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Hello guys!!
Thanks for the lovely comments! Nice to hear all is well!
Got back from the safari this afternoon! Wow! By far one of the most amazing experiences ever!
Got picked up at 5am on Thursday from the hostel we stayed in for one night (a very weird place, it was just like someones house, but the room was like luxury compared to a normal hostel!). We picked up a few more people (a German couple, Swiss girl and four Spanish women), then set off for Kruger. It was quite a long drive and we stopped a couple of times to stretch and feed.
Stopped at an endangered species centre at about 2.30pm, on the edge of Kruger. Where we saw a range of rescued animals and where they run a breeding programme for the endangered cheetah. Saw cheetahs, wild dogs, lions, zebra, etc. Then we got to the Lodge where we was camping. We picked a tent that had a working zip and got set up. Was warned about the warthog and impalas, etc, that roam around the lodge and to check for spiders and snakes in the tent. Then went for a drink at the bar (the barman was from Dudley, but no Sophie he didn't know Benny). Tea was served outside around a campfire. All you can buffet, with 3 courses! Loads of nice salads. Gareth had two steaks and two sausages, so was in his element!!
We were told we leaving at 5am in the morning, so had an early night. Oh and Vicky, our guide was called Lloyd, which made me think of you!
02/11/2012
Up about 4am, and on the open jeep and setting off about 5am to catch the early animals, who like the cool. Saw sooooo many amazing animals and the guide was fantastic, his knowledge was brilliant, he knew how to track animals and could identify all sorts of the eagles, etc. Plus he knew amazing facts about all the animals.
Some of the roads were tarmaced but there was a lot of dirt tracks. Kruger national park, is the size of Holland, so lots to get around!
Saw lots of types of antelope, e.g. impala, waterbuck, steinbock. Then saw zebra and blue wildebeest (aka gnu's). Saw ostriches. Communal web spiders, eagles, etc. Then we turned a corner and saw elephants by the edge of the road (the one in the picture). We sat watching them and they were spraying dirt over themselves and uprooting trees, etc. Lovely to watch!
Stopped for breakfast, at a picnic spot. Then set off again. We saw some more zebra next to the road acting weird and the guide said it meant a predator had been spotted, so we hung around and a leopard appeared from the grass and then walked around our jeep!! Hardly any other groups saw a leopard, so we was very lucky!
We drove some more and saw giraffes, hippo's, monkeys, warthogs, buffalo's, a tortoise, mongoose! Plus loads more elephants, zebras, gnu's. antelope, etc.
Saw a beautiful sunset on the drive back and got back to the lodge about 6.50pm. Just in time for tea at 7.30, which was under the stars again!
03/11/2012
Another 4am wake up, left at 5am again. We had seen 3 of the big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and white rhino), so was on the hunt for the other 2! Again we saw lots of the same animals, literally within a stones throw. Lovely to see them in the wild, doing their own thing. Then we heard of some lions so went and found one lying beside the road on the cool tarmac and also 3 more males in the grass behind it. Sat and watched them for a while, then headed off again. Stopped for lunch at picnic spot again, very hot and sunny!!
After lunch we went to 'elephant river crossing', which was the most beautiful spot. We got out and walked about, saw crocodiles in the river and two hippo's swam under the bridge and then got up onto the mud flaps! Plus a giraffe come to drink. Later we saw 6 female lions all chilling in the shade. Saw a herd of elephants protecting a baby one!
Only the rhino to go! And sure enough, at the end of the day we saw a lovely white rhino!! So we saw all 5!!
Headed back in another beautiful sunset, saw a huge herd of buffalo crossing the road on the way back. Got back about 6.30pm and had quick shower before another tea around the fire. Then a group of about 12 girls from the local school come and danced and sang for us around the fire to traditional african music! It was a lovely end to a great couple of days!!
Had a bit of a lie in and got up about 5.30am and left about 7am. Stopped at the blood river canyon. The third larget in the world and the largest forested canyon. It was the most picturesque spot ever. 700metres high! Walked around there for a bit, before the drive back to Jo'burg!
Got dropped off at new hostel about 3.30pm. A lovely hostel, but again it is like someone's home! Pretty exhausted so just chilling for the evening. Off to Northern Drakensburg in the morning!!!
Take care and we'll write again soon xx (Oh and we have about 350 pics to bore you with already)
- comments
Mum Well it has cheered us up on this very misserable evening hearing about the fantastic time you have had on your safari my goodness you've had some early mornings but by the sound of it worth every early minute, how fantastic to see all the animals in the wild 350pics and not half way through your holiday great keep them going you both take great care looking forward in hearing from you again love Dad and Mum XXXXXXX
Mum Mandy Wow safari sounds amazing, fantastic that you got to see the big five as well as all the other amazing wildlife (worth getting up early for and Alex you should be used to it)! Dinner under the stars sounds great and a long way from the dark, cold, miserable evenings here. Off to Sophie's tomorrow for graduation on Tuesday, will take lots of pics so we can do swaps! Look forward to next installment! Enjoy, love you lots! xx
Dad Dad All sounds wonderful but first of all must ask if you have been to the toilet yet Alex and that all is good with your bowels!! Memories for the rest of your lives and you obviously did your organising to perfection. I saw some horses today but not good ones (Four of us went to a rainy Huntington and none of us won a bean!). Your animals are much different - wonderful and the pictures you paint are very vivid. Continue to enjoy like old boots on your amazing adventure. xx
Auntie Vic How odd your barman from dudley and your guide a lloyd! Im loving it. What an adventure and lucky to see all 5!!! I would be jel but luckily today i saw a seagull, a dog, a cat, a tramp in town and a pigeon so really in my head i done the 5 with ya!!!! Hostels sound cool get some photos and please remember to get each other in some of the photos (you know what i mean al). Seriously though it sounds amazing and im picturing a slide show extravaganza upon your return! more news please...... news from home......jakes doing well took all his plasters off and hes got two tiny little cuts about 4cm long on the back and front of his shoulder (he was a bit gutted as he fancied a bigger scar for his troubles) lukes revising hard (you would be proud) ians painted outside of house so you may not recognise it when you get home and im moving wards for a month so as mum would say "its all going on!!!!!!" weathers rainy and cold montys got cousin dill for a visit on monday and tuesday so hes all excited. Alls good here. you are blogalishious and we miss ya loads so keep doing exciting things. love you lots xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jake Hello Al and Gareth, it sounds like you're both having a great time on your trip! Mum feels that you need to know I have an iPad, so yes.. I have an iPad now. All is good our end, I'm still in recovery and Luke is working really hard for his exams. Your trip sounds great, I look forward to reading more posts and seeing you when you get back. Take care. Enjoy. Much love, Jake xx
Auntie Vic I felt it was important you knew it xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Auntie Debbie Loving the blog so much - it is soo worth getting up in the mornings to find out what has been "going on......" in your amazing travels. Nothing too exciting going on here, chris passed his theory test last week and started driving lessons on saturday, we are a soldier down as joe is in Bournemouth for a couple of weeks. Cant wait to see photos!!!!! Lots of love to you both and looking forward to next instalments XXXXXXXX
Auntie Vic Hello travellers!! Luke had his first maths exam today, hes not sure how it went so we will have to wait and see. He has the next one on thursday and then luckily no more until your home!!!!!!!!!! Hoorah he misses his tutor! Hope all is looking lovely and you are seeing and doing lots of exciting things, i'm sure you are. Photos gareth please. Love ya lots xxxxxxxxx
Auntie Vic Hi ya trekkers!! I need your passport issue date please al for majicorca!! please can you text it to mum or email me. Hope travels are going well. Love you xxxxxx
Auntie Vic Lukes exam update....... it went really well!!! Hoorah xxxxxxxxx