Ezulwini Game Lodge Balule Private Game Reserve

Today was our last night in a tent.  Can't believe that there is so little time left of our trip.  We are currently staying on a vineyard that sells Highlander wine.  We don't have it imported into Canada. It is really beautiful in South Africa.  Looks very similar to BC because everything is so green and lush.  <br><br><br>We were treated to a wine tasting in the late afternoon.  All of the grapes were grown on the vineyard and then taken to a local company ...

OK, last official blog update from St. Lucia. Went on the croc and hippo tour - awesome!! The first small pod of hippos we came across is headed by a bull hippo which the locals call Vincent. He thinks he owns all the females in the area. Anyway, a young bull was in Vincent's turf and they had a real hippo fight in front of us in the water! Yes, I hear you all gasping, it's true!! The young bull had several cuts across its neck and back and ...

Hi all - it's Saturday morning. Was up early today as two volunteers left at 7am to head home so I was up with a few others to say good-bye. Figured I may as well walk into town and get on the internet. Will try to update again tonight after the croc / hippo tour but don't know if I will, in which case this will be my last blog from St. Lucia, South Africa. So it's kind of a bittersweet entry as I've really enjoyed my time here and will miss ...

Hi again! Ok, well entry for May 26 is really short - in a word, "sick." I was in bed all day with what felt like the flu. Mild fever, bodyaches, general yuckiness. Took 3 Tylenol PM that night and slept for about 12 hours. May 27 - wasn't 100% but ok enough to go back out. Spent the morning at Ndabentle nursery. This is not my favorite nursery but it was ok. Just free play all morning. We forgot to bring toilet paper with us to this ...

First of all - Happy Bermuda day to all my friends and family at home!! Can't remember the last time I was away for May 24! I missed not cheering for all of the runners this morning but I made up for it by waving hello to hundreds of children on their way home from school today! One of the ladies in our group thought it was funny that I just wave at everyone - I'm feeling like a Johnny Barnes clone, 'cept cuter, I hope!! Lol ...

Hi all - I think I left off on Friday morning, so will pick up on Friday afternoon. I had an easier afternoon on Friday. The volunteers help out at a local high school, teaching English to those who are struggling more with the language. They go twice a week - to Grade 8 and Grade 9. So, Friday afternoon was preparation for Reading Club for the following week's lessons. Each week has a theme, this week's theme was food. So, between 5 of us, we had ...

Hi all - first of all, sorry for taking so long to update my travelpod. This is the first chance I've had to get to the computer. We don't have dinner cooked for us on Saturday nights (ok, everyone in unison....awwww! lol!) so we come into town for dinner. I skipped out ahead of everyone else so that I could actually sit on this computer for an hour! The walk from the house into town is probably about 3/4 mile. Very safe, though not advised to ...

... when he noticed us. Dan's saying, "take one more"...um, ok, so I do and no sooner do I take it and he (being the elephant) decides to turn quickly, flap his ears and trumpets us. HOLY ****!!!!!!!!! is what's going through my mind, heart racing, sweat beginning to form. Fortunately, Dan has become more adept at driving on the right side of the car/left side of the road/manual transmission and has the car (a tiny Honda Jazz) in gear. Dan guns it and ...

Hi all - ok, first of all, good news: my luggage has apparently been located and should be delivered this evening. I'm not getting too excited until I see it with my very own eyes!!! Today was a good day - went on a tour of all of the project sites this morning and spent an hour and a half at a nursery (preschool). I fell in love with a beautiful little girl here - Ayanya, I believe her name is (will write it down tomorrow) - she was ...

... the rare and elusive Wild Dogs. Suffice it to say we've seen a lot and it's been great. The elephant also decided to test his rear end out to make sure that it works.....and it does! :) So, we are really tired after a 6am wake up, game drive, massage, lunch, evening game drive and dinner so we are going to try to upload a pic or two and then we are outta here! miss ya, kinda Steph &amp; Dan