So, I’ve compiled a bit of the signs (and other written things I saw in my two months in Africa. Enjoy.
Asked a guy in the grocery store in Cape Town if they had a type of wine called “Pinotage.” He points to a whole wall of this amazing South African wine.More poor people in SA now than under the Afrikaans government. Thanks ANC!The rafting was fun, but terrifying. The hard part was hiking down the canyon wall… and then up it at the end. I thought I would have a heart attack. Took me over an hour to climb up the canyon wall. Never again.Sign along the road near Chobe National Park, Botswana. One day we had to stop due to a herd of elephants crossing the main highway.Sign at the summit of Table Mountain, Cape Town. They get it.We’re not in Napa (or even Temecula). The MOST EXPENSIVE glass of white wine at this amazing winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa is less than 8 bucks!Didn’t know so many people wanted to become Botswanan (sign at the immigration office to enter the country)Quiz time: Bottom row, fifth across? Bottom row, last one? On the side of the hop-on-hop-off bus in Cape Town, South Africa. Answers: Zulu, Kid (simple language for children and public school graduates)Supermarket aisle in Cape Town. A whole aisle of Nuts and Biltong (like jerky-) available in beef, ostrich, kuzu, and warthog)Cafe in Victoria Falls town, Zimbabwe. Ok, very touristy.After two days of complaining about no hot water in my (free- thanks HiltonHonors) room at the Hilton Joburg AND after being told repeatedly that it was fixed, they finally moved me to a room with hot water. Notice the name of the staff member who helped: Beauty. And a nice plate of snacks and a bottle of wine.Tshirt seen at a gift shop at Kruger National Park. What? SA established in 1994? That was the year Mandela was elected, but the country became independent in 1934. Like saying the US became independent in 1865. Nice revisionist history, SAUsipa, a small salted fish (here dried in a bag in the grocery store). It is a staple in Malawi, consumed with the bones and all. Very salty. Like a tiny sardine. Undelicious, IMHO.Placemat at a chain restaurant found in South Africa, Spur. The “Secret Tribe” is their kiddy club- a play on American Indians. Very unPC. http://www.spur.co.za/secrettribe Steak with Monkeygland sauce at the airport was delicious and supercheap.Grocery store, Kesane, Botswana. Some sort of maize (corn) based drink. Let’s all salute the spirit of ubuntu (African term for being nice).in Joburg Int’l airportIn Botswana. Two other nations are just a short drive away.In Joburg. Inside there were couches, rock memorabilia, and classic rock playing. Nice going MickyD’sSAin a parking lot in Lilongwe, Malawi.In the Pieterson Museum, Joburg. Apparently Afrikaans is a “daredevil” language. Daredevil language sounds kinda cool to me.I’m loving my Braai sauce on my McFeast!In my motel room in Vic Falls, Zim. All the normal ones, plus insect repellant. Nice touch. By the way, no bugs when I was there.“Respect and obey the taboos”Typical menu while on my fancy safari. Not too African.Clever marketing at an amusement park in Joburg, Gold Reef City. The colder it gets the cheaper (BTW, $1US= 13 SA Rand). So the MOST expensive ticket is about US$13. About 87 bucks less than Disneyland.Enjoyed delicious Monkeygland sauce! Actually not from a monkey gland at all. Just a delicious barbecue sauce.I scored my ultimate souvenir! My collection of circa 2008 Zimbabwean currency. Bought the bunch on the street in Vic Falls town. US$10 for over Zim$50,000,000,000. Not a bad exchange rate.In Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Rules for how to alight from your car.
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The Adventures of Rafiki Steve 