Jackson Safari Journal

A trip over New Year to see the wildlife in Kenya, especially the elephants. We weren't disappointed, seeing a huge variety of animals including lots of lazy looking lions and whole herds of elephant.
Starting from Nairobi and ending with an unusual (for us) three days relaxation on the coast at Mombasa.
We stayed our first night in the Nairobi Hilton and had a really excellent dinner - homemade tomato soup followed by steak. With only a short time in the city we couldn't really get much impression of it - my journal reads "walked around Nairobi, looks a clean city but many lepers in the market area".
The next day we travelled to the Aberdare Country Club via a tea plantation. We didn't stay long, however, just to leave most of our luggage and move out to the Ark for the night.

The Aberdare Country Club is about two hours drive north of Nairobi and set in the Aberdare National Park. The grounds of the club are beautiful and the horizons seem to stretch forever. There are plenty of different types of primates to be seen including beautiful white-tailed Colobus Monkeys - I think we were quite lucky to see these and they were some of the most beautiful creatures we saw on the whole trip.
The main attraction was a night spent at the Ark where there is a watering hole and salt lick, and if you're lucky animals will come and you can get good close-up views. We stayed up most of the night and were rewarded with sights of water buck, lots of African Buffalo and a  lone rhinoceros, plus billions of "bally moths" as one of our fellow travelers put it! This was an escorted group of twelve, split into two mini-buses whose roofs lifted up for the game drives.
(to be continued)

Koper - Historical Coast Town

Koper is the largest and most important city in Slovenian Istria. The city was greatly changed throughout history, but kept important role in the area, which is also felt through all the different names Koper has had through years.

Today Koper represents the administrative, educational, cultural, industrial and tourist center in the area and it is the most important Slovenian port.

The most important highlights:

* Muda Gate,

* Prešeren Square with a famous fountain.

* Tito Square, one of the most beautiful central squares from Dubrovnik to Venice with many important and beautiful buildings,
the Cathedral with great architecture outside and inside,

* Kidričeva Street with interesting facades and palaces.

* And last, but not least: the Promenade represents the main meeting point of locals and tourist and it is one of the liveliest areas of Koper.

Mursi 3 Mursi women

The Mursi women paint their bodies and face in white.  They also are the ones who wear the lip plates. Women of the Mursi tribe may have their lips cut at the age of 15 or 16.  A small clay plate is then inserted into the lip.  Through the years, larger plates are inserted into the lip causing it to stretch.  The larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married.  It is said that the clay plates were originally used to prevent capture by slave traders.  Although very unique and part of their tradition, the Mursi women only wear the plates for a short time because they are so heavy and uncomfortable.
(to be continued) 
photos: Janin  

Mursi People 2

The religion of the Mursi tribe is classified as Animism, although about 15% are Christians. The Mursi women are famous of wearing plates in their lower lips. The reason of this "ornament" is for avoiding to be catched as slaves. These lip discs are made of clay. Girls are pierced in the age of 15 or 16. They remove the plate when eating. Similar body ornaments are worn by the Suyá people, a Brazilian tribe.
The Mursi or Mursu people are the most popular in Ethiopia's Omo Valley.  They are well known for their unique lip plates.  They are settled around the Omo River and in the Mago National Park.  Due to the climate, they move twice a year between the winter and summer months.  They herd cattle and grow crops along the banks of the Omo River.
(to be continued)
photos: Janin 

Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle

This amazing tour will take you to the Postojna Cave system, located in picturesque Karst Region.

This is unique opportunity to explore the subterranean filled with natural surprises. Enter the mysterious, 20 km long cave system with many great underground galleries and halls. Magnificent cavernous halls with impressive sculptures will take your breath away.

Part of the visit will be done by an electric train and the rest as a walking tour, approx. 1,5 hours.

The temperature in the cave is around 10°C. So, walking shoes and a jacket are recommended.

Predjama Castle, fairy tale Castle perched on a hillside at the mouth of a gaping cavern , a Renaissance gem built in the mouth of a cave.

Predjama Castle — a mysterious, 800-year-old landmark perched impregnably at the mouth of a hillside cave, the largest cave-castle in the world.

See the dungeon, the armory and richly furnished rooms, and learn the legend of Erasmus, the Slovenian rebel associated with the castle.

Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic River Lokva, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle.

The undoubtedly most famous of all castle inhabitants was the knight Erazem of Predjama, who rebelled against the imperial autocracy in the 15th century. Nowadays Erazem is the main protagonist of numerous legends, which on the one hand glorify him as a passionate, handsome, noble knight, while on the other hand he is described as a bandit and a robber baron, who eventually breathed his last, killed by cannon balls, while in the toilet.

Visitors will learn about the history of the castle and its former owners in the front tower. In other parts of the castle the equipment includes a selection original items, as well as replicas and models. The room with the most opulent equipment is the knight’s room; the castle life in the late Gothic period is presented to visitors in the dining room. The Renaissance hall on the third floor is where hunting trophies of the last castle owner, the Windischgrätz Prince, are exhibited.

Tickets:

Postojna Cave: 25.80 EUR

Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle: 35.70 EUR

Discount for students and children.

Omo Valley 2

Some of the animals that you will find there are the Bitis Arietans (venomous snake), crocodiles and hippopotamuses. The two main national parks in Omo Valley are the Omo National Park and the Mago National Park which are home to the majority of the wildlife in the valley.
The Omo River runs through the valley and empties into Lake Turkana. The river is an important resource and without it the tribes and animals in Southern Ethiopia would not survive. In 2006 work began on the Gibe III dam. The dam will block part of the Omo River which experts state will impact the ecosystem, tribes and animals that live in the valley.
(to be continued)
photos: Janin

Ethiopia Omo Valley

Omo Valley is undoubtedly one of the most unique places on earth because of the wide variety of people and animals that inhabit it. It is located in Africa's Great Rift Valley. The region is known for its culture and diversity.
The tribes that live in the lower Omo Valley are believed to be among the most fascinating on the continent of Africa and around the world. Tours are offered to several towns and villages. It is often you come into contact with the following tribes: Arbore, Ari, Bena, Bodi, Bumi, Daasanech (Geleb), Dorze, Hamer (Hamar), Kara (or Karo), Konso, Kwegu (or Muguji), Mursi, Tsemay, and Turkana when you tour the valley.

It is estimated that the Omo Valley is home to over 200,000 tribal people. Among the ancient African tribes that live in the southern part of Ethiopia, there is a wide variety of wildlife as well. 
(to be continued)
photos: Janin