The wateringhole.

To wake up to the sounds of birds, to sit and look out as the sun comes up and animals begin to appear, to feel the heat of the sun in blue blue sky's...how could i not smile!

This morning we spent nearly 3 hours at Addo, the sky was blue and the sun was hot, animals were poping out everywhere. It was incredable, we were sitting at waterholes recording what species were present and the distances from the vehicle they were, how many there were. Some of the waterholes were very quite, but when we were sitting at one of the smaller ones, to see elephants in the wild like that, seeing them splash about in the water, the younger ones trying to get the hang of there trunks! This was only a small herd we saw at first. As we drove around more and more elephants were appearing in the bushes.

To then see meercat's was amazing, i couldnt not smile, i thought it was amaizng to see those elephants, but when we came to one of the larger waterholes....onestly i couldnt believe it. The elephnats that were there....more kept coming, there were playing in the water and cooling of. As more came i was speechless, to think how many were infront of us! As some left more arrived, i would of stayed and watched them all day, i could never get tired of them, that moment was incredable.

As we drove aorund we saw more animals...everytime i saw a warthog i thought of the lion king. It so nice to have to look for the animals, it makes it even more special when you see them.

From addo to the rapter and reptiles.... this afternoon we made a trip to meet some more snakes, so on tuesday i managed to touch one for the first time at jukani.

We went in and literally the man took out 2 snakes and gave one to dorus one to vincent then he whipd out another one and was about to give it to me.....welll i nearly had a turn...i wasnt quite ready for that. But as i gradually went back inside, i was able to touch them and then.....i did it i held one in my hands. It was very soft and at that moment i relised you can really do anything, ive been petrified for so long, and i said to myself if i can touch a snake i can jump of a bridge, if i can jump of a bridge i can hold a snake.... it worked. The next snake i got was a bitty longer and i had it on my hand, it coiled round my hand and arm.....i think my arm was going to snap of i couldnt of had it any further away from my body!" the snakes were getting bigger....but i was learning more and more about them. It was something else i could never forget!

Then to hold the tale of a crocodile.... that was another experience, it was a young one, there speed is incredable....the whip of there tale and sound as they bite! To then have a bengal eagle owl on my head after that, to hold a meercat! The animals he has have all been resqued and have had a very poor upkeep, many get re-released into the wild and are very well looked after up until that point.

Another drive at addo followed until the sun was setting, just to see the park again and drive in new area's trying to spot other animal's, i loved every minute of it. Another day where i have to pinch my self...am i actually hear. If i look back on the last 3 weeks its amazing to think what i have actually seen and done, but every single day has been like that, to do a bungee jump yesterday and to be at addo and hold snakes today! Everything takes my breath away!