Prepping for Africa - Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe March/April 2017

I can hardly believe that it has already been two years since my first trip to Africa. In 2015 I went to Africa with three girlfriends. We flew from JFK (New York City) to Johannesburg where we caught a flight to Maun, Botswana. Chris, from Machaba Camp (and also a friend), picked us up and drove us in the jeep to camp. It was raining when we got there and I was terrified that we were about to spend the entire trip soaked. 

During approx. two hour drive from Maun to camp we saw hippopotamus, giraffe, and zebra! We weren't even technically ON safari yet (in my mind). I was so excited and found myself starring into the bush and straining my eyes trying to will a animal to come into focus!

Last trip we stayed at Machaba camp the entire safari portion of our trip (here is also their Facebook page). This camp and the staff are amazing. So much so, we are headed back in our upcoming trip. We'll be splitting our time this trip between Machaba camp and Meno camp (we have not visited this one before - here's their FB page) - both located in the Okavango Delta. 

I am so fortunate to be sharing this experience with my Momma this year. She really wants to visit an authentic village African village. I know that Chris and his Machaba team will be able to accommodate.

After our time in Botswana we're headed to Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe (last trip to Africa we went to Cape Town - separate blog entry, coming soon). This will be the first time either of us visit Victoria Falls, and I can't be more excited. We have a packed itinerary, including: dinner cruise, walk with Lions safari, Rhino safari, Victoria Falls giant freefall and swing, and more! 

I am looking forward to sharing this experience with all of you! I'll be taking several photos and videos while we're there. Follow my Instagram (@Clt_queencity) for live photo updates as I can make them.

Have suggestions or questions about my upcoming trip to Africa?! I'd love to hear them!

What's in a name...

I am not sure where to start. A blog is a big commitment, especially with having a full time "adulting" job and big travel goals. However, I read a blog recently by a a truly inspiring young man who has traveled to most of our 197 countries, and the kicker? He earned over a million dollars doing it, by blogging. This discovery first sent me into shock and awe that his passion for travel and exploration of cultures led him to become a millionaire, and I became abundantly jealous of his lifestyle at his age...as I sit at my corporate job waiting for my next corporate meeting, that will likely result in a follow-up meeting about the meeting, about the meeting we will surly have next week to talk about next steps...all the while dreaming of my next passport adventure. I lost you after I mentioned that he earned a million dollars by blogging, didn't I? Here's his blog.

I guess before I get into it, I should introduce myself. I am currently living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I've lived all over the U.S., and had short-term living stints in the United Kingdom and Spain. And many other travel adventures, that I'll get into in a later blog. I work for one of the largest global financial institutions, headquartered here in Charlotte, in our Marketing and Communications organization and am very fortunate to love my job (most of the time), and the people I work with (much of the time), and the business partners that I support (...yep). Apart from loving my job, teammates and business partners (wink), my job affords me the life-style that I love and the travel that I crave.

Friends and family have told me to start a blog for some time now. Capturing travel experiences through photography and video has become an expectation from me, even on short weekend jaunts. So, here we go...

Lets start with the name. As I mentioned before, I love to travel. But I do. I love love love to travel. I love everything about it. Researching destinations all over the world. Planning. Airports. The excitement of the countdown. Trying to make the custom agent smile (ha!), the sound of the passport stamp, the feel of newly exchanged money, sites I've never witnessed with my own eyes, and the smell and taste of food that are unfamiliar. When I was brainstorming what I wanted the name of my blog to be, I jotted down things that I love about travel...here's part of my list: passports, adventure, wide-eyed, exploration, compass, map, senses. I started playing around with them. I looked up pictures of the compass: North, South, East, West - 4 points. I was also told not to be too specific...well, talking about everything that stimulates the 5 senses certainly does not limit my blogging topics. So, there it is. Welcome. This is 4Points5Senses for the places I want to go, and the things I want to experience - no limitations.

I hope you'll come along on my journey. I am still learning and look forward to improving my site, and posting my past adventures...as we count down to the next adventure. First in May - Playa del Carmen, then in April 2017 - back to Africa!

On top of Table Top Mountain, South Africa - Cheers to loving life, and it loving you right back!