wrap up....

i've been home now for a few days...trying to get over jetlag...read all my mail...unpack...all those fun things that you have to do...but, i keep thinking about the amazing sights i just saw...and to wrap up our trip, here are a few thoughts...what gorgeous country is in africa...it's huge, alot of empty land..the parts we saw had alot of bush, trees, and alot of water...the water in mozambique in the ocean was unreal...what a beautiful color of turqouise...victoria falls was unreal...so much water everywhere!!..we also saw  the most amazing animals there...we saw a pack of wild dogs, a coalition of cheetahs, a troop of baboons, a herd of elephants, a pride of lions, a journey of giraffes, an implausibility of gnus, a pod of hippos, a crash of rhinos, and a dazzle of zebras....those are pretty fun, aren't they?...we also saw huge swarms of insects,and maybe waaaaaay to many spiders, which are everywhere!!!  a flutter of butterflies, a host of sparrows, a company of parrots, a mustering of storks, a convocation of eagles, and a committee of vultures...we were also able to meet some of the nicest people...they trully made us feel welcome in their country...it's always so interesting to talk and learn about another culture and country...it's fun to eat different foods...we had croc (not the best), alot of antelope (pretty good), fish, crayfish, ostrich, the best granola, and of course biltong which is really just beef jerky...they love it and serve it with everything...we flew on all sizes of planes...the smallest was a 4 seater, 6 seater, 10 seater, and a helicopter...right up to a jumbo jet...cured any fear of flying in small planes or with pilots that aren't yet 20. and then kerry and russ flew off the bridge, without a plane!!...and then, this is a big one for me...i traveled with a bag weighing only 33 lbs.!!! i always overpack...and now i know...it can be done!!!  it was a fantastic experience...and i wish i was still there...luckily we only saw part of africa...so, we'll have to go back...can't wait!

eagle island

yesterday we left khwai river...before leaving we went on our last game drive with leopard..he was driving pretty slow, then heard that there were some lions spotted somewhere, so we took off...we went into the bush and it's crazy when you go into the bush here...they drive over bushes, trees, anything that gets in the way...thought we were goners at certain points...but, we never saw the lions...just paw prints...so, we flew down to eagle island...it's in the middle of a ookorngoo delta...surrounded by water, so instead of drives you go on boats...last night we saw alot of hippos...our guide got us pretty close to them....the way they go under the water and pop up is sort of scary and creepy...and they move fast also...speaking of hippos, i guess at night they sometimes come up by our tents...we heard them leaving this morning...we saw baboons in the trees by our tent..early this morning we went out in the boat, then went to this area where they have mekora boats or canoes...we got in them and went into a more shallow area of the delta...i love it when they say 'keep your arms, hands etc. in the boat, the reeds are sharp and can cut you'...then, as we floated, there were so many reeds hitting my face and body...plus all these knat flies that are all over...spiders, webs, we saw teeny tiny frogs..yesterday we found a green one on the boat, about 1/2 in. the kids named him pogo...when we got to another island we got out and went for a hike...it was cool, we've seen the animals, but, now we were on the same level...we saw a tree full of baboons...they all came down, staring at us...the oldest and biggest wast about 10 ft. away from us...then we saw zebras, wild beasts, and impalas...we saw temite hills that are taller than russ...plus they go down in the earth another 30 ft....we were told the locals dry the termites, grind them up and eat them! yuck...so, it was a fun morning..right now wer'e going on a helicopter ride...so more later!

this afternoon we went for a helicopter ride over the delta...it was beautiful...the delta is formed from a river, that’s like the arm, then the delta is the fingers...from the air it looks like there are many, many golfcourses...but, it’s really all marsh lands...the water is so clear...we saw hippos and you could see every bit of them...we saw giraffes, wild beasts, zebras, impalas, elephants...it was really neat to see them from the air...after brunch we went to the pool since it was a gorgeous day...in the afternoon for our game ride we went on a party type boat with another couple from australia...it was fun to talk to them...they were also at our last lodge...they are on their honeymoon...he surprised her, until they were going to the airport she didn’t know where they were going...it was a nice time..we saw alot of hippos, eagles, other birds...then, back and after about an hour...dinner...they feed you alot in these camps...early morning tea or hot chocolate at 6 am....after the game drive...breakfast/brunch, after the free time...lunch/tea, after the night time game ride, dinner...non stop, plus they give you a snack on the game drives...this camp has been fun because of the water aspect..only problem, so many, many mosquitos!! my feet are a mess!!! oh well...that’s the price you pay....tomorrow after our last game ride we’ll fly to a little town called maun, then catch a flight to joburg...then onto mozambique the next day!

well, we made to joburg...took a plane from eagle island to maun...then to joburg...tomorrow our last stop...bazaruto...

sunday and monday at tintswalo

sunday

sunday afternoon

monday morning

russell's 'guest'

these posts were written over a few days...no internet to speak of...so, it's pretty long...

what a day we had today...it’s sunday the 18th...i’m writing this and then will have to post it tomorrow...we have no internet in our rooms...guess we’re roughing it!!! haha...not at all....anyway, we left capetown at 10 am and flew to neuspirit...we were met at the baggage and then we got on a small little plane...a 4 seater! it was our first light aircraft flight...we flew up and over the the hills and mountains..then, it got flatter...a few paved roads, mostly dirt roads...after about 1/2 hour, we landed on a dirt runway...we were met by the people from tintswalo lodge, we got in the land cruiser after having a drink of juice and drove to the lodge.on the way we saw a few water buffalo..we are staying in this beautiful house...it’s got 2 bedrooms, living and kitchen, outdoor deck with a plunge pool...thatch roof and stone walls.outside it’s all bush, there’s an electric sort of fence to keep elephants out of our area!..it’s really nice...we’re sort of off from the main lodge, we haven’t seen it yet...and that’s where the internet is...after getting settled our butler (when we told them we didn’t drink, he couldn’t believe it!)and cook (!) gave us a delicious lunch, we then had an hour to kill before our first game drive...we went out about 4pm for the afternoon game drive...i guess you go early in the morning and late afternoon...so we’re in a re-fitted land cruiser...sort of and indiana jones type car...there is the driver, and a spotter sits on the front..we’re in the back...so, we drive along and first we see more water buffalo, they were wallowing in a pool of mostly mud...guess they love it...then we saw a herd impala (like antelope), we drove along and on their radio they heard about a leopard sighting, so we drove to it, down twisty dirt roads, we have to bend over to not get hit by tree branches or spider webs...we got to the area, the spotter saw a cub, we didn’t..they were making their own roads, just driving anywhere they could...unreal...we left and drove awhile, we saw some cheetas, they haven’t been in this area for a few months...gorgeous animals...then we saw a herd of elephants walking to a watering hole...then some hippos in a big pond of water..we also saw birds, rabbits,monkeys and a vulture.a bit later we stopped for a drink and treats..russ told me that he thought he was allergic to the bug spray, was having a reaction....i’m getting the idea that we mostly eat here! and it’s really great food! as we were driving back we saw a hyena, he is also not seen very much...so we lucked out....came home to a delicious dinner served out on the deck...could very easily get used to this..more later...

it’s monday afternoon in africa...last night we had a huge lightening and thunder storm...really lit up the sky, all night long...then it started pouring really hard...so our morning game drive was postponed...about 7 am russ woke up to a new friend! we thought it was a tarantula, but they said it was a baboon spider...it was on the outside netting of his bed...looking in! lots of creepy crawlies here...it’s one of the poisonous types that are here...great! we then got ready for our ride...for about an hour we saw nothing...driving driving...but, then we saw a water buck, looks like our deer, then we saw elephants, rhinos, giraffes, wild beasties, monkeys, zebras, hogwarts, it was really neat...you don’t see them all together, you just drive to spots and hopefully spot them...afterwards we came home to our breakfast which we eat with our guide...he’s a great guy...knows so much, really nice...then we have the afternoon to kill, so we had spa treatments...lunch...they just keep feeding you here...it rained this afternoon, but is clearing up now...this morning we were slipping and sliding all around...it’s really an adventure ride...more later...

tuesday, wednesday in tintswalo

tuesday morning

tues. afternoon

tues. night

i never saw a tree i couldn’t drive over!

today (tues,) we got up at 5:30 to go on the game drive...we were hunting lion and leopard....it’s hard to find these animals, they look for tracks and then listen for different noises...so we drove and drove around this morning...as we drove we saw impala, zebras, gnu (a dumb animal they told us), elephant, giraffes etc..when we saw tracks they would stop the car, fix the 4 wheel drive on the tires, and we would take off! off we would go carving our own road..driving over anything that’s in our way...we bend down to miss being swiped by trees, bushes and spiderwebs...they have huge at least 2 inch spiders in them..our tracker has his trusty branch that he swipes the webs with but, if he doesn’t we duck! we saw termite hills...they are at least 5 ft tall and take many years to build...it’s pretty cool so early in the morning but we are given blankets and hot water bottles to keep us warm...every once in a while we run across another car and the guides stop to chat...we didn’t see the lions or leopards...our guide is going out to look for more tracks...he thinks he know where a pride of about 15 lions might be...so hopefully we’ll see them this afternoon...in the meantime, we are going to a local village to see some of the tribal life...

on tuesday after our game drive we went to a nearby village to see what their lifestyle is like...it’s a little village built of brick type houses...the richest man in town has 19 donkeys...everyone rents them to do work since they don’t have cars...we went to the school...we went into every grade, visited with the children...they were all very nice...wanted to show us what they were working on...they don’t have much to work with, old books, magazines etc...but, they all can speak english...one girl did a dance, sort of a hiphop dance...some boys did a little tribal dance, using a chair as a drum...we then went to the youngest class...what dolls! they sang about 5 songs for us...so cute...afterwards we went to the chiefs house...he’s 87 had 2 wives but one died...the ladies of his family did some tribal dances...fun to watch...then our guide joined in and then they made each of us get up and dance with them....fun times...

this afternoon we went back out on the game drive...driving and driving, looking for lions...we drove to the far side of the park...we heard some lions and saw their tracks, but could not find them...then we drove to the other side of the park...it was dark and our guides were about to give up, when around a corner in the middle of the road was a pride of lions! about 7 lions...they were so cool to see...the guides told us as long as we sit still, don’t stand up in the car, the lions won’t do anything to us...at one point we were surrounded by them...sort of freaky...they can jump pretty high...one actually dove for a rabbit that headed towards our car...it was really neat...and worth all the driving around...so tomorrow, our last drive here...hopefully we’ll see a leopard...

this morning (wed) got up at 5:30 again, greeted by eric our guide..he had made hot chocolate for us with a bisquit...then off to the car with our hot water bottles...it was cold this morning...it’s rained every night, luckily not during the day except for some sprinkles today..we’re driving around and all of the sudden we stop...he’s noticed leopard tracks..2 of them, so we take off in the bush...we are ducking trees, spiders and webs...all of the sudden, we’re stuck! finally, we get out...we hear the leopard roar...so we’re off again...we’re stuck 2 more times...the third time we had just seen the leopard through the trees...at least kerry did...but, we got stuck on an old log...finally another guide brought his car over and pulled us out...we chased the leopard for awhile, but, never found it....after we lost it, eric started showing us different plants as we drove...a poisonous tree that has a latex type substance inside that will blind you...it’s branches can’t be used for fires, they are poisonous also...the bush that when you strip the bark and smash the branch down, it makes a toothbrush like thing...then we found wild mint, for brushing...it is also good for coughs, asthma...the tree branch that if you eat the leaves (nasty) it helps heartburn...and when you strip all the leaves away, you can twist it into a rope...very strong....also the good luck bush...it’s very soft leaves are used for baby’s beds...it is considered good luck to carry with you..it can also be use for toilet paper! we also saw more rhinos, zebras, gnu--eric thinks they are dumb and that they have the zebras stripes, the head of a buffalo, the legs of impala...put together with all the ‘left over’ parts, he says! we also saw alot of vultures...eagles...so, we’re leaving now to go to johannesburg or joburg as they call it...then onto zambia tomorrow morning...it’s been amazing here...

when i think about traveling, i love to see different places...to see how people live...i love to learn about different cultures...to hear different accents and different ways of doing things...the world is so amazing and different, but when it all comes down to it...everyone wants the same thing...we all want our families to be safe, healthy and happy...we all have the same issues in life...whether it is in california or south africa...we worry about our children and hope they’ll grow up into good adults...it’s fantastic to see that we are all very different, but so much the same...that's my little philosophy for the moment...well, tomorrow we leave for victoria falls...not sure if we'll have internet, hopefully!

i

africa

hope we see some live animals!