This is going to be far shorter than the others; the lodge public computer is broken and the wifi connection is terribly slow. But once we get to a location we can post from, we will have some tales to tell. Just wanted to say we are having major adventures.

25 of us are now at Madikwe Hills. Here are a few photos from this morning's game drive.












When our ranger and tracker got lost in the bush, they radioed us in the range rover to head back to camp. Olivia manned the wheel and Grant took the tracker's seat. This picture was taken as the group enjoyed a rare African tiger sighting on the way back. ;)

BEAUTIFUL! Especially, the sunrise. What was with the coloration on one of the four animals? They were lions, weren't they? Is it just shadows from the bush?

So, where exactly were you when you took over the game drive? I remember our ranger and tracker left the jeep to track lions and left the vehicle door open, and we didn't budge!

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Eugene

Yes lions, you know it's hard to get these guys to get in just the right light for me and my nikon (shadows).

We were about 5km from the camp near the water hole and they were just checking the tracks to see if the lions were near...

Beautiful photos again, Grant. They make a great start to my morning. Looks like it was cold this morning, everyone is bundled up.

Ah .. we are now ensconced at Madikwe Hills. Those of you who are doing the safari part of GAME are in for a real treat. The lodge itself is more of a destination. We're on the southern end of the Kalahari Desert.

Animals? Not as many, but my god they are BIGGER. We may have a steroid problem, Houston. We got a lilac breasted roller flying not once, but twice, on the morning drive. Jaco is the man around here. We had a hyena pup posing outside the den this morning; lovely giraffe and zebra. During break time, three male kudu were indulging in the watering hole outside of #10. Great photos/video.

Pleasure, #7 Perpetual Ranking Member (who is doing Andrea & Len proud in #10 here)

Can't wait for some of the pictures that Anne describes.

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Eugene

STUNNING photos .... looks like you'll have some entries for travel photo contests.

Eugene, I was going to ask the same question, it almost looked like a Tasmanian devil cat! Grant, your pictures really are stunning!

Anne....you are making us crazy excited!!! We are dying to see the wonderful resort and our room! What wonderful pictures Grant...Thank you so much!

Those photos are certainly getting me excited. :hyper: Thanks, Grant... more please!!!!!

Anne, Crystal and I are in #3. What's the scouting report there?

Grant and Anne - A plus for commentary and pixs!!!! I am soooo enjoying your trip - Joanna

Love the photos!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Game is really creeping up on us, cannot believe a year has gone by this fast. I think I need to go out and get some Safari Wear!!!

FV

We still have to do the safari clothes shopping plus duffle bags. Guess we better get busy.

These photos and reports are making me so ready for Africa. Thanks for reporting in ROAR'ers.

Photos from Wednesday afternoon game drive:


Wild Dog



Warthog



White Rhino

Just fabulous, Grant!

More awesome pix! Thanks Grant!

Grant, what lenses are you using for these close-ups? These are SUPER.

AWESOME!!!!

>what lenses are you using for these close-ups? ?>These are SUPER

I use all nikon stuff,(sorry Ken, Rich, Len and all the Cannon guy's) just a d40 body and the 70-300 with VR and tiffen filter. More photo's later after dinner.

Ah .. another safari adventure coming to a close. Our big success today was seeing the hyena generations when Mom came home. The babysitter, Adolescent Hyena, was being bullied big time by his 3 younger and annoying brothers.

Our new ROAR 2 folks have mastered some, but not all, of the Safari Proficiency Scale. For all you ROAR 1 veterans, I suggest you pour your favorite sundowner, and settle back into your screen. Take your time .. we can wait.

All set? Here we go

We enjoyed meeting up with Tonya, John, Grant, Dena, Mitch, Bert and Jessie. They are near the front of the pack when it comes to Moonrise over Madikwe (MOM). Our range rover of 7 had two Coke Lights, 1 Dry Lemon, two mini red wines and one full white whine. Our compadres were loaded up with 4 white wines, 2 full red wines, brandy and cokes and the stamina to redefine sundowners to moonrisers. This is one standard we all must strive to meet or exceed.

We have several in our company who live life to the fullest and want to gain the most from every experience. Some new recruits have achieved the JTIT badge - Junior Tracker in Training. Others chose the specialist route. Birders are now BTITS - Bird Trackers in Training. ROAR 1 Veterans focused on general observation guides in training - GO GITS. John/Tonya and Co also eared the merit badge of After Sundown Specialist Trackers in Training Society- ASS TITS. For those with a particular hyena interest, we had those who achieved Wonderful Hyena Adventure Team Trackers In Training Society - WHAT TITS? Others were more successful with Safari Over Madikwe Everywhere Trackers in Training Society - SOME TITS.

Most, if not all, have earned the first time safari accolade -

The Union of Safari Habitat If Necessary, Though Hardly Elegant, By Utilizing Secretions Herewith - TUSH IN THE BUSH

We will need another run at this event, though. The newbies will need us to take them to the next level - Sundowners On Demand (SOD).

Enjoy .. next report will be either from or after the Serengeti.

Cheers, #7 Perpetual Ranking Member (PWI)

Grant, (and all reporters) thanks for taking the time to share with all of us! You're doing a FANTASTIC job and we love love love it !!

Oh Rose of the prose....John & Tonya have the Badge to be proud of. Ngaire should have a special pin made

We love the wild animal shots but how 'bout some wild LCT shots?? The ROAR 1 alumni need people pic's

Ann,
Make sure Ngaire has the descriptions of your acronyms for GAME. It sounds like you all are having a blast and we're looking forward to our safari in November. Say Hi to Rich for us.
Jim & Pat

Most of the Madikwe Hills gang is leaving today - our flight is in about 1/2 hour. Most are heading home but a few are on to other adventures. It's been a great experience and we will return some day. Here are a few photos from yesterday's game drives.

Suzie - we know our limitations. There is NO WAY we could top the Roar 1 alumni when it comes to pay per view pictures.

We were feeling the stress of last game drive. We toyed with inaugurating the moondowner tradition, but will leave that good idea to the GAME folks.

Jaco came through - baby rhino and mama with the sun rising over the road; ostrich; two spouting hippos; and in an over-the-top performance, a family of three males were recreating the Mannekin Pis live for our concluding wildlife setting.

Safe travels to all. Charlie and Rose are now on their way to East Africa to scout it out.

Pleasure, Anne

After bidding those who were staying on at Madikwe Hills farewell, we boarded our range rovers for the airport around 11 am. Pieter’s rover went first, gathering speed as we descended the steep drive. We expected to board our plan around 11:45 for the one hour hop to Johannesburg. Mother Nature had yet one more trick up her sleeve.

The rising heat brought several elephants to enjoy the water holes near camp, splashing themselves with water, mud and everything else in between. Circus elephants were never this fun to watch! Pieter cruised to a full stop as the elephants were traversing the road, alternately bathing on one side and eating the available greenery on the other. What to do? Elephants are always majestic and a delight to see, but da plane was in da plans. Pieter inched closer; the matriarch gave a mock charge – ears fully extended, head waggling, and grumbles. Pieter and Jaco convinced them the green two-ton monster had right of way. A few disgusted trumpets from the elephant band let loose as we passed by. Joke was on them – they were playing in the sewer runoff area.

Beth, Jim & Pam are in #3 at Madikwe Hills. The camp itself is all on raised wooden walkways and stairs are involved to get to and from all of the rooms. The closest rooms to the central areas are #2, 3, 5. 5 through 8 are up the stairs from main reception; 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 & 11/12 (little madikwe) are down the stairs. The room is pretty close to the main reception area as well as the dining/social rooms. Ngaire looked through all the rooms between changeover guests and may be able to fill in more details for you. Jim & Pat said the living area was four stairs up or down from the bedroom area. It should have a good view of the main watering hole near the dining area. Hope that helps.

Bring a small bottle of hair conditioner if you are going to Madikwe Hills. My recollection is they had it at Birkenhead House. Do dress in layers for the game drives. They have hand muffs for the early/late temperatures (but of course you can’t operate your camera through a hand muff). Alternatively, consider light gloves or possibly bicycle gloves if you are prone to being cold. Ear protection is also a good idea when the wind is whistling.

This trip was, in many ways, even more delightful than Roar 1. While the game drives in the Sabi Sands area are well known for the amount and range of animal sightings, I enjoyed the chance to see another area of the country in Madikwe. The variety of game lodges available on this trip were amazing and lent themselves to different kinds of experiences. The temptation to compare one experience to another was far less than on our first trip. I simply enjoyed being here and letting the day’s events unfold. The company was terrific; Ngaire did an amazing job of having us well organized and well looked after. Considering the complexity of this trip, I continue to be impressed with all Ngaire and her staff can accomplish for a lifetime trip such as this.

Pleasure, Anne

More beautiful photos, Grant.

Anne, you continue to outdo yourself by providing us with humorous and useful information. I hope Rose and Charlie will report in from East Africa.

So were that male/female pair still um...dating as they were when we were there earlier in the week?