| When I woke up in the early morning hours at | | | | to sink my teeth into one of Sindiwe, the |
| the Elephant Game lodge, it wasnt with the | | | | cooks, homemade game pies. She really knew |
| peaceful serenity that I expected. Oh no, it | | | | how to make it just right and resisted my |
| was with the sound of an elephant trumpeting | | | | pleas to share her secret recipe for the |
| as they were coming to the nearby waterhole | | | | perfect gravy. |
| for their early morning drink. | | | | |
| | | | After eating my fill, I too, like a typical |
| Now although I should count myself lucky to | | | | lion, could feel how the weight of my stomach |
| experience these sights and sounds, it still | | | | was pulling my eyes to a close, so I headed |
| doesnt change the fact that when you are fast | | | | back to my room for my own lazy afternoon |
| asleep, forgetful of your surroundings, this | | | | nap. |
| wake up call leaves you shaken for the most | | | | |
| part of your day. But after my initial shock | | | | Messing around |
| subsided, I myself was ready for a whole | | | | |
| hearty African breakfast complete with bacon, | | | | While I was still half heartedly trying to |
| eggs, toast and my usual caffeine fix. | | | | wake up, I could smell that all too familiar |
| | | | smell of a fresh pot of coffee brewing. |
| The smell of fresh air | | | | Following my nose to the outside wooden deck, |
| | | | I happily sipped my coffee while overlooking |
| After breakfast I was joined by a couple of | | | | the waterhole. |
| German tourists and a Dutch couple on our | | | | |
| morning game drive. Its amazing how, even | | | | The waterhole is quite entertaining. There |
| though you are in an open 4x4 vehicle, you | | | | are always animals there quenching their |
| somehow create your own illusion that you are | | | | thirst, but what I saw at that moment was |
| safe sitting in the middle of a herd of | | | | more than amusing. It was a family of |
| elephants. As one drives past you really cant | | | | warthogs with little ones rolling around in |
| help but to be in awe of this big creature, | | | | the mud, causing more chaos than what their |
| who at any moment could capsize the heavy | | | | parents could control. |
| vehicle which gave us some delusion of | | | | |
| safety. | | | | The warthog has always been a funny animal to |
| | | | me, even before Phumba came on the scene, so |
| Elephants have always been my favourite | | | | watching them messing around really made for |
| animal. Not so much because of their brute | | | | some comical afternoon fun. When the family |
| strength, but more so because of their almost | | | | had eventually satisfied their desire for mud |
| human intelligence. | | | | wallowing they ran off swiftly with their |
| | | | tails in the air, all in one straight line. |
| As they strolled past us on their merry way | | | | |
| to feed their appetite we continued through | | | | An evening well spent |
| the wilderness on the look out for the savage | | | | |
| beast, namely the lion. | | | | On evening game drive I got what Id hoped |
| | | | for, a female leopard with a fresh catch |
| More than just game | | | | dangling from her mouth. She was standing |
| | | | below a tree, baboon in mouth and ready to |
| With a slight breeze cooling us, our trusty | | | | launch herself to the security of the |
| driver took us deeper into more off-road | | | | branches, away from any other hungry mouths |
| terrain. There really is nothing more | | | | that could steal away her catch. |
| rejuvenating than being out in the wild, | | | | |
| surrounded by predators. | | | | What a sight. As she launched herself off the |
| | | | ground and clutched to the tree with powerful |
| Entering their territory feels forbidden, but | | | | claws, I could not help think how powerful a |
| we eventually found the pride in a lazy | | | | creature she is. The baboon was about the |
| state, resting under their favourite tree. | | | | same size as her, yet she made it look |
| Our driver and guide, Philemon, informed us | | | | effortless. Funny, how the size of animals is |
| that this was Sabi Sand Game Reserves biggest | | | | vastly different to our perceptions gathered |
| and strongest pride. He said that they were | | | | from watching National Geographic programmes! |
| in fact the true kings of the wild in this | | | | |
| area. Sitting there watching lions sleep is | | | | After spending at least 30 minutes just |
| not exactly the thrilling experience one | | | | watching as she relaxed in the tree from the |
| would hope for, not if you could be seeing | | | | exhaustion of the kill, to watching her |
| the whole pride in full force take down | | | | commence consumption, I felt satisfied. I was |
| something big, like a buffalo, Nataional | | | | ready to head back to camp to enjoy my last |
| Geographic style. To my dismay it was not to | | | | night in the bush. |
| be. | | | | |
| | | | I got what I wanted from my South African |
| Moving on | | | | safari vacation. Accommodation that was |
| | | | relaxing, which despite the comfort still had |
| We continued our journey back to the Elephant | | | | that rugged camp atmosphere that is a must |
| Plains Game Lodge and on the way back were | | | | when you go on an African safari, and of |
| indeed very lucky to see another two of the | | | | course I saw the best of our African |
| big five, Rhino and Buffalo mostly grazing. | | | | wildlife. |
| When we arrived back at camp I couldnt wait | | | | |