Travelin' Road Show

Sunday, May 4, 2014

May 4th - Second and third Safari Drives.

May 4th - Second and third Safari Drives.

5:30am... beautiful misty morning

Not sure .... small Tawny Eagle???

One of Janice's Favourite photo's

So peaceful

Bunch of vultures in a row.. jungle book??

It seems strange that we are woken at 5am, but to see the African bush resplendent with big game, one is obliged to rise with the sounds of the female lions roaring in the valley below the camp. They make quite a racket. We had a quick cuppa, seeing a Cape buffalo wandering past the lodge as we sipped. Heading out on our game drive, there were only 4 of us, and our guide Don and tracker, Judas. Sunrise was spectacular at around 6:30 am... lots of Wildebeest and Impala out this morning, followed by sightings of Kudu (we never really did get the difference between Kudu and Inyala)... Then we came across a bunch of Rhinos grazing very close to the vehicle... the birds (oxpeckers) that are riding on them (actually help them, as they eat the parasitic insects that are sucking the blood from the rhinos, which could eventually kill them!! It was fascinating watching the birds peck away at termites

Untouched... morning sunrise

Male Impala

Female Impalas

The colours are stunning in the morning

Another of Janice's Favourites -untouched no effects

Another of Janice's favourites... a Wildebeest

Another wild beast!!

right inside the rhinos' ears... charming!!! The rhinos wandered so close to us we could have touched them... Janice held her breath for quite a while!! After the rhinos... we came across a small herd of Zebra... will the wonders of this amazing place ever cease??? Our tracker proved to be a dab-hand with a machete, when the vegetation impeded our progress!!! We both thought Braden would have been in his element!!!! Stopping for a snack and a coffee... we were delighted to be treated to 'ranger coffee' ... Amarula instead of milk... (akin to Baileys.... South African Style). After our snack we headed off again and Janice spotted (first I might add) a huge elephant in the distance ... further up we saw a small group of female elephants. Don reversed back to see that the huge elephant was a bull elephant in 'must'... ie: he was the male elephant version of a dog in heat. Apparently they can be in must for many months, constantly dripping from it's penis, giving him a wet back leg, losing hundreds of litres each day, a big headache and pretty aggressive. He lumbered toward us and we got some great photos. It was a little scary, but we were also in awe as this massive animal came so close and then crossed the track in front of our vehicle... a moment we will never forget. Still reeling from the sights we had seen, we happened on a large family (11 in total) of Giraffe, after taking tons of photos we headed back to camp and spotted a number of baboons en route.... WHAT an amazing drive.

Wildebeest

Nose in the mud... beauty treatment no doubt

Breakfast followed ... fresh fruits etc and a lovely omelet. We lounged around and generally enjoyed our surroundings and catching up on the blog sitting by our plunge pool on the deck... when suddenly a huge baboon (3-4ft tall) leapt up onto our deck and stared at us... we both jumped out of our skin... Janice ran into the room and closed the door, while Derek chased him away up over the roof. We just settled down again when thump... there he was again... another dive inside and Derek chased him along the deck and round the back of our unit.... whew!!! Don had mentioned on the drive that the baboons can be pretty aggressive! No match for Derek though who was impressively brave!!

Oxpecker birds eat parasites.. save animals lives

"I SAID...........!!!!!!!"

CHARGE!!!! ... Not really

They got much closer... sniffed the Land-rover

Munch munch... ignore them they'll go away!!!

Wildebeest right by the rhinos!!

After a delicious lunch on the main deck, we met once again for our afternoon game drive and Don was intent on finding a Leopard, which would complete our 'big five' ... We did see some Rhino and elephant, but didn't stop long as we had to go quite a distance to where Don had heard there may be a leopard out hunting. After dark we got lucky and spotted a leopard, assisted to the location over the radio by another ranger. We then picked up another guest who the lodge had driven out to the area we were in (Geoffrey) and went back to track the leopard, which we did for about 30 minutes as he stalked a small herd of Impala. I couldn't get any really good photos as the leopard was moving and we were seeing hiom through the headlights and a spotlamp. We didn't see him attack, but it was still a very exciting and unique experience. We were very haoppy to have seen all of the big five... the rest is a bonus. The great thing about being outside of the government controlled area of Kruger Park, is that the land-rovers are free to drive off the dirt tracks, into the bush and get up close and personal to the animals. Even the Lions see the vehicles as no threat, so they continue to graze, keeping a watchful eye on us... for some reason they do not associate the land-rovers with 'food'... thank goodness. If only they knew how easy it would be to pluck any one of us out of our open, roofless, windowless vehicle!!!!! On the way back to camp we spotted a crocodile, mouth wide open trying to catch food in the running water... very interesting! Back at camp after a shower and change we headed to the Boma again for dinner (Boma stands for British Officers Mess Area)... the officers had a fire to keep them safe from the animals during the first war. We were treated to some traditional South African tribal dancers and once again had a gourmet meal under the brilliant stars of the African sky. Another fabulous day.

On your marks, get set.....!!!

I am not sure leaning back will help D.

Ignore 'em billy!!! (Oxpeckers)

Not great camouflage

They are quite stunning in the wild

Him again

Judas having fun getting through the bush!

Old termite hill with a hyena den in it

Majestic tawny eagle

Ranger coffee - in the morning break!

David, Anna, Don, Judas, Derek Taking a break

Don, Judas and Janice

The elephant Janice spotted ... big guy in 'must'

We had this photo put on canvas!- Love it!

I'm watching you!!!!!

Our shadow as he approached!

He crossed behind us!

Wooly necked stork

Meanwhile the Giraffes ......!!

They look weirdly pre-historic

Baboon late for lunch!!

Breakfast after the drive... fabulous

SO GOOD!!!

Bath time!!

Our deck and plunge pool!

Female Nyala

More rhino...Getting old hat now!!!

He's coming!!!

Impala

Another glorious African sunset

Time to go back to camp

There is a Leopard in there... so Judas says

And then he moved

He took off like a bullet.. after some game!

Stalking again!

Sleep well!

Crocodile hiding in the river

Dinner and dancing in the Boma

Another great night in the African bush!

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Sat May 3rd - Birthday and Safari

Happy Birthday Girl

Janice was woken to a quick off-key round of 'happy birthday' from her sweetie... followed by a total surprise champagne breakfast in the gardens by the pool in the sunshine. much more 'in tune'!!!! What a way to start what would become the most magical day anyone could imagine.

Breakfast with a flair

Londolozi here we come

Our Chariot to Sabi Sands awaits

At Nelspruit airport

The bumpy LONG road to Londolozi

After breakfast we packed quickly and were whisked by the Africa Sky driver to the airport... he helped check us in and after a very short time we were boarding our small Jet for the 50 minute total flight to Nelspruit Airport. We were met by a rep from GAP tours and off we went for the 2 hour drive to Sabi Sands Game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. While the first 1 1/2 hours was smooth and interesting as we passed villages and markets ... taking note of the large number of roadside vendors selling oranges, avocados and macadamias, the last half hour was something I will always remember as a moving mechanical massage!!! a dirt road stretching about 27 km ... and I mean a bumpy, rocky road to paradise. We arrived at the Londolzi Lodge Varty camp... let the adventure begin!!!! Neither words nor photos can adequately describe this place in the middle of the African wilderness. Thatch-roofed accommodations, a massive deck for lounging or sharing a drink, a quiet pool and outdoor dining area. Sounds of lions, and other animals in the air. Our host, Will showed us around and introduced us to the staff and our ranger Don, over a glass of champagne to celebrate my birthday (I could get used to this!!) Will showed us to our room and we were once again blown away. Exquisite room with a huge deck.. a bath with a window looking over the deck and wilderness beyond. The deck has two sitting areas and plunge pool. Sitting on the bed was a wrapped birthday gift from the lodge... a beautiful wrap/scarf.

Almost there!

The Main deck at the lodge

Welcome to Londolozi - champagne

Cheeky monkeys by our room

Happy B'day Janice - at the gate!!

We were instructed to keep a high latch on our doors as the local monkeys knew how to open the sliding doors and take off with clothes, snacks, bedding etc etc... After Will left we walked onto the deck to see a whole bunch of grey monkeys approaching... one making a leap onto the railing ... I ran to close the sliding door and the monkey ran off... whew!!! We cleaned up and headed for 2:30pm lunch and 3:30 Safari drive. I had asked Don during orientation if we might see an elephant. As we walked toward our Landrover... there was Don grinning and pointing toward the road, where a whole family of elephants were feeding and crossing the road in front of us. I was so taken aback... he just said... Happy Birthday Janice!! There were five of us for this drive ... Dave (New York) and his Mum, Anna (LA) and Marie (Paris)... with our guide, Don and tracker Judas... off we went into the bush... hopes high. We were not disappointed. Our 2-3 hour drive, broken up with a cocktail and appetizers by a watering hole, was more than we could ever imagine. Starting with the elephants we managed to track down more elephants, wildebeest, nyala, kudu, hippos and crocodile, impala, steenbok and a pride of 6 lions... not to shabby for a first day on Safari. Sunset was incredible and the clarity of the moon and stars at night is such that one could imagine Vincent Van Gogh in his element!!!

Don and elephant poo!!

Elated and totally in awe, we headed back to camp, seeing a hippo out of the water crossing the road in front of our Land rover. We freshened up and joined our guide and other Safari guests at the Boma area for a dinner, surrounded by fires and candles and the sounds of birdcalls and and animals from the surrounding wilderness.
How can I possibly do justice to this day's experience with words?... Truly magical and awe inspiring.