| I had been planning this family holiday for some time. | | | | was my mother's 83rd birthday and all my siblings |
| It was my mother's 83rd birthday and all my siblings | | | | (yes, all six of them) joined us. We all headed off to |
| (yes, all six of them) joined us. We all headed off to | | | | Morokuru in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South |
| Morokuru in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South | | | | Africa. I wanted to find a lodge that could |
| Africa. I wanted to find a lodge that could | | | | accommodate all eight of us in style and comfort and |
| accommodate all eight of us in style and comfort and | | | | that could cater for my darling siblings' varied culinary |
| that could cater for my darling siblings' varied culinary | | | | wish lists. So, I chose a new property in the |
| wish lists. So, I chose a new property in the | | | | Morokuru family, the Farm House, which has recently |
| Morokuru family, the Farm House, which has recently | | | | been built to a very high five star standard and I can |
| been built to a very high five star standard and I can | | | | definitely say we were not disappointed. |
| definitely say we were not disappointed. | | | | The location, the surroundings, the staff, vehicles, |
| The location, the surroundings, the staff, vehicles, | | | | food, wildlife, even the African singing and all of the |
| food, wildlife, even the African singing and all of the | | | | extra attention to detail (albeit subtle) for my elderly |
| extra attention to detail (albeit subtle) for my elderly | | | | mother could not be faulted. |
| mother could not be faltered. | | | | Peter, the chef at Morokuru Farm House, really |
| Peter, the chef at Morokuru Farm House, really | | | | stepped up to the occasion. My sisters do not eat |
| stepped up to the occasion. My sisters do not eat | | | | dairy and so he produced special fresh breads, |
| dairy and so he produced fresh breads, muffins, | | | | muffins, cakes and such a variety of savoury dishes |
| cakes and such a variety of savoury dishes with such | | | | with such ease despite the challenge they gave him |
| ease that we all seemed to put on at least 10kgs in | | | | that we all seemed to put on at least 10kgs in |
| weight. | | | | weight. |
| Mother has two new metal hips and a variety of | | | | Mother has two new metal hips and a variety of |
| other ailments and, in order to ensure she was nice | | | | other ailments and, in order to ensure she was nice |
| and comfortable, the staff provided raised seating, | | | | and comfortable, the staff provided raised seating, |
| extra cushions for game drives and personal | | | | extra cushions for game drives and personal |
| assistance with breakfast. The need to | | | | assistance with breakfast. The need to |
| accommodate for mother's wheelchair, not to | | | | accommodate for mother's wheelchair, not to |
| mention her slower pace never seemed to bother | | | | mention her slower pace never seemed to bother |
| the staff. With everything they did or offered, the | | | | the staff. With everything they did or offered, the |
| response was always: "No problem" or "You are | | | | response was always: "No problem" or "You are |
| welcome". | | | | welcome". |
| Paul, the game driver and his guide, Tom, were | | | | Paul, the game driver, and his guide Tom, were |
| always the first to know where to find the game | | | | always the first to know where to find the game |
| and we saw the big five in abundance, many times. | | | | and we saw the big five in abundance, many times. |
| In fact, we saw wild dogs, four-month-old lion cubs, a | | | | In fact, we saw wild dogs, four-month-old lion cubs, a |
| pride of 17 lions, jekels making a kill, cheetah and, the | | | | pride of 17 lions, jekels making a kill, cheetah and, the |
| highlight of my trip, two black mambas' dancing about | | | | highlight of my trip, two black mambas dancing about |
| in the bush in a mating courtship. The longest and | | | | in the bush in a mating courtship. The longest and |
| fastest venomous snakes in Africa just ignored our | | | | fastest venomous snakes in Africa just ignored our |
| jeep and twisted and curled as if to dance a show | | | | jeep and twisted and curled as if to dance a show |
| just for us. It was quite amazing and not suprprisingly | | | | just for us. It was quite amazing and not surprisingly |
| my video footage has a nervous shake! | | | | my video footage has a nervous shake! |
| If you are going to celebrate a birthday or make any | | | | If you are going to celebrate a birthday or make any |
| occasion special, I think doing it African style is a | | | | occasion special, I think doing it African style is a |
| must. My mother's birthday celebrations lasted three | | | | must. My mother's birthday celebrations lasted three |
| days. From the lodge decorated with orange balloons | | | | days. From the lodge decorated with orange balloons |
| and the staff singing Happy Birthday throughout the | | | | and the staff singing Happy Birthday throughout the |
| day, to personalised messages on the breakfast | | | | day, to personalised messages on the breakfast |
| plate, hand made (dairy free) birthday cakes and all | | | | plate, hand made (dairy free) birthday cakes and all |
| the highlights of elephant back riding and viewing the | | | | the highlights of elephant back riding and viewing the |
| big five..... the list goes on and on. It really was the | | | | big five..... the list goes on and on. It really was the |
| most memorable trip and one I will never foI had | | | | most memorable trip and one I will never forget. |
| been planning this family holiday for some time. It | | | | |