On Safari
We did not have access to computers or the internet for the last 10 days of our trip. And so much happened during that time. First, we are also back in Seattle now. We arrived on Wednesday afternoon after 24 hours of flying. It takes 9 hours just to go from Jo-berg to the north coast of the African continent. Secondly, we experience great traveling mercies. No one was sick, no one had the trots, no car accidents, only minor confusion as to where to go, and how to get there. We never felt unsafe, threatened etc. The weather was good -- lots of rain with thunder and lightening, but only once did I get soaked running to the car. Ultimately, these littke things add up and make the trip very comfortable.
March 4
We arrived at Gomo Gomo Tuesday afternoon just in time for lunch. Traveling with us is Anton and Tookie, his wife; and Cepho and his financee Peggy. Anton is the DRC pastor in Oudshooren (I can't find the correct spelling of the town, sorry). Cepho is the pastor of the URCSA in Kgautswane a nearby rural area. Anton and Cepho have a good working relationship, and we are hoping that our time together will strenghten that relationship.
About 4 pm we set off on our first safarri ride. We are in an open vehicle, and are told to sit at all times. Off we go through the bush, down this straight road (I think all the roads in SA are straight as an arrow). We see birds, lots of different birds. Tookie is an avid bird watcher and is very excited about our finds. I must say, I don't recognize most of the birds,
Shortly we come to a stop, the drive Johan, and the tracking guide grab the rifle, tell us to stay seated and hushed. And they walk away.
We're not exactly sure what is happening.
Upon their return, they jump back on, throw the vehicle in reverse, and speed off into the bush - slowing in front of a pride of 4 lions. We stop about 5-10 feet above them: one male, three females, acting like all cats in the summer sun. The oldest female is about 17 years old.
We could hardly arouse the interest of the lions, though they did raise their heads and yawn at us a bit. We were off to find rhinos, buffalo, impala, kudo. However our goal was to track a lepard. Pawprints and scat were found. We came across a couple hyenas also tracking the lepard. In the end, we only found a lepard turtle, the next day. We have nothing to complain about -- for we found 3 of the big five on the first outing.
We returned to the camp for dinner, around an open five. It felt like we were on Survivor -- and being treated to our last meal. We could not wander around the camp alone at night - one of the staff had to walk us back to our rooms. Incense coils were burning to keep the bugs at bay. Of course, someone brought up the African Black Mamba snake just before departing for rooms -- left me with something to ponder in my dreams. I state this because that is only thing that caused me to feel "unsafe" throughout the entire trip.
The next morning we were aroused at 5 am, and off by 6 for another adventure in the bush. Not far out we came across a herd of elephants, We watched as they striped leaves off trees, and shook trees out of the ground. Huge animals, gentle animals.
Upon return we enjoyed breakfast and then a walking tour - giving us a chance to see some of the smaller critters that can escape notice. Johan found millipeds, chick-quid, huge termite hills, huge spiders. He showed us trees whose leaves can be used as soft TP. We dug through elephant dung to find the dung bettle - an important part of the African eco-system.
Our evening drive took us back to the lion pride -- it seems that they hadn't moved very far, and were still uninterested in us. Later we came across a gariffe, and a rhino, flocks of birds and a few impala.
On our last drive we find two spider webs that have captured small birds. Johan stopped the vehicle and freed both. The web had captured the birds by their legs. We continued the search for the lepard, but to no avail.