22 July 2006
22 July 2006
Well, I don’t even know where to begin (it’s been a while!?). The first week back at school for term 3 has been going good (still a lot of down time but I did accomplish a few things this week!!!) I am all alone this week as the other half is somewhere else preparing for the new group of volunteers that will arrive at the end of this month. All I know is she is somewhere doing something while I slave away at home.
It’s been a while because we had school’s WINTER break. It’s the whole southern hemisphere thing you just won’t understand. The highlight was seeing the parents for the first time in almost a year (I’m sure my mother could tell you how long its been to the day but…..) So it was good to finally see them!
Our trip started out a few days before the folks arrived. We headed to the Northern Drakensbergs, a mountain range that cuts through South Africa providing some stunning scenery and great hiking opportunities. Getting there was a bit of a hassle with the public transport (that vans that they pack 15 people in) being less than reliable. We were broken down for a while on the side of the road. Fun times let me tell you. After an extra day of traveling we finally reached our destination of the mountains. It was COLD…I guess that is why they call it winter break! We spent almost 3 days relaxing and hiking A LOT. It was a lot of fun and the scenery was beautiful and very varied. Changing from dense forest to grassland in a matter of steps. Saw some great birds (Lerato is becoming quite the ornithologist) with one eagle soaring away with a snake in its talons. Took a guided trip up to some very well preserved Sans rock art. The San people are one of the earliest settlers in southern Africa and their art is pretty impressive to see and be explained (think cave man paintings!)
After the couple of days in the mountains it was off to Pretoria to meet up with the parents. They arrived well (there was a bit of a problem with the airport pick but we won’t go into detail) and weren’t as jet lagged as I thought they would have been. The first day we spent resting up for the safari.
The safari was incredible. (A few logistical problem, again not going into that) We spent the first few days cruising around Kruger National Park. One of the biggest and best game reserves in all of Africa (so I have been told). We sighted a lot of animals from impala and other antelopes to a few lions 100 m away. Elephants, buffalo, yellow-billed hornbills, giraffes and zebras. Kruger was a great place but the next three days were amazing. We stayed at a private game lodge and had amazing guides! The lodge itself a great little place with a maximum capacity of 10 people. No electricity (but running water!) and set in the middle of the bush. Lerato heard a lion roaring the one night and the antelope and other little critters often walked through camp.
The first day see were 10 feet away from a couple of rhino brothers out browsing. And then the fun started with the guides tracking a pride of lions. We turn the corner in the Land Rover and their sits a pride of lions! Seeing as it was dusk, they pride was starting to get up and moving. The LARGE male walked up right next to the truck and makes his territory and then rambles on. Madness!
The next morning was more craziness, as there were leopard prints in the riverbed right outside of the camp. After tracking it brief to no avail, it was off to the location were others had seen the other pride of lions feasting on their kill. As we approach the kill sight, there is chaos in the trees. There are hundreds of vultures sitting around every tree in sight. Waiting and hoping the lions will leave the carcass and they can have a nice meal! Yes, we pulled up to about 20 meters of the lions eating a huge wildebeest. Several of the lions are lion 50 meters away with huge stomachs napping while two or three of the other are gnawing on the body trying to get that filled. We could see the guts and hear the bones crunching…awesome!
Another highlight, we come upon a pod of elephants that are on their way to the water hole. Following them to the water hole, we sat an watched 20 or so elephants drink, splash and play with each other in the mud and water. An amusing site to see. As we are leaving the group of elephants, a big bull is out in the clearing. This bull was ENORMOUS. The biggest living thing I have ever seen. While watching him, he proceeds to uproot a fairly decent size tree out of the ground. Then proceeds to peel the bark of the roots and eat it! Pretty amazing to is a giant animal rip a tree out of the ground with its trunk then peel the bark off the roots.
More highlights include a nighttime tracking of two different leopards. The guides had a general idea where the mother was, and as we turned onto the dry riverbed, fresh tracks were in the sand. As we proceed down the riverbed, there is momma leopard walking along. As she heard the vehicle, she started to get moving not wanting to pose for photos on that night! The guide decided to try for the other leopard, her son that was also in the area. After some tracking and driving off-road (this had my father and I in tears we were laughing so hard. The guide would literally drive anywhere and over anything. There were point that we figured he would drive around some of the trees, but no! He drove right over some rather large tree and as the would come out the back, they would pop back up straight as if nothing happened! It was quite funny) we found the male jetting through the bush. After more attempts to locate him, the guide decided to move farther down the riverbed. As we turn back into the riverbed, there he stands. A beautifully huge leopard looking for something to do…or some food. He wasn’t vary photogenic and it was dark so no good pics!?!
The second afternoon, we went for a walking safari with the guide, giant riffle (just in case) and all. We got to see tracks, dung, insects and other interesting things that aren’t really seen while in the safari jeep. It was also nice to walk!!! We did get within 50 meters of a herd of buffalo (one of the most dangerous mammals in Africa!) which was pretty amazing.
The other highlight of the safari was the last day when we went back to the lions and their carcass. The thing I remember most about that second day is the smell of the sun baked rotting flesh. The lions didn’t seem to mind as they were still chowing down. And the vultures were still waiting.
After the excitement of the safari, it was off to the village to see a different side of Africa. Driving out to the village was exciting (the drive on the wrong side of the road). Our arrival was meet with some of the students welcoming my parents with traditional dance, our host mother making a delicious meal of steam bread and chicken stew and my parents meeting my African parents. The next morning was spent showing my parents around the town and the village with highlights of the natural spring, graveyard and the school (we live in a village not a bustling metropolis!)
All and all, the parents visit was great. They saw both the animals and the village. The Africa that we came to experience. After their departure, we spent a couple of days unwinding and then I headed back to the village for the first week of school! All is still well.
Brother rhinos
Rhino with bird flying into ear
Bird pecking at rhino’s head
Lions out lounging
Thirsty lion
Dinner
Don’t you even think about eating it
Ribs are my favorite too
Baby in the line of elephants
BIG bulls uprooting the tree
The crew at the private game lodge
Big poppa, whatcha lookin at
The head is all yours
My parents and my African family
Well, I don’t even know where to begin (it’s been a while!?). The first week back at school for term 3 has been going good (still a lot of down time but I did accomplish a few things this week!!!) I am all alone this week as the other half is somewhere else preparing for the new group of volunteers that will arrive at the end of this month. All I know is she is somewhere doing something while I slave away at home.
It’s been a while because we had school’s WINTER break. It’s the whole southern hemisphere thing you just won’t understand. The highlight was seeing the parents for the first time in almost a year (I’m sure my mother could tell you how long its been to the day but…..) So it was good to finally see them!
Our trip started out a few days before the folks arrived. We headed to the Northern Drakensbergs, a mountain range that cuts through South Africa providing some stunning scenery and great hiking opportunities. Getting there was a bit of a hassle with the public transport (that vans that they pack 15 people in) being less than reliable. We were broken down for a while on the side of the road. Fun times let me tell you. After an extra day of traveling we finally reached our destination of the mountains. It was COLD…I guess that is why they call it winter break! We spent almost 3 days relaxing and hiking A LOT. It was a lot of fun and the scenery was beautiful and very varied. Changing from dense forest to grassland in a matter of steps. Saw some great birds (Lerato is becoming quite the ornithologist) with one eagle soaring away with a snake in its talons. Took a guided trip up to some very well preserved Sans rock art. The San people are one of the earliest settlers in southern Africa and their art is pretty impressive to see and be explained (think cave man paintings!)
After the couple of days in the mountains it was off to Pretoria to meet up with the parents. They arrived well (there was a bit of a problem with the airport pick but we won’t go into detail) and weren’t as jet lagged as I thought they would have been. The first day we spent resting up for the safari.
The safari was incredible. (A few logistical problem, again not going into that) We spent the first few days cruising around Kruger National Park. One of the biggest and best game reserves in all of Africa (so I have been told). We sighted a lot of animals from impala and other antelopes to a few lions 100 m away. Elephants, buffalo, yellow-billed hornbills, giraffes and zebras. Kruger was a great place but the next three days were amazing. We stayed at a private game lodge and had amazing guides! The lodge itself a great little place with a maximum capacity of 10 people. No electricity (but running water!) and set in the middle of the bush. Lerato heard a lion roaring the one night and the antelope and other little critters often walked through camp.
The first day see were 10 feet away from a couple of rhino brothers out browsing. And then the fun started with the guides tracking a pride of lions. We turn the corner in the Land Rover and their sits a pride of lions! Seeing as it was dusk, they pride was starting to get up and moving. The LARGE male walked up right next to the truck and makes his territory and then rambles on. Madness!
The next morning was more craziness, as there were leopard prints in the riverbed right outside of the camp. After tracking it brief to no avail, it was off to the location were others had seen the other pride of lions feasting on their kill. As we approach the kill sight, there is chaos in the trees. There are hundreds of vultures sitting around every tree in sight. Waiting and hoping the lions will leave the carcass and they can have a nice meal! Yes, we pulled up to about 20 meters of the lions eating a huge wildebeest. Several of the lions are lion 50 meters away with huge stomachs napping while two or three of the other are gnawing on the body trying to get that filled. We could see the guts and hear the bones crunching…awesome!
Another highlight, we come upon a pod of elephants that are on their way to the water hole. Following them to the water hole, we sat an watched 20 or so elephants drink, splash and play with each other in the mud and water. An amusing site to see. As we are leaving the group of elephants, a big bull is out in the clearing. This bull was ENORMOUS. The biggest living thing I have ever seen. While watching him, he proceeds to uproot a fairly decent size tree out of the ground. Then proceeds to peel the bark of the roots and eat it! Pretty amazing to is a giant animal rip a tree out of the ground with its trunk then peel the bark off the roots.
More highlights include a nighttime tracking of two different leopards. The guides had a general idea where the mother was, and as we turned onto the dry riverbed, fresh tracks were in the sand. As we proceed down the riverbed, there is momma leopard walking along. As she heard the vehicle, she started to get moving not wanting to pose for photos on that night! The guide decided to try for the other leopard, her son that was also in the area. After some tracking and driving off-road (this had my father and I in tears we were laughing so hard. The guide would literally drive anywhere and over anything. There were point that we figured he would drive around some of the trees, but no! He drove right over some rather large tree and as the would come out the back, they would pop back up straight as if nothing happened! It was quite funny) we found the male jetting through the bush. After more attempts to locate him, the guide decided to move farther down the riverbed. As we turn back into the riverbed, there he stands. A beautifully huge leopard looking for something to do…or some food. He wasn’t vary photogenic and it was dark so no good pics!?!
The second afternoon, we went for a walking safari with the guide, giant riffle (just in case) and all. We got to see tracks, dung, insects and other interesting things that aren’t really seen while in the safari jeep. It was also nice to walk!!! We did get within 50 meters of a herd of buffalo (one of the most dangerous mammals in Africa!) which was pretty amazing.
The other highlight of the safari was the last day when we went back to the lions and their carcass. The thing I remember most about that second day is the smell of the sun baked rotting flesh. The lions didn’t seem to mind as they were still chowing down. And the vultures were still waiting.
After the excitement of the safari, it was off to the village to see a different side of Africa. Driving out to the village was exciting (the drive on the wrong side of the road). Our arrival was meet with some of the students welcoming my parents with traditional dance, our host mother making a delicious meal of steam bread and chicken stew and my parents meeting my African parents. The next morning was spent showing my parents around the town and the village with highlights of the natural spring, graveyard and the school (we live in a village not a bustling metropolis!)
All and all, the parents visit was great. They saw both the animals and the village. The Africa that we came to experience. After their departure, we spent a couple of days unwinding and then I headed back to the village for the first week of school! All is still well.
Brother rhinos
Rhino with bird flying into ear
Bird pecking at rhino’s head
Lions out lounging
Thirsty lion
Dinner
Don’t you even think about eating it
Ribs are my favorite too
Baby in the line of elephants
BIG bulls uprooting the tree
The crew at the private game lodge
Big poppa, whatcha lookin at
The head is all yours
My parents and my African family
posted by aliberatinsa at 12:58 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home