Africa

Hi, we had a good three days in Capetown, we took the hopon hopoff bus, two day ticket, and went up Table mountan, with beautiful weather, clear skies, not much wind, in other words perfect conditions for the Gondola. We queued for ages, along with half the QM 2 crowd! Who we kept seeing all over the place. not surprising as about 1500 aussies got of in Cape Town! It was very convenient our accommodation as we were walking distance to the Va wateront. i was determined to find a clothing shop that I spent up in 3 years ago, and after much diligence i found it, VA has grown since I was there so I felt quite pleased with myself. Unfortunately they didn't really have anything very different om what I already had so I left it. but it was a good shop as all the clothes are made in south Africa. Then it was an early mornung pick up to get to the air port for the next adventure. A quick flight to Nelspruit, and the kruger Airport, and a pick up by a chatty driver, an ex Kruger park gui, now freelancing. It was good having him cause he told us lots of little details about what to expect and why things were done just so. So we arrived abiut 3pm , were shown to our chalet/ room. Thatched, big beds, mossie nets, huge bathroom, and large (uncomfortable) chairs. A quick freshen up, even quicker unpack and then afternoon tea and off n the jeeps for our first game drive! WOW!!! 3 lionesses and 7 cubs with a Kudu (antelope) killed very recently hours earlier! We parked about 10 feet away!!! OMG!!! They were tearing into it and totally oblivious to us, all frantically taking photos as fast as we could. Evebtually we dragged ourselves away and went searching out more game. Elephant 1, lots of Impala these are the carnivores food! Wildebeast, Kudu, this time alive. Our driver heard about a leopard but we couldn't find it. That was the end of Day 1. Day 2 began with a wakeup call on our door at 5 am, brekky by 5.30 and of in the jeep by 6 ish. Ve chilly and of course open vehicles, so the wind whistled through you as we drove.First up we found the leopardes up a tree with her cb strolling around on the ground with her kill, an Impala, just near by. We parkd almost nder h! It was gobsmackingly amazing, words can't describe it. We all took a million photos, there were 6 of us in the jeep at this drive, could seat 9/10. Next a herd of zebra, very close, elephants (plural) with babies, they were so cute, Hippos in the water, rocodile. e drove quite a long way, and passed by Richard Branson's place, which is nex door to Inyati, where we were. i think at this stage I have died and gone to heaven! Just fabulous, our driver and tracker were very good, once you start with a driver you stay with him for the length of your stay. Ours had been together for about 15 years and could almost ad each others minds. They discussed sightings etc in their native (?) Language, but we always found something. People left and more arrived, so your companions on the drives were frequently changing, evidently the average say is 3 days but we were there 4 and I would have enjoyed longer by at least another day. 4 West australians arrived and joined "our " jeep. One was an ex MP for applecross and lived a coupe of blocks om Rob and Carol, they were a group of two friends and a couple. Afternoon drive we saw more Elephants, up ally close with babies, very protective, One gave a mock charge, and then baby did the same it was so funny, A it nerve wracking when you are the one sitting on the outsi edge and are about 6 feet away. Thoe tusks look mighty big! Next off to a sandy river bed and there were our lionesses with their cubs all sprawled out in the hade with the cubs having a great time. Next 3 white rhinos, in a group near an airstrip, as we photographed them we heard a plane engine, and over he rise came a cessna, taxiing, needless to say, it turned and began its takeoff a goodway down the strip, luckily it was a down hill take off! A herd of Cape Buffalo, was the finale of another perfect day. We had very strict instructions re the vehicle, we couldn't stand up or hang out the sides, we were costantly dodging thorny bushes as we drove, mobile phones coujld be used for photography, but had to be turned off for calls/texts etc. The animals a now used to the presence of the jeeps, have learnt that they are no thrat to them and know their "profile" this is why we coldn't stand up as it could alert the animal that it was somethhing different. Evintly when a new park is commenced it takes quite a long time for the animals to get used to the jeeps and of course they run away, but after a bit, they become used to the presence. Still it is pretty dangerous and you sign your life away with waivers etc!