One of my fondest travel memories to date is going to visit the mountain gorillas. I was fortunate enough to see them in both Uganda and Rwanda. While I understand the controversies surrounding animal tourism, and the risks of habituating these animals (for example, disease), I strongly believe that there are important benefits. In particular, the ability to monitor their health, their populations, their family dynamics, and other characteristics makes habituation incredibly important. 

The first time we visited Namibia, we spent a few days in the Caprivi Strip and in the Caprivi Game Park, also known as the Okavango strip as it's part of the bigger Okavango ecosystem.  To say it's beautiful doesn't really capture the essence of the area. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a visit, particularly in coordination with Chobe National Park or other parts of the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Originally, Germans believed that the Zambezi would lead them to the Indian Ocean, so they decided to claim land surrounding the Zambezi (it's named after Count van Caprivi). Unfortunately, the Zambezi isn't particularly navigable (uh, Vic Falls?), so that didn't work out so well.

In addition to trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) to see the infamous mountain gorillas, we also went chimpanzee tracking in Uganda's Kibale National Park.
 
Unless you get bored of animals really easily (and if that's you, I question why you would be on a trip like this in the first place), the chimpanzees are totally worth a stop. Don't be afraid that they aren't as interesting as the gorillas, or that the two experiences will be too similar: they aren't. First, chimp tracking is much easier (a stroll in the forest, really) than hiking to see the gorillas. And it usually takes less time--we hiked easily 2.5 hours or more to see one of the gorilla groups, and the chimps were a leisurely 45 minutes from drop-off. Second, chimps and gorillas are completely different characters, with different social networks, behaviors, mannerisms, etc. And they are a blast to watch.

For example, did you know that chimps nest each night? They are nesters!  Each night they create a nest in the trees, and in the morning they "de-nest", and spend a lot of their day on the ground, only to return to the treetops to build a new nest for the next night.  They also utilize tools, like sticks for poking out those delicious termites from their holes. 

I'm going to start doing flashback photo Friday posts--past trips, before I started TravelingSaurus.  I love going back through old photos and reminiscing! First up? The Skeleton Coast.

The first time I visited Namibia, I only went to the Caprivi Strip.  Definitely brilliant--tons of wildlife with hippos everywhere!  But there was so much of the country left to visit. So we returned, as a graduation present for my piled-higher-deeper degree in 2011.  There were so many highlights of this trip, from tracking rhinos in Damaraland to seeing the dunes at Soussesvlei.
 
But the Skeleton Coast was just incredible.  Miles and miles of untouched coastline. Some native populations in Namibia called the Skeleton Coast "The Land God Made in Anger"--hundreds of kilometers of arid, unforgiving terrain. 

Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley seem to get all the attention for easy and great snorkeling.  On our last day in Belize, we wanted to have another snorkeling outing (we had been kayaking out to the reef and going on our own), and decided on Mexico Rocks.

It was rainy, windy, and rough.  We weren't sure we would be able to go until the last minute.  As the surf picked up, waves kept crashing over the top of our snorkels.  

But the snorkeling? Amazing.  We were also all alone, in part due to the weather; there wasn't a single other boat at the buoy.   

(I really told you all about the weather conditions to provide an excuse for some of the photos being a bit blurry. It's hard to take great underwater shots while you are being rocked around, clearing your snorkel, and swimming nearly all the time to combat the currents.  And....we also just aren't superior underwater photographers, so there is that.)

So, what really can you see on a single day in Yellowstone? So much!  

• 1. Old Faithful, obviously.  Yes, there are a ton of people. Yes, there are other geysers that are also interesting.  But do you want to miss this iconic site? No.
  
• 2. Drive up to the awesome Fountain Paint Pot.  Unless you think mudpots are boring.  I think mudpots are awesome.  Where else can you see mud splurt , bubble, and burp all over?
  
• 3. Check out Norris Geyser Basin.  In particular, the Porcelain Basin is beautiful, and a great place to take a stroll if you want to stretch your legs.
• 4. The falls.  Just beautiful.  
• 5. Yellowstone Lake.  The views are just stunning, with mountains towering behind the lake.  Also, while we didn't see any, bears are commonly sighted here.

Between these five highlights are beautiful views, lots of geysers that you can pick and choose from, and wildlife! We saw elk and bison on this trip.  It took us about 8 hours to do this loop.  There also wasn't traffic, which should be considered during high season.

So even if you don't have that much time, but you want to see Yellowstone (particularly for those who have been to the park before, do it! It's a wonderful day-trip from Jackson. 

Photos from the day...(some courtesy of dear husband, as I'm cursing my camera that elects to not function properly at opportune moments).

We only had a few days in Wyoming, but dear husband had never been to Yellowstone.  Rather than miss it entirely, we decided to make the most of a full day in the park.  I have been to Yellowstone many times, but not recently (I think it's been 10 years).  You know how sometimes you remember something as a kid so favorably, with rose colored glasses, and then you do it as an adult and it really disappoints?  

Yellowstone National Park is not one of those things.

I loved seeing Old Faithful, one of the biggest mudpots, the geysers, and the wildlife. It was fun to see dear husband hopping out of the car and trying to get good shots of the bison.  I grew up across the road from a bison ranch, and I've seen them my whole life, so while I appreciate their majestic nature...they are...just...not...that...interesting after the first few dozen.  Sorry.

For the record, because it irritates me to no end, husband did not go anywhere near the bison. Or elk. Or any other wildlife.  They give you a special, one page flyer when you enter the park that has this ridiculously cute (but clearly ineffective) cartoon about how you should not approach wildlife.  We made it about two hours in the park before we saw people less than 10 feet away from a bison.  Nothing between them except for grass.  Then another set, standing right beside their car, with the bison directly in front of them.  With small children.  Come on people!  Bison may look slow but I can guarantee they move faster than you. I know this because I just followed you up the path to the geyser.  Brains people. Use them. Or I'll nominate you for a Darwin Award.  Yellowstoneisnotazoo.  End of rant.

We're already thinking about our next trip to Wyoming.  Something about living in a city that makes me ever more appreciative of the wildlife and wilderness I had at my fingertips growing up. 

A trip to Ambergris Caye is never complete without some snorkeling or diving.  One of the most popular spots in Belize, because of its easy accessibility and substantial marine life, is Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  It's a protected area right off the coast of Ambergris Caye.

We went to Belize in January, and while I didn't blog then, Hol Chan and Belize are definitely worth a few throw back posts! Dear husband was gifted a underwater camera for Belize, and it was definitely a treat.  I've never had underwater photos before (even if they are a bit blurry).

We took a tour from Matachica, where we stayed.  The currents aren't bad if you are comfortable in the water, but there were places where constant kicking was required to stay in place.  I would say the deepest water we were in was about 25 feet.  Husband didn't get cold at all, but I'm a total water wimp, and after about 45 minutes my teeth were chattering.  The water temp was reported to be about 79F.

So here is the best of Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley (a specific area of Hol Chan, known for it's population of nurse sharks and rays).  Lots of turtles, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, and nurse sharks!