Willows Guest House Pretoria

... dome was still very impressive. The museum on the bottom level was also excellent, with a nice map and display illustrating various migrations into and within South Africa.

From there we drove through Pretoria, with a nice slow drive around Church Square while Rudolf pointed out the various buildings. It was a little too bad that we couldn’t explore the area on foot, as photos from the bus were not very easy or good.

We continued to the Union ...

... elephant, leopard, rhinoceros and buffalo. There are other big animals that are dangerous under certain circumstances but not dangerous to hunt; animals like the hippopotamus (it kills more people than any other African animal) and the crocodile. We drove to the Kwa Maritane Gate of Pilanesburg. Morgen got our tickets for us, and then we drove on. I had hoped to go to the Kwa Maritane Lodge which I have visited a number of times ...

Once again the road dictates I will spend a day of my life overtaking logging and sugar cane trucks. All for a meeting and presentation with folks from overseas. Then one day and it is back along the same roads to Hluhluwe. Goal for 2008: Get a helicopter and someone to fly it for me when I just need to get some sleep. Wonder what my bosses will say? Do you think they will do for it?

... back seat moved up to the front edge of the seat while Jim and Doug got into the back seat from either side putting some concentration into how to get their legs and feet through the small side doors. Jane up front with Mike enjoyed a laugh while watching us try to get situated. That night we ate seafood at the Cape Town Fish Market and afterwards, a little fuller than we went to the restaurant, we crammed ourselves back into the back seat for the ride back to the lodge.

... were off to our other hostel we had booked, called the airport backpackers. We caught the airport shuttle as the hostel offered free pick up from there, but when we rang them 5 mins before arriving at the airport, we were told they had given our (booked) beds away. Hum. So after a bit of nifty phone work we got ourselves booked into where I am now, the diamond diggers hostel, also near the ...

... not wanting (I think it's a bit young, and all of us volunteers break the rule sometimes). Following this we head outside to be with the other young children. It is here that I experience something that I find completely amazing. As soon as they see you, they are running up to you, hugging you and asking "teacher, teacher what is you name?". It is the most amazing thing, although they always call you teacher, they never let go of your legs, arms, any part of you that they can get ahold ...

Now that I have been here for a month, I have fully adapted to the day to day grind. I no longer wonder where I am when I wake up, and I have built myself a new routine here. Classes are up in full swing, and are beginning to take a toll on my free time unfortunately. I am enjoying the other exchange students as well. The novelty of us coming from different countries has worn off, and we are no ...

... the place on the drive and Andy driving a rather nice coupe as opposed to a four wheel drive, this afforded some awesome close up shots of the lions, as well as a shot of a rather curious Ostrich (see photos). Once the drive was over, we headed for the cubs enclosure, which incorporates a series of smaller enclosures with some younger lions, other cats, and a feeding platform for the parks giraffe (which were no where ...

... we move onto Saudi Arabia for 6 months and then hopefully onto Brisbane, Australia. It is a bit of a detour from our original plans but the end result is till what we had in mind. we are really looking forward to spending time with all our friends and family at home!!

... the country. We will update you later. For now we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We will be thinking of you all over the holidays and missing everyone very much. Have some extra stuffing and potatoes for us, lol! Lots of love from Audrey and Jack