Another Full Day of Safari and Fun

Our day started again with a 6AM wakeup call from one of the rangers. We had 30 minutes to get up and dressed prior to tea and coffee before the game drive. We had seen so much already but were excited to have 2 more game drives today.

During our morning game drive we saw another large herd of impalas and a family of Burchell’s zebras. These zebras distinguish themselves by the gray markings which alternate the black stripes. There was one male a number of females and a few youngsters in the family. This is a typical family makeup for zebras. There were a few younger males nearby looking for any opportunity to assert themselves. Midway through the drive we stopped for coffee and snacks in an open area of the bush. The rangers know the territories of the different animals and the stops where we get out and move around are safe from disturbances by wildlife but the rangers always have an eye out as we are out in the open bush..

Back at the lodge we all met for breakfast. The food at the lodge is all included, is very good and well prepared. After breakfast we had a little time to walk around the resort property and admire the beautiful grounds.

Late in the morning we had a scheduled archery session presented by a company called Eagle Adventures which is owned by Susanah, a former South African Olympic crossbow archer. In addition to trying your had at archery, there were lots of activities for people to try including blow darts, axe throwing and spear shooting. Everyone had a great time.

During the afternoon we had time to relax, and some people took the opportunity to have a spa treatment. Our late afternoon game drive started just after our afternoon tea. During the first part of our drive we saw a number of different birds, a large lizard, more zebras and 3 male lions. A male lion is an animal that many people in our group really wanted to see. While they were all sleeping we got a pretty unobstructed closeup of them just a few feet from our vehicle.

We once again stopped as a full group for a sundowner break and watched the end of the sunset over the bush.

On the way back to the resort we saw a small herd of wildebeests and a large hippo crossing the road in front of our vehicle,

Our dinner tonight was a celebration of our adventures in South Africa as we will be heading home tomorrow. There was a wonderful series of dance performances presented by a group of young dancers in traditional costume performing dances from each of the 5 South African tribes. There was opportunity of audience participation too. At the end of the dinner Janeel and Tina showed a video they put together of our entire trip. It brought out a lot of smiles and a few tears.