Trip to South Africa, Part Six
Oct 23, 2020
Lion
Dec. 7th - 9th
To follow along with where I was, just click the links.
At this stage of our journey, we embarked on our much-anticipated safari. After returning the rental car, and meeting our shuttle driver at the small airport in Hoedspruit, SA, we embarked on our hour + long drive to our lodging in the heart of the Manyeleti Game Reserve, which sits immediately adjacent to Kruger National Park, and shares a fence-less border, allowing the animals to move freely between the two. We arrived at the main camp inside the reserve, and met up with our Distinctly Africa hosts and guides who would take such good care of us for the next four days.
Imposing Stare
We headed out that first evening on our very first game drive into the reserve. And we quickly discovered the benefit of being there versus the National Park, namely that our guides could drive right up to the wildlife. In Kruger, if you see a Leopard in the distance, you have to stay on the road and view it from a distance. Our guides on the other hand would drive right off into the bush, four-wheeling us across the bush to get in close. We were amazed at how close in fact. We were also amazed at the sheer amount of game we saw during the three days of our Safari. From large cats, to Elephants and Giraffes, Water Buffalo, and even the elusive Rino. Not a single drive went by without seeing an incredible variety of game both large and small.
We headed out that first evening on our very first game drive into the reserve. And we quickly discovered the benefit of being there versus the National Park, namely that our guides could drive right up to the wildlife. In Kruger, if you see a Leopard in the distance, you have to stay on the road and view it from a distance. Our guides on the other hand would drive right off into the bush, four-wheeling us across to get in close. We were amazed at how close in fact. We were also amazed at the sheer amount of game we saw during the three days of our Safari. From large cats, to Elephants and Giraffes, Water Buffalo, and even the elusive Rhino. Not a single drive went by without seeing an incredible variety of game both large and small.
Our guide (driving) and tracker (sitting in front chair) taking us out in the Land Rover for the evening drive.
Cheetah
The next morning, after coffee under the canopy of our dining tent, we were back out on another game drive. This was the routine for the three days we were there. Get up early, enjoy some wonderful South African coffee and light snacks, then off into the bush. We would come back to the camp for a late breakfast, then back out on another game drive in the evening. The animals, we learned, have become accustomed to vehicles since birth, and they see them as just another part of the bush life. As long as you stay in the vehicle, you are part of it and safe. Just stay in the vehicle. No argument from me. On this first morning we came upon a Cheetah, sitting under the brush and seemingly waiting for the drizzling rain to stop. She was regal and beautiful.
My girlfriend Kat and I on a drive, soaked to the bone and loving every minute.
Unfortunately, rain would be a constant companion for our entire stay here. But it didn’t seem to impede our seeing wildlife in the slightest. In fact, it made it easier in some ways because some animals, like the big cats, chose to stay hunkered down, waiting for it to end instead of being out and about looking for food. And on the other end of the spectrum were those that didn’t even seem to notice, like Elephants, or Water Buffalo. They just went about their lives seemingly oblivious to the ever-increasing rain.
Survivor
Rhino
Waiting out the Rain
It was on early on the morning of the third day that we came upon a couple of Lions fresh from a kill of a Wildebeast. They were lounging around contentedly, bellies full, and hardly paid any attention to the vehicle as we came up surprisingly close. The resulting image at the top of this post is one of my favorites from the trip, and can be seen in the Africa Gallery.
Soon after we came upon a pride of 12, mostly lionesses, shielding themselves from the rain as best they could in the short bush. They had not participated in the kill and were simply huddled together looking pretty miserable, just like any house cat would.
Momma Leopard
Baby Leopard
We had seen a momma Leopard and her cub on the first evening, sitting in the grass, but on this day we got to see them out and about. What a treat.
In the first two days, we had seen all of the "big five", and then some. "Big five" refers to lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and Cape buffalo. This was such an amazing experience, and there are so many pictures to share that I will end it here, and save a few more safari photos for my final installment. Stay tuned!
