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May 7, 2008
On Safari
Apparently when one goes on safari, you have to be prepared to not necessarily see all the animals that you've ever dreamed of seeing, because it might not happen. Our guide, Paula, kept saying, "I can't believe how lucky you guys are to have seen almost every animal here in 2 1/2 game drives."
My son Max sent along plastic animals for me to look for and to show the animals when we found them. |
Although we spent much time driving around to find the elephants and water buffalo, some animals literally came to us at the Phinda Mountain Lodge at Pindha Game reserve. A family of cheetahs (mummy, four cubs and a male) hunted and killed an impala between two of the cabins. And after having spent an hour tracking a male lion (and seeing him ) the same lion followed us back to the lodge and circled outside of the fenced in area where we were having barbecue. We were all inside the fenced-in area, unaware and enjoying a nice pinotage and venison. Apparently the barbecue aromas appeal to lions as well!
The naughty monkeys snatched biscuits from bowls off the porch when no one was looking. |
We were lucky enough to participate in tagging a three-year-old white rhino. One morning a veternarian was brought in and we got to watch (up very close) as they sedated the rhino and notched his ears with a marking designed to make him easy to identify. Being able to identify the animals on the reserve helps to protect them in the future and chronicle their movements around South Africa if they happen to be sold.
Hotel designer, and his son Aiden came along to view the rhino tagging. |
The rather large group of people involved in the tagging treated the rhino so lovingly and declared the procedure as having gone completely textbook. All the possible things that might have gone wrong, mainly that the rhino would get aggitated and run wildly into the bush and we'd have to find him to tag him, never took place. He walked a little woozily, then cooperatively sat down on his haunches. We all had the opportunity to touch him. A few minutes after the rhino (#113) was given an anitdote to counteract the sedative, he got up and sauntered off to join his mother and the other rhino.
 Me and my white rhino friend during the tagging. |
Our ranger guide, Steve Fly, was extraordinarily good at his job, knew everything about all the animals we saw, had amazing stories about previous sightings of interest, knew local plants and had a wicked sense of humor. Our tracker, Sithembiso, was critical in helping to spot tracks and finding all the amazing animals we got to see.
 Lead Ranger Steve Fly and tracker Sithembiso |
Phinda Mountain Lodge, owned by CCAfrica Group, has just reopened after a complete renovation. This eco-conscious lodge is an unexpected, modern, hip destination in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape of low mountains and grassy fields and beautiful bush with iconic Umbrella Thorn trees around every turn in the rough roads we drove over. The staff is admirably dedicated to conservation, putting animals first.
The famously beautiful Umbrella Thorn tree. |
Even as we were driving out of the reserve, a giraffe family was in the middle of the road. Papa sauntered off to the left, and baby was left close to the road on the right. Then baby panicked and started galloping back to mummy up ahead on the right. Watching the way his little feet moved was beautiful. Baby giraffe went directly behind mummy, who stared us down. Hey, we were just trying to mosey on by to get to the airport on time for our journey to George on the Southern coast.
Game drives always involve a delicious snack break—here ranger Steve had French press coffee with raw sugar to sweeten—My favorite method to have coffee! Meet my travel companions: Sana, me, Paula, Todd and Tanya. |
Next report: Beach time—South African style.
Posted by Monica at 2:19 p.m.
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