. He is the co-author of Kariba, a graphic novel with his brother James Clarke, which explores the Zimbabwean myth of Nyaminyami, the great river god of the Zambezi River. In this interview, we chat about the building of modern mythology, who can tell which stories, and why AI might not be a great idea where art is concerned! Daniel's website: https://danielclarkeart.com/ Daniel on IG: https://www.instagram.com/danielclarkeart/ Preorder Kariba here: https://www.catalystpress.org/young-adult-books/kariba/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Enjoyed this episode and want to show your appreciation? Buy Icy a coffee to say 'thanks' at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 Tweet Icy at https://twitter.com/IcySedgwick Find Icy on Mastodon: @IcySedgwick@mastodonapp.uk Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Susan Harrow is a media trainer, marketing strategist, martial artist + author of Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul® (HarperCollins), the first and only book on promoting yourself without using jargon, sales, sex, war, or aggressive language. She specializes in working with women leaders, entrepreneurs + innovators solving the world's most pressing problems. For the past 33 years she's trained thousands of people for TV, radio, panel, podcast + print interviews to be highly desirable, repeat guests who shine in the media spotlight™. She's prepped her clients and course participants to appear on Oprah, 60 Minutes, Larry King Live, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fresh Air, Marketplace, Bloomberg, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, FOX, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Wired, Forbes, Inc., O, Parade, Vanity Fair etc. as well as stage to screen. You may know her as the "Go To Girl" for getting on Oprah. What you might not know about her is that she has a black belt in Aikido, she rafted down the Zambezi River in class 5 rapids + was almost gored to death by an elephant. Join us as we learn how to let go of imposter syndrome or if we lack or have lost confidence so we can keep our originality and quirks and be true to ourselves in every moment.   Here's what we covered on the episode: Susan's Start in PR + Imposter Syndrome  How Susan used to be known as the go-to-girl for getting on Oprah when she was a publicist for authors, speakers, and entrepreneurs Women with products have a great opportunity to get into O Magazine, which can have one of the most powerful effects on your business As a publicist, Susan was curious why some people weren't as effective as others in media, and she discovered it was often what they were saying or how they were being, so she started doing media training Susan wanted to help promote women in a way where they didn't feel like they had to brag, beg or whore themselves  Self-doubt and imposter syndrome are natural when moving to the next level of our expertise, and we need to accept that it exists but not stay in it When imposter syndrome comes up, Susan teaches us how to micromanage our minds so we can make sure our thoughts are serving the person we want to be and shares an example of when she was experiencing imposter syndrome the other day and what she did to help herself Imposter syndrome comes from within, which is why we need to shift our mindset around it – you can make a million dollars, have a great life and family, and still experience it Susan shares that she's always thinking about the next thing and moves towards what makes her curious and what's going to light her up Susan had been working on a course for women on how to handle sexual harassment but also be able to speak their minds, stand their ground and express themselves in the world, which is the area she's moving into Role-playing is important to developing internal personal power so you can speak up and stay safe in any situation, especially in the media spotlight Susan teaches facial language, body language, verbal language, and the embodiment of showing who you are in any circumstance so you're not pushed around Media Strategy To move forward in media today, Susan says you need to have a story or a connection with something going on in the culture today that's important to other people and then match that to the correct audience, publication, or show Susan works hand-in-hand with publicity firms where they do the booking, and she does the media training The first 3 questions Susan asks clients are what's your deepest intention/how do you want to serve? What do you want for yourself professionally, personally, spiritually, financially, and physically? What do you want your audience to do? Then they build their messaging around those answers When choosing the best media method for clients, Susan says they start small to develop their chops and test what resonates with their audience; they look at what comes naturally to them and choose the medium based on where their clients are   Susan shares the strategy she used to help a client build her credibility through print media   In a world of quick videos and pictures, Susan shares why it's important to pick something long and lasting, like a podcast, but says if there is a quick pop of something in media for you, you need to monetize it quickly and work it into your PR plan Susan is always looking at what's unique or special about a person and how they can connect it to the world and culture today Check out PR Secrets.com for freebies, Susan's blog and free report to help you create the specific story you'll need for any media, interview, presentation, etc. Susan would like women to expand their vision and being into all the areas of capability and curiosity that they've been longing for   Links mentioned: Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul® PR Secrets Website  Free Report: How to Create Your Story  Connect with Susan on Facebook  Connect with Susan on Instagram  Connect with Susan on LinkedIn Like what you heard?  Click here to subscribe + leave a review on iTunes. Click here to download my Sales Page Trello Board Let's connect on Instagram!

In 1996 Paul Templar was taking a guided tour down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe when he ran in to some trouble with one of the deadliest animals on earth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hippos are amongst the deadliest animals in the world, and few know the risk better than Paul Templer. Whilst leading a safari along the Zambezi River in Africa, Paul was attacked multiple times by a hippo - including being swallowed, head first, up to his waist. His colleague, Evans Namasango, died during the attack. The fact that Templer survived is remarkable in itself; that he later canoed the length of the Zambezi, from source to sea, including coming face-to-face with his attacker again, shows just how remarkably brave and heroic he is. Daisy Maskell sits down with Paul Templer to hear the details of the now-infamous 1996 Zambezi River hippopotamus attack, and to hear how the incident has shaped him into the man he is today. Discover Paul Templer Own his new book "Marked For Life": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marked-Life-Finding-Grace-Expect-ebook/dp/B0BG63WWGQ Own his first book "What's Left Of Me": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whats-Left-Me-Paul-Templer-ebook/dp/B00A0T7KG8 Find out about the Templer Foundation: https://www.templerfoundation.org And for all things Paul Templer: https://www.paultempler.com Follow Daisy Maskell - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisylmaskell/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/daisy_maskell_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Damned River chronicles a group of friends' harrowing trip down the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. Their guide, Ray, an unhinged madman and former mercenary (?), is at odds with other local rafters. Thus, as the begin their trek, Ray slowly descends into madness.  The premise isn't exactly novel, but it isn't bad either. The issues with Damned River all come down to execution. The acting is over the top and hammy, the script is all wet, and the action is as sub-par as one would expect from a film only available on YouTube as a poor transfer from an obscure TV series called "Movies for Men." That said, there is some fun to be had with Damned River—in the, this should have appeared on Mystery Science Theater 3000 sort of way.  Now, sit back, ride the wave train with a Boat Show IPA from Yellow Springs Brewery, and stay out of Ray's waters! I, the Thunderous Wizard (@WriterTLK), Chumpzilla, Capt. Cash, and Bling Blake are braving some sick class five rapids with a homicidal maniac as our guide! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – A dream vacation... Becomes a grim Nightmare! (00:00) Lingering Questions – Ray is a lunatic, but an entertaining one. What was over favorite "River Rat" Ray moment? (40:28) The "Slambezi" Trivia Challenge – The Double Turn Podcast breaks an oar over someone's head, and then Bling Blake challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (1:07:50) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We kick off "Hops and Xenomorph Flops," with David Fincher's Alien 3! (1:22:39) And, as always, hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids—the raging rapids of the Zambezi and more—from this week's episode! You can find this episode of Hops and Box Office Flops on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Spotify, Acast, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Vurbl, Amazon Music, and more!

Businessman Kizito Tinarwo said he has many orders for products from his small steel and aluminum factory, but power blackouts have hit production hard in Zimbabwe. He uses a gasoline-powered generator when the power goes out, but this is expensive and has its limits. “It cuts into profits because we add to our costs of doing business,” he said. “The generator cannot run forever; it has its prescribed running hours. We switch it on and off. In the process, our lead times are affected.” This has been the case since he started his business about four years ago. But the latest outages have been longer — sometimes lasting 19 hours a day.  Along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia sits Lake Kariba, where low water levels have interrupted power supply to both countries. The world's largest manmade lake by volume is on the Zambezi River, with hydroelectric power generators on both sides. Zimbabwe gets 70% of its power from Lake Kariba. But plunging water levels have worsened a yearslong power crisis — profoundly impacting the economy. Below the Kariba dam wall, with Zambia border in the background.  Credit: ish Mafundikwa/The World And Tinarwo is not the only one impacted by the power outages. Zimbabwe's many minerals include platinum, gold, chrome and lithium, and mining accounts for the bulk of Zimbabwe's export earnings. Collin Chibafa, president of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines, said some 88% of the country's mines experience outages of as long as 12 hours. He said some mining companies are now taking matters into their own hands by building solar plants.“Obviously, those only work maybe four or five hours a day [that] we get peak production. Some of our members run diesel generators, but that's an expensive and the least-viable option. If you have people underground, they need ventilation, they need oxygen, it's really crucial that you can safely get people up from underground,” he said.Households are not spared the inconvenience as power goes without prior notice. People with enough discretionary income may use generators, solar energy and inverters — but these options are beyond reach for the majority. Gas for cooking has become the go-to option for those who can afford it. For those who can't, charcoal is readily available and affordable. And the sprawling, open-air market in Mbare, Harare's oldest working-class neighborhood, is the place to buy it.  Bags of charcoal at Mbare market in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Credit: ish Mafundikwa/The World Nyarai Mupesa, who has sold charcoal there for the past five years, said business is good whenever there is no power. “When there are power cuts, sales are good, people need charcoal for cooking and to keep warm,” she said.The problem is that charcoal, and the other low-cost option, kerosene, both contribute to deforestation and pollution. Chopping and burning trees for charcoal is illegal in Zimbabwe. But that has not stopped the practice. And most of the charcoal sold at Mbare is imported from Mozambique because, according to Mupesa, it is better quality. “You pay the required duties and are issued with a receipt that enables you to get to Harare with your charcoal,” she explained.  Nyarai Mupesa prepares her charcoal for sale. Credit: ish Mafundikwa/The World Besides the hydroelectric plant on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe's other main power source, the Hwange thermal power station is old and breaks down frequently. New units at the power plant are set to start generating power soon. But even if it and Kariba operate at capacity, they cannot meet Zimbabwe's power needs.Energy expert Victor Utedzi runs a solar farm. He sees renewable energy as a solution to Zimbabwe's power problems. So does the government. In a bid to attract more local and private investors to set up solar and hydropower plants to sell to the national grid or direct to some consumers, the government recently announced new policies.  Solar water heaters are now standard features on new houses as well as some old houses in Zimbabwe. Credit: ish Mafundikwa/The World “The government has given a guarantee that if the utility is unable to pay, the government will step in and make the payment. The government has also opened the space even further; they allow you to sell directly to some of the largest industrial and commercial clients in the country,” Utedzi said. The government also imports power from neighboring countries but that doesn't always work due to currency shortages. Building another hydropower station upstream from Kariba is seen as the best hope for solving Zimbabwe's power woes. But two decades after it was proposed, no action has been taken.Until it becomes a reality, the rolling blackouts will continue. 

The wildest journey with world explorer Chaz Powell  After exploring and hiking the globe for the last two decades. Chaz now lives his life as an Explorer, Expedition Leader, Survival Guide, and Ranger. His project ‘The Wildest Journey' is all about his journeys by foot along Africa's wildest rivers, with an aim to raise awareness for wildlife conservation and anti-poaching. In 2016/17 Chaz spent 137 days walking over 3000km from source to sea along the Zambezi River, and in 2019 spent 47 days walking 1120km from source to sea along the Gambia river and in the same year leading a small team of 800km over 29 days from east to west across Madagascar whilst walking source to sea along the country's longest river, The Mangoky.

2023 is the year for another trip of a lifetime.A time of reflection, as I will be taking a 2nd trip to one of the world's natural wonders, Victoria Falls.This is the story about my first trip from several years ago, as best as I can remember.This is happening, primarily because I will be in that region of the world during the latter part of the year. I may even decide to go swimming in the Zambezi River this time.FYI, the seven natural wonders are:Great Barrier Reef.Mount EverestParícutin, MexicoAurora Borealis (AKA the northern lights)Harbor of Rio de JaneiroGrand CanyonVictoria FallsI also look forward to staying at the Anantara Royal Livingstone, a hotel in a Game Park.I wonder who my neighbors will be.http://www.malcolmteasdale.com

“For me it wasn't falling in love, it was growing up in love with these beautiful parts of the world and the wildlife experiences.” We're in great company with Sara Gardiner, Co-Founder of Matetsi Victoria Falls where she, along with her family and team, offer the ideal combination of safari, river and relaxation, all wrapped up in warm genuine Zimbabwean hospitality. Matetsi Victoria Falls is the embodiment of the Gardiner family's dream to marry their passion for conservation and luxury hospitality, in order to sustainably protect one of the most beautiful landscapes in their home country of Zimbabwe, the 136,000-acre wilderness area that is Matetsi Private Game Reserve. In this episode, Sara shares why she counts her blessings every day that this dream has become a reality, and how through it she is able to conserve vast areas of pristine wilderness and create opportunities for her local Zimbabwean community. Top Takeaways [1:20] A special childhood growing up in the Zimbabwean bush inspires Sara's passions today to protect her community, landscape and wildlife. [5:00] How Sara finds purpose in her name, meaning “I remain,” especially having returned home after many years traveling abroad. [6:00] As a family, the Gardiners share a commitment across generations to give back to Zimbabwe all that it has given them. [10:00] What started as hosting friends and family for long Sunday lunches to now, the hospitality of welcoming guests from all corners of the world to Matetsi Falls, as if it were their own home. [11:20] Matetsi Falls is a quite large, “pocket of paradise” situated on 136,000 acres of preservation along the Zambezi River and only a short drive down the road from one of the Seven Natural Wonders of The World. [15:00] Guests can expect to share their surroundings with seasonal birds, roaming warthogs and bush bucks, elephants looming over the trees and hippos popping up in the river. [17:20] The reclaimed and repurposed roots of the luxury safari lodge are paired with artisanal pottery, fabrics and furniture from the craft of the local community. [19:30] How Sara is taking a personal stance with her family's passion project, to change the narrative on Zimbabwe. [21:40] “People come to Africa for the wildlife, and they come back for the people.” [22:50] From sunrise safaris to sunset boat cruises, meditative canoe rides to walking safaris immersed in the landscape, night drives to see nocturnal species to bush dinners celebrating local dishes. [29:40] With a positive human presence, the team at Matetsi Falls learned that if you give Mother Nature time and space to heal, she will come back to life. [36:15] What to look forward to out of Matetsi Victoria Falls from continued conservation efforts, new employment opportunities for local Zimbabweans, and the development of a new lodge with a fresh perspective. Notable Mentions Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Greenline Africa Trust The Jafuta Foundation Mummy's Angels The Honde Valley, Zimbabwe Visit For Yourself Matetsi Victoria Falls Website @matetsivictoriafalls Stay In Good Company Website

In April 1994, two groups of holiday makers on the Zambezi River were ambushed by Africa's most deadly mammal - the hippo. The attacks happened 2 days apart and 200km away from each other. But they ended up being connected to each other in a very surprising way… Each group's stories is incredible, involving not just hippos but crocodiles, buffalo, lions, hyenas & bloodthirsty ants. But the fact that they were connected by fate/coincidence makes it extra wild.  Enjoy! Skip straight to the story: approx 4:18 Jacob shares the story with Laura & Mim from The Beanies Follow Laura & Mim on Instagram @thebeaniesaus Listen to The Beanies and find out when they're performing near you at their website: https://thebeanies.com.au/ We give you just the gist, but if you want more, there's this:  READ these articles https://www.readersdigest.co.uk/inspire/life/my-life-or-death-encounter-in-the-african-bush https://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/hannes-wessels/2007/09/terror-zambezi/ https://africaunauthorised.com/terror-on-the-zambezi/ WATCH the re-enactment depicted in I Shouldn't Be Alive season 2, episode 5 https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0FWQ4U01NNILMGR08S43PNEIFM/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s2   Follow us on Insta: @justthegistpodcast Send us your suGISTions for stories and guests: justthegistpodcast@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New episodes come out every Friday for free, with 1-week early access for ABF Fam subscribers Today our magic jeep brings us to a town near the Zambezi River, where we meet the mighty hero, Makoma! On his journey, Makoma befriends a friendly giant and flame-spirit who lend him their powers. But when he's captured by the fearsome Mau-giri, will those powers be enough to escape? Join Miss Jo Jo to find out!  Loved this episode??? Be sure to let us know at this link!!! Your voice matters: https://ratethispodcast.com/campredrum

Stephen Sautner is a lifelong fisherman, environmental activist, and the author of several books on those topics. And while his passion for fishing has taken him to the Falkland Islands, Cuba, the Zambezi River, and even ... New Jersey, a rustic fishing cabin in Hancock, New York, is Stephen's happy place. Tune it to hear Stephen's thoughts on trout, Catskills living, and being a steward of the places we love. Thanks to our sponsors: Hanford Mills Museum Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce The Mountain Eagle Kaatscast was voted BEST REGIONAL PODCAST in the 2022 Chronogrammies! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kaatscast/support

Kelly Starrett, mobility coach and physical therapist revolutionized how professional athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. He helps the pros to resolve pain and prevent injury by optimizing how they move. An avid paddler, he and Lindsay Berra talk about how his wife survived a hippo attack on the Zambezi River in Africa and his experience paddling there, competitive class-five whitewater kayaking, problem solving at speed, along with how we can all be better optimizing our mobility. This episode is one of our most popular and so we wanted to share it again.Part 1 of a 2 part episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Starrett, mobility coach and physical therapist revolutionized how professional athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. He helps the pros to resolve pain and prevent injury by optimizing how they move. An avid paddler, he and Lindsay Berra talk about how his wife survived a hippo attack on the Zambezi River in Africa and his experience paddling there, competitive class-five whitewater kayaking, problem solving at speed, along with how we can all be better optimizing our mobility. This episode is one of our most popular and so we wanted to share it again.Part 2 of a 2 part episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former English Professor, Jeannee Sacken is a photojournalist who travels the world documenting the lives of women and children. She also photographs wildlife and is deeply committed to the conservation of endangered species through enhancement of life for indigenous peoples. She's done her share of adventure travel as well, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, trekking the Andes, kayaking the South Atlantic, and canoeing the Zambezi River. Her journeys always include visits to schools, whether a boarding school in the Gobi Desert, a two-room building in the desert of southern Madagascar, or a stick hut in Tanzania. She believes that with education come peace, health, and empowerment. When not traveling, she lives with her husband and three cats in Shorewood, Wisconsin, where she's hard at work on the next novel in the award-winning Annie Hawkins Green series. Nicole Swanson is an audiobook narrator with a voice described as having a vivid, silvery tone with a bright and sunny dynamic. Her narration conveys a warmth and charm informed by her Southern roots and experience as the mother of three amazing daughters. Nicole's strengths lie in her flexible range, ear for accents, and character development skills. Nicole loves escaping into her home studio to entertain her faithful listener, Blackjack the Studio Dog. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/flocktalk/message

Geoffrey Kent has likely done more to shape what modern luxury travel looks like than anyone else. Dating back to 1962—when he founded Abercrombie & Kent and started leading the first photographic safaris in Africa—he has been a pioneer of new destinations and new ways of traveling. Sixty years later, he's still leading the way and discovering new places to explore.  Geoffrey's pioneering adventures began at the age of 16, when he had just been expelled from high school in Kenya. He soon set off on a solo trip by motorcycle from Nairobi to Cape Town—and ended up becoming the first person to complete the journey. Equipped with only some fuel and a few pieces of dried meat, he had several mishaps along the way—including falling into the Zambezi River and getting stuck by the river for more than a month—but he also learned lessons that would shape his view, and the future, of luxury adventure.  Geoffrey speaks with Bruce about that trip and many journeys since, with revealing tales about how he vowed to never hunt again after killing an elephant, how he coined the term “Shoot with a camera, not with a gun,” and how he argued with Dian Fossey, a fierce advocate for gorillas, about the importance of tourism in Africa's critical wildlife regions.   On the subject of tourism and its impact on the planet, Geoffrey acknowledges that it can be detrimental when handled incorrectly. From waterway damage, to trash in nature, to excessive travel emissions, tourism companies need to take it upon themselves to help mitigate the negative impacts. But Geoffrey believes the benefits to properly managed tourism far outweigh the negatives, and he discusses some of the many projects A&K helps fund, from hospitals to wildlife conservation corridors.    Geoffrey also shares details about some of the upcoming private-jet journeys around the world that he personally leads, as well as what destinations—from Gabon to Eritrea—that he feels are the new frontiers of luxury travel. LEARN MORE: https://www.abercrombiekent.com/ LUMA Arles: https://www.luma.org/en/arles.html Asilia Africa: https://www.asiliaafrica.com ----------------------------------- Learn more about the podcast: https://www.curtco.com/travelthatmatters Hosted by: Bruce Wallin Produced by: AJ Moseley Music by: Joey Salvia A CurtCo Media Production See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We chat to Skinner Ndlovu – possibly the most experienced guide in the Zambezi River region of Zimbabwe. He has been guiding the thrilling rapids of the Zambezi for over 20-years and represented his country in rafting tournaments around the world. Skinner explains why the Zambezi is the safest but also the most thrilling white water rafting destination in the world and some of the different trips you can do through his company Wild Horizons. To find out more from this energetic and passionate man have a listen and you'll surely be inspired to join him one day! 

Benny Marr - Professional Surf Spot Kayaker, 2 time Rider of the Year, Whitewater Grand Prix Medalist, Bested Dane Jackson more than once. Ben is Canadian that travels the world casing with water flows & is one of the best kayak surfers on the planet. he started Kayaking at the young age of 9yeas old and hasn't stopped at age 35, he's paddled everything from the Stikine Canyon to the Zambezi River, but loves nothing more than a day trip ‘front surfing' on the biggest waves he can find. Bobby is joined by Ben to discuss Withe Water Kayaking, River Safty, Class 3 4 &5 Ripeds, Moutain Sports, Africa, Wildlife, Photography, Film, Go-Pros, Outdoor life & much more. Please subscribe or like us on social media platforms for updates on shows, events, and episode drops. Become a Mountain Side Patron Here for exclusive footage.www.TheMountainSidePodcast.comwww.BennyfcknMarr.comSponsor Linkswww.UnCanna.comMountain Side listeners use Discount code TMS to receive 10% off all Uncanna products!www.BackCountry.comMountain Side listeners receive 15% off First Visit!www.ONNIT.comMountain Side listeners use Discount code TMS to receive 10% off ONNIT products!Other Affiliates Links

Kelly Starrett, mobility coach and physical therapist revolutionized how professional athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. He helps the pros to resolve pain and prevent injury by optimizing how they move. An avid paddler, he and Lindsay Berra talk about how his wife survived a hippo attack on the Zambezi River in Africa and his experience paddling there, competitive class-five whitewater kayaking, problem solving at speed, along with how we can all be better optimizing our mobility. Part 2 of a 2 part episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Starrett, mobility coach and physical therapist revolutionized how professional athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. He helps the pros to resolve pain and prevent injury by optimizing how they move. An avid paddler, he and Lindsay Berra talk about how his wife survived a hippo attack on the Zambezi River in Africa and his experience paddling there, competitive class-five whitewater kayaking, problem solving at speed, along with how we can all be better optimizing our mobility. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 7 and the political pressure is building when it comes to the United Nations and South West African independence. At the time that South Africa had started a series of show trials under the Terrorism and Suppression of Communism Act in 1967 for SWAPO members, the UN Council for South West Africa was drawing up a timetable for the territories independence supposedly set for 1968. What really happened on the ground was that SWAPOs armed wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia or PLAN changed their focus from northern incursions into Ovamboland to the eastern finger of the Caprivi Strip. That was after the South Africans had crushed the first attempts at setting up a base at Ongulumbwashe as we hear last episode. Follow up PLAN insurgency was also defeated and a new strategy was needed. The local population in the Caprivi vascillated however. They did not at least initially, take too kindly to outsiders, mainly Ovambos, pressurising their leaders to support the struggle for independence. As I explained the chief PLAN commander Tobias Nayeko was killed in an intense firefight on a barge on the Zambezi River in 1968, and by March of that year, 160 insurgents were behind bars. After concerted action by the SA Police who were still in command of operations, the Caprivi Strip insurgency quietened down for a few months. But soon violence escalated and the Pretoria government realised it was time for the SA Defence Force to take control.

This is episode 7 and the political pressure is building when it comes to the United Nations and South West African independence. At the time that South Africa had started a series of show trials under the Terrorism and Suppression of Communism Act in 1967 for SWAPO members, the UN Council for South West Africa was drawing up a timetable for the territories independence supposedly set for 1968. What really happened on the ground was that SWAPOs armed wing, the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia or PLAN changed their focus from northern incursions into Ovamboland to the eastern finger of the Caprivi Strip. That was after the South Africans had crushed the first attempts at setting up a base at Ongulumbwashe as we hear last episode. Follow up PLAN insurgency was also defeated and a new strategy was needed. The local population in the Caprivi vascillated however. They did not at least initially, take too kindly to outsiders, mainly Ovambos, pressurising their leaders to support the struggle for independence. As I explained the chief PLAN commander Tobias Nayeko was killed in an intense firefight on a barge on the Zambezi River in 1968, and by March of that year, 160 insurgents were behind bars. After concerted action by the SA Police who were still in command of operations, the Caprivi Strip insurgency quietened down for a few months. But soon violence escalated and the Pretoria government realised it was time for the SA Defence Force to take control.

Our flight to Zimbabwe seemed to tumble over a dirt road, rather than float through the air, threatening every few seconds to eject us from our seats. When mercifully we touched back down on African soil, we disembarked into the terminal at the modest airport in Victoria Falls. Haily and I were officially in Real Africa. Which, to an American mind, is any part of Africa where there's a non-negligible chance of being eaten by large and aggressive fauna.There were only three gates in the terminal, along with a small waiting area and a ramp down to customs. We took a customs card and ambled down the walkway with two-hundred other people who intended to gaze at waterfalls and wildlife in this epicenter of African tourism. The people who look the most out of place in safari clothes are also the one who are most likely to dress up in them, full regalia. Those people had arrived with us en masse in Victoria Falls. On the ramp down to customers a poster on the wall read, “A healthy nation is a wealthy nation.” Haily made note of this prudent sentiment. Then she suggested that a nation that issues its own currency would seem to be one step closer to affluence than a nation that washes it hands. I asked her what she meant. She informed me, “My Zim friend told me the country doesn’t issue its own bank notes. It doesn’t have any ATMs, either. He said they don’t accept credit cards.”This sparked an otherwise latent economic curiosity in me. I had about $40 in cash on me between USD and South African Rand. I remarked on how I wish she had shared this factoid before irreparability touching down in country. This was worse than Poland. I need to start checking CIA Factbook or something before entering a new country. Wikipedia, at least.The good news is this intelligence proved not to be entirely accurate: Zimbabwenese bank notes, while rare and printed in the same factory as Monopoly money, do exist. They also do indeed have a few ATMs and almost universally accept Visa and Mastercard. The bad news is that I wouldn’t discover this for another few hours as I waited in line to go through customs. It’s not that their customs lines were especially inefficient. They just conspired to be especially inefficient for me. As we hadn’t moved with a sense of urgency to get into customs we ended up near the back of the line. There were ten queues. We were in number five. The airport seemed surprised to have just received a freight full of visitors, as if this was something that happened only on occasion and unexpectedly. Then an usher came over and redirected me—and just me, because I’m white, presumably—to number six, in which I would, it was my hope, be able to get an on-arrival visa. The different numbered booths offered different visa options, depending on whether your nationality was African, Chinese, or other, and whether you’d already obtained a visa. I trusted, naively, that the usher had omnipotently placed me in the appropriate line. After thirty minutes the lines started to atrophy. That is except for number six. Haily was about halfway closer to the customs desk than I was.At that point a new flight came in, unloading about four hundred Chinese tourists, all outfitted in Safari gear. In Zimbabwe, Chinese tourists are celebrated guests. If you’re Chinese, you don’t need a visa to get into the country. It’s free to you, welcome home. If you’re not Chinese, then you’ll need a visa. Which kind you need depends on which nation you’re from. For example, an American multiple entry visa costs fifty bucks. If you’re British it’ll cost you an extra ten bucks, just for being a limey Brit. Canadians: no double entry. Once is enough for you folks. Now, customs lines are notorious for being inefficient and taking forever. But this generally isn’t the case for me. I’m an American. Typically, when I present myself in a new country all I have to do is proclaim, “I’m an American, and I’m ready to come in now!” Then they unhook the red velvet rope and let me through. I’m not used to having to wait in line, ask nicely, and slip some money to the guy at the desk. At length I got to the front of the line. By "at length" I really do mean to imply a serious amount of time here. By the time I reached the front, there were precisely zero other people -- that is, not a single other person -- in the customs area. Not only had everyone on my flight made it through customs, but every one of the Chinese tourists had made it through as well. I deduced that it had been the desk guy’s first day in queue six. That's why he had processed our line slower than everyone else's. I handed him my passport.“Hey man, how’s it going?” he asked.“Fine,” I said hotly. I’d already decided it was his fault I was still here.He looked at my passport and crinkled his nose in consternation.“My friend, you are in the wrong line,” he told me. “You are supposed to be in queue five.”He handed me my passport and I stepped sidelong toward the attendant in the adjacent stall. I presented her with my passport and my credit card. She went bang-bang-bang with a few official stamps, wrote my identifying information down and sent me on my way. When I finally was allowed to exit the airport I met back up with Haily. “Where have you been?” she asked. “I was beginning to worry.”A van was waiting out front to take us to our hostel. We hit the road through the savannah, where we were apparently the only vehicle in Zimbabwe that could attain one-hundred kilometers-per-hour. Even at a languorous ninety, we blew the doors off competing vehicles on the two lane highway. On the side of the road were cows, donkeys, monkeys, and varieties of African deer. We were officially in Real Africa.The van delivered us to a compound in a residential stretch outside the city center of Victoria Falls. The driver tapped a code on the compound gate which gave way onto the premises. The communal area featured a modest array of the necessities of tropical luxury, such as a small pool, a lounging swing, and a giant human-sized chessboard carved in the suggestive motif of White Man versus Black Animals. The rooms were housed in huts with thatched roofs. The notion of a thatched roof conveys a flimsy covering that could fly off at the behest of a zealous wind gust. But this is far from the reality. Upon inspection they are sturdy, like a weaved steel, and inspire the utmost confidence in their structural soundness. The façade of the compound was Real African Safari; the bones were up to the duty of coddling tourists.Having deposited our effects in the hut, we inquired with the concierge about a satisfactory spot for dining in town. He recommended a craft brewery that served good food and good beer.So we took off into town. It was a two mile walk, about forty minutes on foot. We picked our way through the asymmetric layout of our residential neighborhood. We stopped on our walk to admire a couple warthogs wallowing in someone’s front yard. On the outskirts of the city center—so called because of its centrality, not its urbanity—I decided to bring us through a short cut. Instead of taking the long road around the park, we could simply cut through the park and shave off tens minutes from our walk. There appeared to be a dirt path, and we took it. On this dirt path we were joined by a troop of baboons. This was sort of like finding oneself in the midst of a cohort of persons known to be on methamphetamine. They’re a twitchy bunch, and if they decided on a whim to come at you they’d likely overpower you through sheer force of abandon. Uneasily, we made our way through the park. The shortcut did however work to shave a couple minutes off the trip, and soon we found ourselves at the mouth of the road leading to the brewery.This brewery would no doubt have been at home in Seattle or San Diego, such was its hip and industrial allure. Judging from the rest of the offerings in town and the surrounding countryside, this was probably the only craft brewery within five-hundred miles. We ordered a couple beers and a couple burgers. At the table next to us were a group of Zimbabwenese white guys. They were swapping what I can only imagine are typically Zim white guy stories. “On my way over here,” began one of them, “I was walking down the road and—SMACK!—the guy behind me had been hit by a car. He went skidding across the pavement and the car tore off. Then I walked the block and half to meet you blokes here.” He relayed this anecdote with all the casualness of if he had just run into a mate from university. His buddies nodded in amusement, as if this tale merited some acknowledgement but not much. Then the conversation wandered toward baboons, as I imagine it so often does in Real Africa. “I was taking a nap earlier today,” another of the men intoned, “when a baboon came in and took the sugar off my night. I yelled, ‘Hey, you! Come back here!’ And he scampered off.” Classic stuff.When we were sated with food and drink we walked back through town. We made a stop at a liquor store to acquire brandy, because that’s what Hemingway would do, were he ever to find himself dropped down in Victoria Falls. Then we hailed a taxi and retired to our compound where doled out brandy and clinked to being tourists in Real Africa.The next morning I awoke in Zimbabwe, which was surprising, because that had never happened to me before. We got up from under the mosquito net, showered, and presented ourselves again to the concierge.“We’d like to do a safari,” we told him.“Well,” he replied, “everywhere is a safari. The walk to town is a safari.”We looked at him skeptically. We insisted that he take our money and shuttle us off to somewhere with animals of a more lethal strain. We also booked a white water rafting trip, and—what the hell, let's go for it—a helicopter tour of the Falls. Then we made our way back into town to investigate Victoria Falls on foot.The indigenous name for the Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means ‘the Smoke that Thunders.’ This is indeed an apt label if ever there was one. The Falls can be seen from a ways off as a restless mist somewhere beyond the horizon. Then it disappears, occluded by trees and flora. You hear it before it comes into view again. We took a path toward the Falls, and it was strewn with men proffering Africana trinkets laid out on blankets. “My friend!” each one of them implores, “We have the best deals! No one will beat our deals!” they called out, employing the same rhetorical strategy as Donald Trump. We bypassed the deals, purchased a ticket and a poncho at the gate, and entered the grounds of Victoria Falls.Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in Africa. It first became known to white people through the adventurous exploits of David Livingstone, who presumably stumbled on the Falls and murmured a dumbfounded "holy s**t." It was revered as a god by the locals, and it’s clear to see why. It is power personified.Like a quality stripper, Victoria Falls reveals herself piece by piece. To see it up close is only to glimpse a single section at time. It’s a synesthetic experience. Feeling the rumble and hearing the resonant booming come from the same merged, all-encompassing sensory input. It rains at the base of the Falls. Inevitably, you get wet when you enter its vicinity. The rain comes from below, though, bouncing off the invisible ground at the base of the waterfall, like so many bouncy balls. You get more drenched as you go. It’s a state of permanent rain during the wet season, and eventually it just looks like dense fog. We concluded with a sidelong view of the Falls, which drops off from the river into a great open slit in the earth.Having made contact with the Falls, we repaired to the Lookout Café for lunch. This involved a rather long walk down a dirt road away from the Falls. Clearly it was meant to be driven to in a tour bus, as we were the only ones on foot. It had a nice view but no tables, so we headed back down the road to catch a cab back to our hostel. As we walked down the road an oncoming African man said to us, “‘scuse me guys.”“Sorry, we’re not interested,” we began to say.“There’s an elephant behind you.”Sure enough, moseying along through the path about twenty yards behind us, was an elephant. It traipsed along the road, then disappeared into the trees on the other side. Everywhere is a safari, I guess. We walked back along the road toward gates of the Falls where a line of taxis waited. They quoted us a murderous price to get back to our compound. It would’ve been cheaper to cover the equivalent distance in Manhattan. But, same as the taxi negotiation process in Poland, we didn’t have recourse to other options. When we got home we ordered lunch and enjoyed a couple Zambezi beers by the pool.After lunch a car arrived, and we were driven out to a game reserve. This was the helicopter launch site. A Norah Jones song played the in terminal when we arrived. The entire album, on repeat. After a brief instructional session, we loaded into a 'copter and spun up toward the Falls. As we approached, we saw the Mighty Zambezi trail off into the horizon. All at once it drops off into a vast crevasse. We came at it from the it canonical angle, which is what you see in the postcards around town. Then we made the first turn to get the view of the Falls from the side. Breaths, at this point, are hard to come by. We circled it a few times while rainbows danced around in the mist. Then we were shuttled home.Later that day was the World Cup final. We headed back to the brewery we’d scouted the day before. On the way in we met a guy wearing a shirt with the name of the establishment on it. I told him we were headed to the same place. He introduced himself as Ibrahim. We informed him of our confidence that Croatia would take the whole thing. He contradicted us, placing his confidence in France. I proposed we bet a round of beers on the result. He proposed "tequilas" instead. In the end France won, and I bought a round of tequilas, which we threw back.Then we returned in the evening to the compound for brandy.Our cohort left on a bus at seven on a cool morning in Victoria Falls. We were headed to the Zambezi river, for whitewater rafting. It was the two of us and eight Irish college students. They looked to be about fourteen years old.Our first stop was the tour group’s office in the city center, where we were offered instant coffee and tea. We sat in a semi-circle and were given an intro to whitewater rafting. Basically, it was an enumeration of all the ways one could die, be maimed, or sustain serious injury. We would be traversing level-five rapids, which is the highest, most perilous echelon of rapids. Attempting such a feat could incur broken arms, capsized rafts (this, our host emphasized, was a likely occurrence), and dislocated shoulders, among other maladies such as death from cracking your head, or losing consciousness and drowning. This information painted a contrast with what a couple of the more feeble looking Irish kids had in mind: a gentle paddle down the stream. As the list got longer, so did the space between the blond Irish girl’s upper lip and her jaw. Eventually, she was able to rest her chin comfortably on her knees.We were presented with an indemnity agreement, which we had to sign before we were allowed even to hear the safety info—how not to crack your head and die. Before the distributing the papers, the man explaining the plausible deformations and threats-to-life told us: “Just sign it. I don’t recommend to read it. It’ll just leave a sour taste in your mouth.” I read it. It said that if you die, even if due to negligence—for instance, your guide hitting you over the head with his paddle—you cannot sue the company. I raised my hand and asked about the trip's historical rate of death. “It’s uncommon,” he assured us.After we signed our waivers the lot of us were shuttled off somewhere into a fastness north of Victoria Falls, upstream on the Zambezi River. We were fitted for helmets, life-preservers, and handled paddles. The leader of the Irish pack engaged me in conversation, which was an unwelcome social advance.“So, where are you guys from?” he asked Haily and me.“Boston,” I told him curtly.“Lots of Irish there, huh?” he followed up.“I suppose so.”From there, we were instructed to hike down the gorge to the river. The man pointed over the rolling edge of a cliff and told us to follow the trail. We hiked down the gorge, clambering over rocks, informal ladders, and steeply graded hillsides. Before the river came into view we glimpsed the canyon-side carved by the venerable river and the African sun peeking over the top of the dusty striations of the gorge. It was about five hundred meters down, not an especially easy hike for something not properly advertised as a hike. There were some in the party whose lack of physical adroitness—let us call it—was inferable from their prodigious accumulation of mass. One of the girls was on the chubby, honestly. I don't say that to knock her, but it did prove to be a protracted struggle for the poor girl to descend to the river. By the time she got there she looked totally spent, which isn't a promising state in which to begin a treacherous rafting expedition. A more favorable sign was that, by this point, her colleague—the blonde one—had collected her jaw off the floor.We were divided into two rafts and embarked on our journey. Our crew was Haily, me, Leader of the Pack, Mouth Agape, and Cumulative Mass. Together we set off into the Mighty Zambezi. Importantly, the river's name is pronounced ‘My-tee Zam-baaay-zee,’ in your best Lion King voice. Linger on the baaay, and try to wrap your whole mouth around the syllable. Never speak of the river in any other manner. None of our guides, who knew and respected the river, ever did. Our guide taught us to row in concert according to three commands: Forward!, Stop!, and Get Down! Forward, we ventured forth into the Mighty Zambezi.At first the journey was serene. I looked up with geological interest at the tall canyon walls, layered with rock striations encoding the events of millions of years available at a single glance. We floated along in the lazy wanderings of the Mighty Zambezi's repose.Then we began to take on rapids. They started off easy, as mild disturbances in an otherwise calm stream. They were like flight turbulence—perhaps a bit bumpy, but don’t require of you any direct engagement. Things got more tumultuous as we entered our first level-four. “Get Down! Get Down!” yelled our guide.We hit the thrashing white water. The bow of the boat shot up and as it righted it did so without the burden of the largest passenger. In a period shorter than a moment she was hoovered into the water and under the raft. Her colleague's mouth gaped. It was a look which conveyed the sentiment that her friend had just been consumed by the Mighty Zambezi and may never return from its digestive tract. Our guide scrambled over to the side of the raft, calling me to move out of his way. I scurried to the opposite side. He searched for her in the water but only found more rapids. After lingering under a few long moments she reappeared as a specter under the water. The guide, calling on all his bodily power, gave a great big heave and hauled her back on board. She returned physically undamaged, save for a couple scratches. But from the look fixed on her face for the rest of the outing I believe the Mighty Zambezi may have kept a small portion of her soul for itself.After that incident we held a vote: should we take on the level-five or should we skirt around it and remain in a level-three? Our guide explained that there was, in his statistical estimation, a ninety-eight percent probability of flipping if we take on the five. The rule was that if anyone voted for the lesser adventure we had to go with that. So we went with that.There’s a sort of negotiation with the river that takes place right before you hit a rapid. Our guide would call out “Forward! Forward!… Stop!” at precisely the moment that would angle us toward a minute but desirable swirl in the rapids. This particular swirl would position so as to maximize the chances of us being in that two percent. We came to a junction in the river. The near side of the river looked like the sort of rapid we had already been taking on. The other side of the river frothed menacingly. It presented us with a continuously cresting wave, which towered over our hopelessly inadequate watercraft. Our guide did the mental trigonometry to angle us precisely in the direction of the more tenable rapids. But the Mighty Zambezi had other plans for us. We drifted helplessly in the direction of the level-five, caught in a rip tide toward the oncoming tsunami. The rapid pitched us about with no consideration for any of our predilections concerning our direction or orientation to the ground. It was a sort of probabilistic splash mountain. We entered the vertex of two colliding currents. We took a real shellacking from the river, at one point going completely airborne, but remaining blessedly upright throughout. The Mighty Zambezi had been merciful.Once through, we looked on at the other raft, which had successfully made it into the lower level but had capsized nonetheless. We made fun of them for being unskilled rafters, but left out how we’d been the unintended beneficiaries of inept navigation.Filled with sailor’s hubris we rounded a bend in the river. The wind was against us now, coming head on. We paddled desperately for all we were worth, and then some. But we went nowhere. Though we were stuck for only a minute or so, it was a stark lesson: you don't get anywhere unless the Mighty Zambezi wills it. That we were able to have any say in our trajectory at all is a small miracle. Though he had misled us into the level-five, our guide was a man of phenomenal skill. He called out Forward!, Left!, Right!, Stop! as if reading the transcript of events that have not yet transpired. It's as if he was looking at a map that is being composed in real time. It was really quite something.At length we parked our watercraft on the river bank. Our rafting trip was over. Any further and we’d careen off the magnificent and never-ending drop of Victoria Falls. But just because the rafting was over didn't mean the activity was. Between us and lunch stood a half-kilometer in vertical ascent up the face of the gorge. What goes down must come up. I don’t think this came as a welcomed development for our colleague C.M.Once at the top of the canyon we ate a lunch of grilled chicken and rice. We drank ice cold Zambezi beer while looking out over the Mighty Zambezi itself, which we had just conquered in our own inconsequential way, an event which will be neither remembered nor acknowledged by the river. Sated by the beers I went to relieve myself in the little bull’s room, as they say in the bush. As I peered over the canyon edge I made my own modest contribution to the flow of the Mighty Zambezi. I reflected on how strange it is that something so grand as the gorge could be architected by a force so unthinking as moving water. Something so stupid with so much power. Sort of like the American government, if you think about it.Later that afternoon we were met outside the compound by a four-wheel-drive safari vehicle. It resembled a large pickup truck, stacked with three rows of canopy-covered stadium seating in the back. Save for us, it was empty. We were shuttled off down an open highway with Zimbabwanese plains sprawling out on either side of us. We felt part of a great expansiveness, alone in the open seating of the truck, the yellowed space unfolding around us. Men, women, and children, rarely all three at once, walked along the side of the road. We turned off the highway and onto a dirt path. No other cars were present, and we made our way through the nascent wilderness at high speed, unsettling a festive commotion of dust in our wake. Soon we were presented at the gates of a compound, the game reserve. Our driver hoped out and a new man swung in. He informed us that he would be our guide and introduced himself as Pressure. He pronounced it Presh-uh. “Like the song,” he said.We ventured forth into the six thousand acre game reserve. The trail through the reserve was a dirt road with two deeply carved ruts through which the vehicle sped along, as if on the track of an Indiana Jones ride. At first the terrain was dense with vegetation. The dimensions of the brush seemed precisely calculated to fit the vehicle. It was like driving under a twelve-foot overpass with a semi that measures in at eleven-foot-eleven. The brush would’ve severed off an extended limb if you’d have given it an opportunity. Sometimes the truck would veer at an angle, tilting to one side, persuaded by the soft dirt, even though it was still moving straight ahead. At seventeen kilometers an hour, we were really bookin' it.Soon enough the jungle opened up into undulating plains of yellowed grass and small clusters of eucalyptus trees. Pressure acted as both driver and spotter. He scanned the landscape. First all the way to the left, then ahead, then ninety degrees to the right. He was looking for animals in the fore and background, as well as signs of animal activity (for example, informatively arranged piles of s**t; to be distinguished from the uninformative variety, of which there were many). The plains were speckled with herds of impala, as common as squirrels in a park. There were scores of dopey little birds running around on the ground. We even passed a duo of lady lions—possibly lesbians—and their kill, which we viewed from a distance.After traversing for a while we stumbled upon a quintet of Zebras. Pressure stalled the vehicle and we watched them admiringly, pondering the evolutionary mystery of their inexplicable stripiness, as well as their pitiful role in the animal kingdom as lion food. One of the Zebras approached her colleague. This caused the targeted zebra, evidently a male, to acquire an erection of prodigious magnitude. It looked like something a SWAT team would use to bust down the door right after the captain yells, ‘Police!’ We had arrived punctually for zebra mating time. The erection inflated with the length and curvature of a long balloon. In full bloom it thumped against the Zebra’s chest. The three of us looked on with zoological interest, as well as that poorly disguised excitement that comes with any act of voyeurism. The zebras were angled in preparation for the male to mount. But just as quickly as he had gotten it up, his erection retreated. The female, sensing performance issues and growing impatient, turned around and stuck her nose in the male zebra's crotch in an apparent inspection of the unit. Dissatisfied, she wandered over to a nearby compatriot and began to inspect his unit as well. Meanwhile the underperforming zebra commenced to scratch his head against a tree, seeming to find more gainful diversion in this activity. The female shivered with desire. The new male however wandered off to an adjacent patch of grass and began to graze. She made another go at the first guy, but he could not be compelled to scratch any itch other than the one on his head. The female huffed off in a fervor of sexual frustration. It was riveting.We went down to the lake to have a drink and enjoy the sunset. Then we heard a call come in on the radio about a rhino sighting. Pressure got on the horn and inquired of its whereabouts. He asked us if we’d rather sit serenely by the lake and watch the sun go down or head off in search of the unfolding spectacle. We hopped in the truck and made off toward the rhino.We got there just as the other cohort was concluding their visitation. Their truck was spilling over with people, some of them hanging off the sides like monkeys. There were two rhinos, a mother and a baby. The rhinos appeared heavy and dense, like granite, like something you could build a bridge out of. Under all this weight they seem to sag, first in their long face culminating in the horn, then in their thorax, which bends from the weight. Their eyes are like black glass marbles. The other car drove off. We were alone with the rhinos, Pressure, Haily, and me. The rhinos came over to have a look at us. Should they have decided to charge us, our open air vehicle wouldn’t have protected us from them any more than it would an incoming Scud missile. My heart beat heavily. I readied myself to record a video of a mother rhino charging our vehicle. Alas, no such footage was captured.It was dark now, and time for dinner. It became bitterly cold and we layered up in blankets provided by Pressure. We were driven to the other side of the reserve and delivered to a covered patio where dinner was prepared, buffet-style. The menu was braai and accoutrement. We took up a table by the fire and called Pressure over to join us. Together we looked up at the foreign constellations of the Southern hemisphere. They weren’t foreign to Pressure, and he illuminated a green beam from his hand into the night sky using a laser pointer. He indicated the constellations which were the most notable and his favorite. I asked, “Pressure, how long have you been guiding?”“Guess,” he replied.“No,” I said.“Guess,” he repeated.“Ten years,” I offered.“That's a long time,” he said. “No, I’ve been a guide for just three.” He went on to explain that he had trained for six years prior to be coming a guide.“That’s a PhD!” I remarked.“And that’s only to be an assistant guide,” he told us. The full thing takes another couple of years getting familiar with a specific reserve. His expertise and passion were clear. He told us how he got into the job because of his love for conservation. We asked if poachers were common.“Quite common,” he said.The most recent had been about two months prior. Even though the guides are constantly monitoring the grounds, it’s still a big place to patrol.After dinner we piled back into the truck and headed back to our compound. As we snuggled up in our blankets, rocketing through the thicketed brush on our way home for another round of brandy, we decided that being a tourist in Real Africa was a pretty sweet deal.Next Episode:Thanks for checking out Season 1 of Notes from the Field. If you’ve enjoyed it, please consider becoming a premium subscriber. I’m trying to do more of this kind of travel writing in the future. But as you can imagine, it’s hard to have these kinds of experiences while also holding down a job. Your subscription goes a long way toward helping me to do that. Use the link below, and you’ll get 50% off an annual subscription. Thanks! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit codykommers.substack.com/subscribe