I’m back. I set foot back into the United States on Sunday at about 11 am. I spent the past 24 days or so on safari deep in the Botswana Bush.

Botswana video!
To give you some idea – a very small idea — of the bush there, here is a brief video I took during a confrontation with an elephant bull. To see the video, please click here.

Here’s another small video — please click here to see it — where a friend and I, were approached by an aggressive elephant bull. I’ll tell you during my next article what ultimately happened here.

Finally here's one of the more amusing photos I snapped, showing elephant bulls at a local watering hole, intrigued by a couple of warthogs — playing leapfrog.


Where babies come from?
While I was gone several listeners of my weekly podcast offered speculations as to what I might be doing in Africa. One even suggested that I should go to Namibia (ala Madonna and Angelina Jolie), adopt a baby or two and sell them on eBay. Of course I would never do such a thing.

Where people prefer meat to money.
As you might imagine the amenities we take for granted here in the United States are often non-existent in Africa. Here cell phones work everywhere, and we can’t imagine being without the basics of running water and electricity. Cell phones rarely work in Africa and quite often – especially in those areas in and around the African bush — there is no running water (at least not drinkable) much less electricity. In fact, in Zimbabwe, most people would rather receive a ration of meat (doesn’t matter what kind) than money.

The Zimbabwe dollar.
During my travels, I’ve learned the currency that is most valued is the United States Dollar. People know that it’s the world’s most stable currency and it can be relied upon as a store of value. This certainly isn’t the case for the Zimbabwe dollar.

You’d be better off with a wooden nickel.
As part of the trip I spent several days in Zimbabwe. On the day I arrived in Victoria Falls, the exchange rate was 65,000 Zimbabwe dollars to one U.S. dollar. During the 24 days I was in Africa the exchange rate soared all the way to 500,000 Zimbabwe dollars to one U.S. dollar and then settled back down to 150,000 Zimbabwe dollars to 1 U.S. dollar.

Price controls backfire.
In an effort to control the raging inflation in Zimbabwe, the government issued strict controls that placed the prices of various staples (like bread, milk, gasoline, etc.) at prices far less than their cost. In response the merchants (what few there are) removed all of these products from sale, so now they simply are not available.

There’s also a lot right about Zimbabwe.
In spite of all of its problems along with warnings from our State Department not to go there, I found Zimbabwe perfectly safe. The people are friendlier and more helpful than just about any place I’ve been. The beauty of the country is incredible. I can’t wait to return.

God Bless the USA.
I was happy to return to the USA so close to the 4th of July – the day we stop and remember all that’s right with our great country. To help commemorate Independence Day GoDaddy.com has created a special salute to America. To see this year's salute — please click here.

Until next time.