Namibia Wilderness Safaris visit

Three properties - Little Kulala near Naukluft; Damaraland Camp and; Ongava Lodge near Western Etosha. Flights between them were in tiny Cesena 210s and Caravans, the last leg scary as the landing gear didn't lock and we were told by a tense pilot to prepare for a possible collapse of the undercarriage.

Kulala good except for the fishbowl suites being too hot, Damaraland run by Maggie, a force of nature and Ongava saw the Night of the Bugs after the first rains of the season. Etosha empty of animals in the west, much to the chagrin of Evelyn the Complainer. In fact, German octo-tourists everywhere.

The dunes the highlight again, especially Dead Pan, a first for me. And meeting slightly weird, wonderful moustached Stefan and quiet Marion Rossen, Porsche dealers here for the launch of the latest 911. 

Kenya October visit

An invitation to the first travel Indaba in Kenya was followed by visits to the Mount Kenya area (the mountain itself frustratingly covered in cloud) and Malindi, on the coast, very Italian, very odd, iffy diving but great lodge (Flavio Briatore's Lion in the Sun).

Kenya less interesting than I remember - very crowded, bureaucracy overload, traffic insane and even the lodges and attractions looking and feeling a mite tired (other than Lion in the Sun). There's a chance of a story on the islands of Lake Victoria.