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Thankfully, when we gathered at the lodge to prepare for our morning game drive we learned that the body of the hippo was gone. In the night the staff had tied ropes to the body and dragged it to a spot deep in the bush.
The morning game drive was good, but already we have seen the Big Five, all up close for fabulous photos. In the last two days, we have seen elephants, Cape buffalo, rhinos, lion and leopard. We saw more today along with hippos, water buck, steenbok and zillions of impala (big cats' buffet). We even were treated today when a herd of 18 or so elephants emerged from the trees in the distance and made their way to the water hole we happened to be sitting beside. There were bulls, big females and several babies. They all drank their fill, repeatedly filling their trunks and shooting the water into their mouths until the time to leave and return to the brush was signaled by the matriarch.
Because of all the animals we have seen, one might think it is easy to spot them. Actually, each game drive is like a hunt. All animals move. Predators like the big cats and territorial animals are frequently on the roam marking territory, patrolling their territory protecting it from challengers, looking for and wooing mates or feeding and drinking. Their moving about the land is purposeful and deliberate. Grazers move about all the time seeking food. The animals do rest, of course, and that's when their amazing camouflage comes into play, hiding them in the grasses and bushes. Kruger National Park, itself, covers some 6.2 million acres, about the size of the countries of Israel or Wales, and the properties of the adjacent private game reserves increase the total area by at least another million acres. Some days are lucky and it is possible to see many animals during the hunt. With such great space at their access, on other days, however, the animals are not in the area or simply cannot be found. Even when animals are close by, unless the animal is crossing the road or an open area, it takes keen eyes and good fortune to find them.
The great fun and excitement for today's game drive though were those three kids!!! Aldolfo is six, Edwardo is four and little Sophie is three. Edwardo met us at the pre-game drive coffee area with a huge stuffed cobra with which he frightened us all, over and over again. He also remembered that I had said something about something "going ga-ga" the night before during dinner and delighted in repeating it over and over every time he found the right opportunity. Tessa and I giggled all morning.
During our mid-drive coffee break when we stopped in a wide-open space to stretch legs and for the men to mark their territory (we women just hold it), those kids were a riot. They buddied up with Tessa and me and worked hard to gain our attention. They each were given their own mug of hot chocolate (Danger! Danger! No sippee cups), and each stood there near the truck blowing on the liquid in their cups. When the hot chocolate was finally cool-enough to drink, all three immediately had "joker" faces with a chocolate "smiles" going nearly to their ears. Adolfo had much to say, and he used his hands well to express himself. He had that hot chocolate going everywhere;, his hot chocolate simply kept trying to jump out of his cup onto him, onto me and onto Tessa. Soon, the boys began catching grasshoppers, showing them to Tessa, and screaming like little girls when the bugs jumped around in their hands! Tessa and I laughed until we cried.
On our way back to the lodge near the end of the morning drive, we found the hippo. Yes, last night's hippo from the lodge. There were 8 or 9 hyenas working on the carcass, and we could see more making their way from far away to join in. Some hyenas' bellies were already so full they could hardly walk. Some fought and chased each other, making the hyena "laugh" noise, as they argued over choice feeding sites on the carcass, but there was plenty of food for the group. Again, Nature prevails.
Around 10:30 am we checked out of Simbavati and were picked-up for the drive to our next adventure in Sabi Sand. The drive was a little over three hours and we got to see some beautiful country as well as villages and cities along the way. Unlike Tanzania where many of the indigenous people still wear traditional tribal dress, the folk here dress in a Western fashion. The exception was the very simple, yet very pretty, white uniform women wear to church on Sunday.
Our lodge, Umkumbe (the rhino) Safari Lodge, in Sabi Sand is beautiful. It sits on a river and has only six chalets for guests, Very intimate. The weather was clear and mid-summer hot when we arrived! So we were happy to learn that all six chalets are air conditioned. Other guests here we have met so far are from Belgium, London, and Germany. We are the only Americans. Still, we have no problem communicating.
The safari schedule here is much like that at Simbavati. We have lunch at about 2 pm, evening game drive at 4 pm and dinner around 7 or 8 pm, in the outdoor boma around a fire. The food here and at both lodges, as a matter of fact, is glorious, delicious, beautifully prepared and plentiful! We were a little concerned as to how Tessa might get along dining since she has a rather limited list of foods she likes and thus, food she will even consider eating. No worries, both lodges specifically asked if she had special dining needs and have delivered plenty of fresh veggies, plain grilled chicken, rice, pasta and of course, fresh fruit. She's also been delighted with the fudgy brownies and occasional ice cream she has been served.
The highlight of the evening safari last night was finding a cheetah!! We only saw him for a few moments, but we saw him nonetheless. He was big, had a long, long tail, and eyes that flashed green in the night. He became spooked when multiple vehicles came to see him and ran deep into the bushes. We got a few good photos however, and hope to see him again or other cheetah on the drives to come.
No, I am wrong! The truly big highlight of the evening last night was a blood moon! I've never seen the moon so red! Never! I tried to take photos of it but while I have a good, high quality camera, I don't have the equipment to take perfect night time pictures. Plus I'm not sure the real essence of the sight and the moment could be captured adequately in any photo. The nighttime scene, however, the big red moon, the contrasting colors, the clouds and the stars will remain in our memory a long, long time.
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Shea Awesome!!! Just Awesome!!!!