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Victoria Falls is a spiritual experience.

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14 July 2018

Chobe National Park, Botswana - A Sprawling African Oasis

Established in 1967, Chobe National Park spans over 11,700 square kilometers of northern Botswana. It’s one of the most biologically diverse places in Africa, home to everything from tiny king fishers to massive elephants. Chobe is famous for its massive herds of elephants (thanks to military protection from poachers), that can easily be found frolicking in the River or marching through the forest. The park is also home to other game such as warthog, impala, kudu, water buck, buffalo, rolly polly hippos, long-legged giraffes, several bird species, elusive leopards, and lions.

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Kamalu: A Photography Study

I’ve been volunteering with African Impact/Lion Encounter for a week now, and Kamalu, a twelve month old male, is by far the most photogenic of the four lions at Masuwe. He’s a complete and total ham, and has the most fantastic facial expressions. It also helps that he is already forming a mane that is much larger than his brothers’ mohawks, even larger than his half brother, Shaka, who is six months older. 

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1 July 2018

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Wild Horizons’ Victoria Falls Canopy Tour provides breathtaking views of the Zambezi River rapids/gorge, the VF bridge, and even the spray from the Falls is visible. There are nine zip lines, ranging in length from about 40 - 80 meters. The lines range up and down the gorge, but only goes about a third of the way down it. It’s truly incredible to go sliding through the canopy trees, and to slide over the mighty Zambezi river chugging and churning along beneath you. 

Victoria Falls National Park - Wild Horizons Elephant Sanctuary & Orphanage, Zimbabwe

There’s nothing more awe inspiring than to be face to face with an elephant. While the younger ones are playful (and sometimes a little naughty), the adults radiate a power and majesty that commands awe and respect. Their skin provides the most interesting sensation - while it is wrinkly, it’s neither rough nor soft but somewhere in the middle. An absolutely fascinating trait is that elephants actually have a dominant side, just like people. When grabbing branches with their trunks, they cut it with either their left or right tusk, and whichever one they use is their dominant side. 

From the moment they are released from the stables and until their return, the elephants are under the watchful eye of a care taker team that ensures their safety and rehabilitation. The ultimate goal of the Sanctuary is to release these magnificent creatures back into the wild, in the meantime they will continue to roam the Sanctuary and act as ambassadors to ensure the protection of their species.

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3 June 2018 Azores Archipelagos - Pico Island Short-beaked common dolphins chasing our boat during our whale watching tour.

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1 June 2018 Azores Archipelagos- São Miguel • Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul • Termas da Ferraria

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31 May 2018 Azores Archipelagos - São Miguel • Nordeste • Ponta da Madrugada

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30 May 2018

Azores - São Miguel • Baía de Santa Iria • Poca da Beija, Furnas • Ponta Delgada (x2)

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A very special Spaceship Earth Sunday 🌐

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Biscayne National Park

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Parc national du Mont-Orford, Orford QC

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About last night 😍

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Brief video I made about climate change for Ecotourism & Sustainable Tourism Management class!

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“Another concern that I have, that isn’t often discussed, is the human perspective on the ocean and planet as a whole. While I would like to believe that everyone deeply cares for the environment, since that’s what I do and what most of my friends/colleagues believe (since we tend to surround ourselves with likeminded people), I know this is not the case. For centuries now, the human population has used and abused this planet, taking everything useful and using what isn’t as a dumping ground (especially the ocean and waterways). We have “landfills” – read “garbage dump sites” – that we dump our waste in, cover up, turn into a park and say that it is fixed when really it’s a mound of chemicals that will never go away. We have plastic islands in our oceans bigger than the state of Texas. (Texas is a massive state – have you ever driven across it? It takes FOREVER.) Humans have driven species to extinction and depleted habitats for what? A new piece of furniture? Fear of that species? Sometimes not even fear, it was just sheer neglect because no one cared. It’s only when the system starts to collapse, because it is a truly interconnected system that needs all the pieces running smoothly, do people take notice, that they sit up and pay attention. It’s only when the sh*t well and truly hits the fan, that we try to backpedal and fix it. Humans are a truly single-minded species, focusing solely on their own wants and needs, with little to no regard to how it may affect someone or something else or what damages it might cause. Until the human mindset changes, until more people focus on how their activities affect the oceans and the rest of the planet, nothing will truly change or improve.” 

Part of my response to an assignment in my Ecotourism & Sustainable Tourism Management for Coastal Habitat & Marine Protection class regarding personal concerns that impact coastal habitats and marine environments. (Photos are from my trip to Alaska back in 2014.)

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Got to run through both parks this morning as part of the Star Wars 10K. The parks are gorgeous all lit up. ❤️

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All I wanted for my birthday today was to finish the #WineDineHalf in under 3 hours, I didn't even care if I finished in 2:59:59. Apparently third time is the charm; I not only beat the 3 hour goal, I beat my PR time by 20 minutes, and finished in 2:51:59. • You can do absolutely anything if you set your mind to it, don't you let anyone tell you differently.

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I'm just gonna stay right here, buried in Chewbacca's fur, forever. ❤️