Leaf-stitching ants

If you are traveling with friends or family members, there are a few things to ask beforehand.

Do you have the same reasons for going? Do you have similar sleeping and rising times? Will you want to see the same attractions? Or does one have to stay in big cities while another wants to white water raft or go rock climbing? If you answer yes to the last question, and you are still determined to share the trip, plan on going your separate ways occasionally. Just check the safety issues, to make sure you get back together as planned. In many countries, you can buy inexpensive cell phones to stay in touch. In South Africa, we found that there was usually only one room key. In St. Lucia, my daughter was sick and wanted to stay in bed for the afternoon and evening, while Brian and I wanted to go on the night tour. She stayed in while we went out, and we borrowed a second key from the manager so that we could come in at midnight without disturbing her.

By the way, the night tour (lighted only by the full moon and the driver's spotlight) to Cape Natal was well worth it -- a baby green chameleon, a herd of cape buffalo (~100), zebra, bushbucks, hippos, bats, a snake eagle and other birds, reedbucks, and leaf-stitching ants -- but I bring it up only because both parties did the right thing. Ronda needed to stay in bed, which was a wise choice, as the bouncing night trip on non-roads would have made her much sicker. Brian and I had a great time. More about animals in a later post.