Dale Zurawski
Africa
1 July 2026-?
At 70-years-old, now is the time to travel. We are still healthy, the kids are all doing fine, and we have no grandchildren that need babysitting. I started a travel journal. The first page is titled:
Travel Philosophy
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Be flexible - where, when, and how long are to be decided along the way.
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Cost of no obstacle - sorry, kids, but we might spend every penny we have enjoying ourselves.
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Experience culture - top goal
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Go at a relaxed pace
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Freedom - To stay or go whenever we choose.
First stop Kigali, Rwanda. We arrive 1 July after a short stay in Madrid to visit with Tad, Diana, and her parents. We have until 11 July when our trip with National Geographic starts. The dark area in the map of Africa shows Rwanda. It is a tiny country sandwiched between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Ebola Outbreak
Rwanda shares a border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Just north of Uganda is South Sudan. A month before we leave, the US has closed its borders with all three countries because of the Ebola outbreak. On average, Ebola has a 50% mortality rate; this particular type has no vaccine or treatment, and there have been over 130 deaths so far. The carriers of Ebola include monkeys and Gorillas. Visits to see both up close are on our itinerary. National Geographic recommends we check the Department of State's website for updates.