| When I woke up in the early morning hours at | | | | arrived back at camp I couldn't wait to sink my |
| the Elephant Game lodge, it wasn't with the | | | | teeth into one of Sindiwe, the cook's, homemade |
| peaceful serenity that I expected. Oh no, it was | | | | game pies. She really knew how to make it just |
| with the sound of an elephant trumpeting as they | | | | right and resisted my pleas to share her secret |
| were coming to the nearby waterhole for their | | | | recipe for the perfect gravy. |
| early morning drink. | | | | After eating my fill, I too, like a typical lion, could |
| Now although I should count myself lucky to | | | | feel how the weight of my stomach was pulling |
| experience these sights and sounds, it still doesn't | | | | my eyes to a close, so I headed back to my |
| change the fact that when you are fast asleep, | | | | room for my own lazy afternoon nap. |
| forgetful of your surroundings, this wake up call | | | | Messing around... |
| leaves you shaken for the most part of your | | | | While I was still half heartedly trying to wake up, I |
| day. But after my initial shock subsided, I myself | | | | could smell that all too familiar smell of a fresh pot |
| was ready for a whole hearty African breakfast | | | | of coffee brewing. Following my nose to the |
| complete with bacon, eggs, toast and my usual | | | | outside wooden deck, I happily sipped my coffee |
| caffeine fix. | | | | while overlooking the waterhole. |
| The smell of fresh air... | | | | The waterhole is quite entertaining. There are |
| After breakfast I was joined by a couple of | | | | always animals there quenching their thirst, but |
| German tourists and a Dutch couple on our | | | | what I saw at that moment was more than |
| morning game drive. It's amazing how, even | | | | amusing. It was a family of warthogs with little |
| though you are in an open 4x4 vehicle, you | | | | ones rolling around in the mud, causing more |
| somehow create your own illusion that you are | | | | chaos than what their parents could control. |
| safe sitting in the middle of a herd of elephants. | | | | The warthog has always been a funny animal to |
| As one drives past you really can't help but to be | | | | me, even before Phumba came on the scene, so |
| in awe of this big creature, who at any moment | | | | watching them messing around really made for |
| could capsize the heavy vehicle which gave us | | | | some comical afternoon fun. When the family had |
| some delusion of safety. | | | | eventually satisfied their desire for mud wallowing |
| Elephants have always been my favourite animal. | | | | they ran off swiftly with their tails in the air, all in |
| Not so much because of their brute strength, but | | | | one straight line. |
| more so because of their almost human | | | | An evening well spent ... |
| intelligence. | | | | On evening game drive I got what I'd hoped for, |
| As they strolled past us on their merry way to | | | | a female leopard with a fresh catch dangling from |
| feed their appetite we continued through the | | | | her mouth. She was standing below a tree, |
| wilderness on the look out for the savage beast, | | | | baboon in mouth and ready to launch herself to |
| namely the lion. | | | | the security of the branches, away from any |
| More than just game... | | | | other hungry mouths that could steal away her |
| With a slight breeze cooling us, our trusty driver | | | | catch. |
| took us deeper into more off-road terrain. There | | | | What a sight. As she launched herself off the |
| really is nothing more rejuvenating than being out | | | | ground and clutched to the tree with powerful |
| in the wild, surrounded by predators. | | | | claws, I could not help think how powerful a |
| Entering their territory feels forbidden, but we | | | | creature she is. The baboon was about the same |
| eventually found the pride in a lazy state, resting | | | | size as her, yet she made it look effortless. |
| under their favourite tree. Our driver and guide, | | | | Funny, how the size of animals is vastly different |
| Philemon, informed us that this was Sabi Sand | | | | to our perceptions gathered from watching |
| Game Reserve's biggest and strongest pride. He | | | | National Geographic programmes! |
| said that they were in fact the true kings of the | | | | After spending at least 30 minutes just watching |
| wild in this area. Sitting there watching lions sleep | | | | as she relaxed in the tree from the exhaustion of |
| is not exactly the thrilling experience one would | | | | the kill, to watching her commence consumption, I |
| hope for, not if you could be seeing the whole | | | | felt satisfied. I was ready to head back to camp |
| pride in full force take down something big, like a | | | | to enjoy my last night in the bush. |
| buffalo, Nataional Geographic style. To my dismay | | | | I got what I wanted from my South African |
| it was not to be. | | | | safari vacation. Accommodation that was relaxing, |
| Moving on... | | | | which despite the comfort still had that rugged |
| We continued our journey back to the Elephant | | | | camp atmosphere that is a must when you go on |
| Plains Game Lodge and on the way back were | | | | an African safari, and of course I saw the best of |
| indeed very lucky to see another two of the big | | | | our African wildlife. |
| five, Rhino and Buffalo mostly grazing. When we | | | | |