...to safaris. The weather cleared for yesterday afternoon's game drive and all the animals came out to play - warthog, spotted hyenna, jackal and the usual water buffalo, kudu, bushbock and impala. We found a very sleepy and lonely lion resting under the shade of a large tree. But, the best was yet to come. We came upon a pride of 5 lions resting right beside the road. In fact, a female lion was asleep in the road. Our landrover was the only one there for 15 minutes as we watched the lions (who were about 10 to 15 feet away from us) slowly wake up in the fading light. They stretched, yawned and rolled over. Then, the lioness in the road walked beside our landrover and on to the road behind us. One by one, each lion followed her. The last, a male, came so close to the landrover that Alan (who was sitting on that side) was contemplating what to do if the lion popped in for a look, or perhpas a lick. It seems the lion didn't really care about Alan and conintued to follow his pride. We turned around to follow them. They all walked into the bush, did their business and disappeared for the night's hunt. By the time we stopped for our sundowner, it was almost dark. We stood in the road, sipping champagne as the lonley male lion roared for his brother. What a rush.

This morning we drove by a pond where the carcass of a young elephant is decaying. Yesterday the naturalist opened places in his skin to make it easier for the animals to eat. When we drove up today, vultures were in all of the surrounding trees and there was the lonely lion, guarding his food source. His belly was full and he could hardly stay awake.

Now, I'm off for a massage in our villa. Life is really tough, huh?

By the way, Andi, we're staying in Peregrine, the one at the end.

Tomorrow we meet the GAMERS at Madikwee. It will be hard to leave Ivory Lodge but we're looking forward to seeing old and new friends.

What a wonderful report. You have a gift for writing. Made me feel as if I was right there with you.
Pat

Fascinating Donna! Sounds as if your game drives have been very productive! I love your reports. Keep having fun!!!

Wow!!!!

Nancy

Pat

Wish we were back with you. You have a lovely private location. Now you understand why we asked Ngaire to book us back here for Roar3!!!

Glad you had a special time and hope madickwe grants you additional happy memories.

Wow - sure makes my life sound dull. Keep on having a wonderful time and telling us all about it!

Donna, it is so nice to see another become addicted to the safari experience! Since I was just there in September, I didn't sign up, but hearing of your day today makes me wish I had! I will see you at Birkenhead! My two trips to Africa are at the top of my list of memories of a lifetime, and for my daughters as well!

Donna: Tony is second guessing, based on your review, CPT to Lauderdale OR CPT to Rio, with safari - too late now but love your reports - see you at BH

Donna, Thanks for such a wonderfully written description of your experiences.

Timing - things change so much with timing.

For all those that were at Madikwe on ROAR ll with the first rains about a week ago came GREEN. All those black burn spots are now a bright emerald green it is to pretty here it is like a different place. No dust at all. Downside with the green season there are more bugs.

We have lucked out so far and it has not been that hot. Not cold either although for a very short time this morning I used the blanket. WAKE UP AT 4.30 AM. Out at 5.00 am. YIKES! It can just get so hot after around 9.00 am at this time of year they are going out earlier and coming in earlier.

Donna and Alan said they could not go off road at Lions Sands due to the heavy rains and so they were completely limited to the roads. Meanwhile they have been able to go off road in Madikwe Hills and have loved that. Timing you just never know how it is all going to come together.

I hope where Marcie, Tom, Frank and Carla are the off roading is still available. Although it is all Sabi Sands, Lion Sands and Savanna are quite a distance from each other.

We have had two game drives with some of the highlights being a 2 day old giraffe, some good lion sightings and two male lion brothers roaring to each other to locate one another. Donna, Alan,Cindy and David were right next to one of the roaring male lions. Franz one of the rangers here did something I had never seen. We were a little distance from a jackal. He made a call and the jackal stopped, and immediately responded to the call. The jackal came right over to our vehicle. Then the jackal called back in reponse to Franz's call right at the land rover. Watching a calling jackal is so neat. The jackal walked around the vehicle, gave up and trotted back into the bush. It was fantastic I have never seen a ranger do that before. The spotted hyena den we drove past but they were not out.

As an update to the Roar ll group. The rangers said the little spotted hyena that the mother would not feed is still doing well but shunned by the rest of the family and often is sitting outside by itself.

The two wild dogs were released from the enclosure. They did not get any additional wild dogs as they hoped they might. The other wild dog group just had 5 new pups and are now 16 strong. We just hope the big pack of wild dogs does not find the other two wild dogs or they will be killed.

The Brown Hyena den was visited by Donna, Alan, David and Cindy's landrover and they saw the brown hyena pup it came out for a viewing.

I am anxiously awaiting news of the group getting off the Navigator coming from Richards Bay. I like being with people as they travel so I can be sure all goes well. They have some complicated logistics in getting from Richards Bay to Madikwe and wont arrive until around 4.30 to 5.00 pm.

WE MADE IT!!!!! The ten of us had no problems getting to Madikwe from Richards Bay. Ngaire had everything planned for us and it came together like clock work. Crystal and I are here with the rest of the Madikwe Hills GAMErs. What fun we are having. On our morning drive we were with Caroyln & Don, David, Franz our ranger and Max our tracker. We were so lucky and saw loads of elephants, zebra, giraffes, wildebeast, hyenas hiding in their den and heard two brother lions calling to each other. It is all fabulous. After breakfast, we had two rounds of Pooch. Leaving in an hour or so for your 2nd drive. Can't wait!!!

Great to hear from you all. Enjoy, and keep the safarimail coming!!!

We had some heavy rains that were spectacular to watch but messed up many of the roads and inhibited access to the areas of the best game. So the last two game drives were slower than the previous game drives. Always the reason to have at least three days as you never know what may develop.

The group from Richards Bay at Mateya are still there so I hope no more rain came and some roads opened up. The temperatures were cool which is wonderful but then the roads do not dry out as well.

After a long travel day we arrived at Birkenhead House. It feels like coming home. So nice to see Tony, Joanna, Olivia and Peggy. Had an incredible dinner last night and the whales are still here and breaching and hitting their flippers outside Birkenhead House.

I thought the shark viewing would be off because it is windy but the wind is coming from the right direction which means no swells so we ARE ON. I am so happy as I really wanted to go, I was so disappointed on ROAR not to get out to the sharks. We leave in about 30 minutes.

So will report back in when we get back.

oops wrong spot....moved to the SAMBA/GAME thread.

Donna that was our room. It was pure heaven. Who was your guide and sorry to hear you couldn't go off road. I must say our trip with off-roading was quite an adventure...I think my back finally improved...LOL.

Don't know when I'll have time to post photos but I have been updating my blog. Here are the posts for Lion Sands:

http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-346827.html

http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-347427.html

http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-348400.html

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