In March 2009, we flew via Toronto to New York and then on to Johannesburg with a stop in Dakar, Senegal. It was 6123 kilometres from New York to Dakar and 6707 kilometres from Dakar to Johannesburg. The trip from our home in Ottawa to the hotel in Johannesburg took 30 hours. The trip was indeed a long one, but we were eager to visit Southern Africa. We had read that it was a land of breathtaking natural beauty. We looked forward to seeing the sparkling seas, soaring mountains, wide plains, roaring rivers and, of course, the exotic animals in their natural habitats. This area of the world has a sub tropical climate which is moderated by the oceans. It was a pleasure to exchange the snow and cold of Canada for the warm temperatures of Africa.