Game Drives

The first game drive I went on we saw 3 rhinos and a pride of 17 lions! The pride is usually 20, the 2 males and 1 adult female wasn't with the bunch. The were napping, it was like a sea of lions! It was amazing. You could tell they had a kill recently because you could see the blood stains on their fur and they had full bellies. Some other highlights of the game drives was more lions. I saw so many lions on this trip. I saw 2 male lions napping, the pride of 17 on another day hunting. They gave up and we moved on we also the missing adult female with another male that wasn't one of the pride males. We saw a spotted hyena, slender and banded mongoose, springbok, waterbuck, impala, red hartebeeste, wildebeest, steenbok, kudu, bushbuck, giraffe, zebra , elephant, hippos, water monitor, black backed jackel, baboon, vervet monkey and 7 new birds. I have 2 unidentified so I might have a few more.

The reason I didn't walk around camp was because of the pride of 17 lions. They were very near the lodge. I was the only one around and I was scared the lions would come and get me! The lions were outside one of the cabins a few nights before I got there so I didn't want to take a chance. I didn't see the wild dogs again! I couldn't believe it. It make so mad! We went to find them on the afternoon game drive because the den was far from camp. We hung out at a waterhole for awile and then headed back to camp because it would take about 45 minutes to get back. It was getting dark and we heard over the radio the dogs were at the water hole we left, killed a kudu and then had the kill stolen from them by hyaena's. Even though I was the only one on my last 2 game drives we didn't try to find them again. Hopefully I will see them the next time. I know where they den now and will pick a lodge closer to them. ?Unfortunately it will be far away from the big pride of lions but I really want to see those dogs!

Makanyane Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve

I decided to go to Madikwe last minute. I got off work at 1pm and went back to the apartment to see if I could get into a lodge. I tried the Madikwe River Lodge where dad and Cindy stayed but I had a hard time. I remembered he say a lot of lions and the wild dogs so I tried the lodge close to it which was Makanyane. Lynette was very friendly and gave me a special rate and I was on my way. Nha drove me to the border and then I was picked up by the guy who gave me rides last year. He took me to the lodge from there. The lodge was right on the Marico river. Last year I was at Tau lodge which was fenced and the River lodge was fenced too. I assumed this would be fenced also but it wasn't. This lodge had its own property too, like in north Botswana, it was a private concession. None of the other lodges could go onto the property. I got there after 4pm so I missed going out on the afternoon game drive. I was shown to my room(little house) which was also on the river.

The room was huge and so nice. I think it is the 2nd nicest place I have been. The Cape Town accommodation last year is still the best. I was in cabin #4 and it was called leadwood. THere was a big leadwood tree in my room between the bathroom and the bedroom area. There was a indoor and an outdoor shower, a big clawfoot tub. My sister would love it, the water is so hot!
I took a bath everynight with a view out to the river. It was great! I had dinner in my room twice. I was the only one there basically. I had wildebeest, impala, springbok and ostrich while I was there. I also had carrot and cumin soup that was delicious and the best desserts! During the day I would hang out in the lounge chairs and read my book hoping for the birds to come around. I did see a few new ones! I didn't wander around the camp. I was a bit nervous with it not being fenced. You will find out why from my next post!

My 1st week

My 1st week wasn't very eventful. It was all work work work. Many of you know I don't like to work overtime. Well it is so busy here that's all we do. My 1st week I worked 15 hours of overtime! I was so tired. It is so different than last year that is for sure. It is dark when we get home from work and I am so tired I really don't do anything. I don't even talk on skype most of the days. It sucks now too since someone got me a webcam for my b-day, I look worn out and terrible and everyone says how tired I look. Nice! It's holiday weekend after working OT on Sat. We are off on Mon and Tues, Botswana holiday. Last minute I booked at Madikwe for safari until Tuesday afternoon. I was suprised I got in. It is slow after world cup luckily.

I made it!

I made it to Botswana much smoother this year. There wasn't the airport drama like, thank god! My mom took me to the airport early Thursday morning. I got upgraded to 1st class to Atl so that was great! I had a 4 hour layover in Atlanta so I called Andrea to see if she Buck and Allison would meet me at the airport so I could meet Allison for the 1st time. They came to meet me and I was to meet themat the baggage claim area so we could go over to the atrium and sit and have some lunch.

I made it off the plane quick and headed over on the tram to the baggage area. When I got off the escalator I saw Buck, Andrea and Allison who was holding a sign she made that said welcome Aunt Jen. We headed over to the restaurant area and found a table for the 4 of us. We sat and talked for a while and then Allison wanted me to color with her so we booted her dad out of his seat. ha ha! We colored for a while and then I got a sandwich and asked Allison if she wanted anything. I did ask Andrea 1st if it could be anything she wanted and she said yes. Allison didn't know what she wanted so I showed her all the pastries and cookies. She didn't want a cookie becasue she already had on that day so she said she wanted a cupcake. She then changed her mind and wanted a piece of carrot cake cheese cake. She ate her cake and I my sandwich. She got a bit of a sugar high, ha ha that is what aunts are for!! It was then time for me to go to get my plane to Jo'burg. We said our goodbyes and I promised Allison I would come and visit her when I got back from Africa and the weather was nice in Atlanta. She has to plan all the places she wants to go with me in the meantime. It was great being able to spend my layover with them.

I got through secrurity quick and only had to wait 45 minutes to board the plane. It was a full flight and I couldn't upgrade unless I paid $900 and that isn't really worth it, I would rather go on safari! There were no delays in Atlana this time. I was scared because of the World Cup final that the plane would be oversold and it would be drama like last year. I arrived in Jo'burg with over 1 1/2 hours to get through the transfer terminal and get to the gate. I got to the gate and chatted with some of the people around me and the time kept passing. It said we were boarding but there was no announcement. Finally it said DELAYED! I couldn't believe it. Here we go again. It only ended up being 1 hour.

We finally boarded the plane and I sat next to a girl from Texas who was going to Gabs for the 1st time and she would only be here 4 days. I told her all the places to see, eat and shop. The flight attendent was really nice.I had 2 beers on my short flight and I hadn't eated so I was feeling no pain. We got off and went through customs. All my bads arrived! I was shocked especially since 2 were over 50 lbs. Wai Man was waiting for me at the airport which was remolded. I couldn't believe it, it looks like a modern airport now. We ended up taking Aurian to her hotel and then Wai man took me to Riverwalk so I could get som Nandos! Yum, strips and rice with chips and tapatio. I am in heaven. I have the same apartment as last year. Hopefully today I can go get my Wispers of Summer!