Lion Sands Ivory Lodge Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

... on with 10 chicks.
We saw jackal during
the day time whichwas unusual
since it normally is a nocturnal animal.
The scenic views along the rivers were
awsome in their beauty with the
elephants and crocodiles matched
against there natural backgrounds.
Dean, I had extreme pleasure discussing
your country and the worlds problem spots
in route from the park to Johannesburg ...

... have looked good to him. He stopped the charge and turned to the tree where he began to rub his body against the bark. Obviously his itch took preference over trying to stump us to dust. The guide quickly put the vehicle in gear and ran past the tipsy elephant. We saw lots of other wildlife as well as a pack of ...

... to camp, our tracker, Themba, scanned our path with a spot light. He picked up on several of the antelope species, and then, managed to catch the twinkle of the eyes of a bush baby – A-dorable! While we were sitting there, we were also serenaded by the roar of a lioness! I can see how one can get addicted to this stuff.

It wasn’t over though… the next morning we were in for yet another treat. This time, we were cruising for leopard. En route, we ...

... we tell her Jackalberry, she asked when we flew in. We tried to explain to her that it was 30 minutes away, so we didn't have to fly, but she didn't believe us. Apparently she was trying to stay at Jackalberry, but her travel agent told her it was too far away, and stuck them at Royal Legend. The french lady insisted we didn't know what we were talking about and that Thornybush is near the Nelspruit airport. She also kept saying that ...

... and about his life. His parents sent him to Hoedspruit when he was young to go to school and escape the dangerous area he used to live. While in school, his father was murdered. Once he graduated, he made enough money to bring over his two younger sisters, and eventually his mother. Despite what he went through, he loves the area and is happy his family is with him. During the drive, we saw monkeys and giraffes on the side of ...

... don't know seasonal depression disorder: is that mild depression you may be feeling these days caused by the onset of winter and the ever increasing darkness and cold weather. Well we have placed ourselves in our own self induced seasonal depression in your honor. Sarah and I pray for a climate change, the long days of sun have caused us to be tired from all possibilities the day brings us. We have also suffered from too much good weather. Day after day of blue skies and hot weather ...

... she'd been stalking him while he stood there.  After we jumped in the vehicle we followed her for a short distance but she soon went into heavy brush down by the riverbed where we could not follow.  She was one of the two sisters we'd seen the night before night, and apparently has young cubs in the riverbed.  While very exciting, with two lion encounters in the same place, Marcelino said that he wouldn't be stopping at that spot for sundowners again unless it was still light out!

... like being part of a reality computer game. If I thought one had been a little too close, I would glance in my rear-view mirror to see if it was still alive. Most of the time I would see a tightly curled ball of armour, still, waiting for the danger to pass before it would unravel and carry on its march to the other side. By the time I arrived in Skukuza two hours later my eyes were sore, but at least it hadn't been game over for most of the multi-legged troopers on the S100.

And so, yet another day began at 5.30am. The guide was pretty insistent that we were ready to leave at 6 when the gates opened, and so we were. It was only a short drive before breakfast and I really can't recall what we saw, but I can guarantee it involved some variation of the elephant, rhino, giraffe, millions of tiny antelope theme. By now we had seen four of the Big 5, and for those who care it was only the elusive leopard that hadn't put in a ...

... meant to understand when to pull over and let people pass, when to pass trucks, what to do when someone shows you their armpit - I was just glad not to be driving. It was hot, and the scenery changed from flat high veld, through valleys and eucalyptus plantations, to the more open, dry expanse of the north. But, as we got out to get our researchers pass and then drove through Paul Kruger Gate, I just caught my breath and vowed to remember the ...