Angola – peaceful after years of wars is still hard-to-get destination. Luanda where I landed is quite nice city – at least regarding the centre. It has charming, palm-fringed corniche, some nice colonial buildings and… photo – phobia. Do not try to take the camera off your bag!
It is probably the result of the war…
Luanda is also very expensive to stay – taxi ride is like 20 USD, hotel prices start at 90 USD per day per room and it is difficult to get accommodation. Look for the friend to stay!

400 km east of Luanda lies Malanje – the capital of the province. Water and electricity shortages, sometimes no petrol, bumpy roads but very nice and hospitable people.
I went trere to see Calandula Falls – the biggest ones in Angola. It is still 70 km by bumpy road. But it was worth the effort – the are fantastic! More then 100 meters high, with big load of water! Unforgetable experience!

I found it very convenient – it is door-to-door service opserating between backpackers hostels…

Back by air in South Africa I drove to the famous Kruger National Park. I spent there 2 days sleeping in the camp, expecting a lot from professional guides. Sorry the Park (one of the biggest in Africa) is well organized but in comparison to the parks in Tanzania, Kenia and Zimbabwe I saw little animals and almost all of them from the long distance…. Maybe it was the question of luck… Better go to Ngorongoro!

There is a king. He has 9 legal wives and two brides… Can you believe? In the peaceful country I stayed in the Sondzela hostel located in the game park close to the capital – Mbabane. There were plenty of wild animals around and… long walk to the nearest bus stop… But the main attraction of my visit in the Kingdom was folk dance competition – just amazing 4-hours spectacle in the open- air amphitheatre….

There is a place in South Africa worth to recommend: Inkosana Lodge in Central Drakensberg. Friendly, well maintained, with beautiful view of 3000 m-high peaks. I was so sorry to stay there only 2 nights… I took mountain walks to the level of 2100 m – I did not expected that baboon monkeys live on this altitude… Beautiful panoramas, flowers, birds, silence … but the weather is very changeable – take your raincoat even if the sun is shining… To get there take a BazBus to Winterton or Greyhound to Eastcourt and then african minibus-taxi as I did…

After 9-hours flight with South African Airlines (recommended, but sometimes they depart ahead of the schedule) I landed in Perth.
I expected lower temperatures then in Africa but it was 31 Celsius in the shade!
It is beautiful city located on the bank of Swan River. Only few old buildings but skycrapers in the center are very impressive.
I took the boat to Freemantle – 50-min sail where more historical buildings waits for photographer…

I rented the car in Perth and I drive north visiting first of all national parks – the pride of this country. Beautiful landscapes, heat, kangaroos,
few tourists, nice – easy going and helpful people. Warm Indian Ocean – just like the paradise, but dear Lord – just few centigrades less for tomorrow please!…
We just returned from Kalbarri National Park – what a fantastic cliffs and gorges. Unfortunately there is tropical cyclone coming to our area – I hope it won’t be strong….

Still in Western Australia… Did you hear about Ningaloo Reef? They compare it to the Great Barrier Reef…
Yes, it is amazing – regarding the size of coral gardens, number of fish and… small number of tourist visiting this area. ….
First I took glass bottom boat, then snorkeling
on the reef – just great experience!
Tomorrow we will drivie to Kariniji National Park
– even further north. Uff todays temperature:
38 in the shadow – I believe there will not be
more then 40!!!

We visited Karijini National Park. Access by 4WD vehicle – the one day tour organized by the agency from Tom Price is expensive but it takes full day and you drive almost 290 km. The gorges in Karijini are 100-150 m deep and very picturesque but suprisely narrow – do not expect anything like Grand Canyon. There are impessive, cool pools in the gorges you can swim – great experience in a hot day!