Speaker Chris Tamm
Posted
on Aug 22, 2014
Experiencing Africa's Wildlife, Bushmen, and Culture 
Our guest speaker, Chris Tamm, and his wife, Barbara, spent six weeks on Safari in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. The word of the day is Antipodes, the part of the world that is diametrically opposite.
Tamm, member of the Hilo Club and former owner of Bay Lighting, and Barbara emigrated to Hawaii from the former Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Chris showed pictures of the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers, and the confluence of the two.
While in Botswana, they stayed at the LImpoa Lodge and visited the Mashatu Game Reserve. There Chris saw his favorite animal, the African elephant, and his second favorite , the giraffe. They also saw cheetahs, spotted hyenas, zebras, ostrichs, blue wildebeast, kudu, impala, eland (they are delicious), Maribou storks, white storks, warthogs, and an English bulldog. Botswana is also famous for the Great Zebra Migration.
In Namibia, they went to Etosha Pan National Park and stayed at Etosha Village Camp. While on safari there, they saw springboks, hartebeests, gemsboks, black rhinos, and darker colored giraffes. They also experienced the Sossusvlei Sand Dunes. Chris mentioned it was extremely difficult walking up the dunes.
They stayed at Desert Camp Lodge and experienced a BBQ Dinner called Braaivleis. They also visited Skeleton Coast and the Namibia Desert. Chris explained how the Skeleton Coast got its name, with ships and sometimes, real skeletons being found off the coast. There are two currents that meet of the coast, the Angola and Benguela currents.
They also visited Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town has the Cape of Good Hope or "The Fairest Cape of All". The Cape of Good Hope was discovered by Sir Francis Drake in 1580. Chris showed pictures from Cape Town, the tranquil rivers/mountains, and beautiful homes. Chris also recommended to try the outstanding wines that are produced in South Africa!
Baie Dankie!