From Helen (Ms Understood)& Jerry, Jan and Fred, and Linda and Ron - at Leopard Hills Lodge, Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sorry we haven't posted as we are having too much fun and seeing so many things.

Tintswalo was our first stop and Fritz and Simon our Ranger/Tracker team. The first afternoon after we arrived we found a mother leopard and two cubs walking through tall grasses. Since they can go off road here, we followed them for at least 30 minutes and saw the mother leopard kill a small bird and give it to one of the cubs. Lions are hard to find at Tintswalo as the only pride in the area is composed of 6 male lions who have banded together and have run all the other prides away. We did finally see two of them with a female the last day. At Tintswalo we saw lots of herd animals, i.e. cape buffalo (we saw two large herds that they got us right into the middle of as they went around us), wildebeasts, zebras (which are now called Quaco (sp?) because they are really a breed thought to be extinct), impallas, water bucks, nyalas, bushbucks, and of course elephants. We were the only people there and we had our own private lodge! We enjoyed the people, the food, and the game.

We are now at Leopard Hills and the sightings have been amazing. First afternoon - THE DOGS - we arrived in late afternoon at the den in an old aardvark next with several adult dogs just laying around. Some other adults came back and got the pups out of the den. There are eight 7-month old pups and we got to see a lot of interaction between the pups and the adults and the pups and pups. Then we went to a dry river bed where it was reported a pride of lions were eating on a buffalo. Poor buffalo had been maimed by a honey badger, gotten sick and finally been killed by the rangers. They left the buffalo in the river bed where the lions had been eating on it for 4 days (it smelled rank, at best). While we were watching, it became quite dark and our tracker saw some eyes coming down the bank and thought we might have a hyenea - but NO, IT WAS A VERY LARGE CROCKODILE!!!

Two of the younger lionesses decided to check it out. One got close to the tail and the Crock took exception to its curosity, opened its mouth and gave a loud hiss. The lion jumped back and thought again about this new intruder. But she didn't give up...she came back and gave the crock a swat in the face, like a cat would do to a mouse. The Crock didn't like that but only opened his mouth and hissed again and the lion decided that was enough. Raymond, our ranger, was so excited but we were not in a place where his radio worked and so he couldn't tell anyone until we got out of the river bed. He says this was a special event!! Linda got video of both encounters and hopefully they will be posted soon on the Leopard Hills blog.

We have seen several leopards, we saw an entire pride of lions, three females, two cubs and one mail, with their early morning kill. Raymond was so happy to find it since we spent time last evening trying to fine one of the mothers and clubs. We were first to the site and it was great. We got to see some interaction between the large male, i.e. he wouldn't let the female eat and as we approached the female jumped out of the brush and scared Jan badly. Linda assured her it was about the food, not us!

We have also since Rhino, giraffes, antelope, nyalas, water buck, but not as many as at Tintswalo. They tell us there are so many cats, ie lions and leopards, that the large animals have been killed or have moved out.

They had a fire here right before we came and Unit 1 burned to the ground, but they were able to contain the fire to only that unit. Jan and Fred were supposed to be in that unit, so now they are in a tent...just joking!

We all really love this place and we are getting ready to go on the afternoon drive now!

Sounds amazing. Glad you are having fun. What caused the fire? Who is your ranger at Leopard Hills?

Thanks for posting Jan I have been getting short emails from Linda but great to read about your adventures.

Safari is interesting I call it 45 minutes of nothing for 15 minutes of an amazing sighting. We did the same thing trying to find a lioness and her two young cubs I think at Lion Sands but it could have been Leopard Hills. Tracking the prints took all morning and we could not find them. Next day we turned a corner and there they were walking down the road.

Leopards to me are the BEST and a mother and two cubs at Tintswalo sounded great. I believe we saw the mother as she was lactating and they said she had two cubs but we never got to see the cubs. So glad you did and seeing her offer a bird to them priceless. That qualifies as seeing a kill! That is the nice thing about Tintswalo if you find something you can stay there.

We saw those male lions a LOT. In fact the first night we found the four of them together and they stalked and jumped on the back of a Cape Buffalo. The Buffalo got away. I think we saw them everyday.

That is what is amazing it is "nature" not wildlife on demand and things change from day to day. What you see with animal behavior will never be exactly the same at a different time. Wind kills the game drive, even a light wind the animals do not move in the wind, they cant hear danger.

That interaction with the crocodile sounded absolutely thrilling I have never seen anything like that. Plus finding that lion pride "WITHOUT YOUR RADIO WORKING" now that means you can stay there as long as you like. Good idea for the future, "darn that radio did not work"

I was told a few days ago they are going to refurbish the rooms at Leopard Hills. This fire may have been the catalyst for that change as it will have to be rebuilt and then they will need to bring the rest of the rooms up to the same standard. The rooms are nice but they need updating and then Leopard Hills will be even better!

I know Helen is coming home soon and you and Fred, Linda and Ron are going onto Lion Sands. Your stamina is amazing you have been travelling now for about four months. You two are tough cookies!! Spend some time in your room at Lions Sands and enjoy the luxury it offers you deserve that. Maybe even sleep in one morning with a instruction to Linda she has to lie and say she saw nothing.

They think the fire was caused by an electrical short. No one was in the unit at that time. They are already working on rebuilding and Duncan has said that they are taking the opportunity to do some redesign of the units and this is a chance to see how it will work.

Our ranger is Raymond and our tracker is Simon...they are the best!

This morning we saw the male lion that had been roaring all morning at the water hole..we almost drove over his tail before we saw him drinking. We followed him for a while. Then got into a huge herd of elephants who did not want us to pass them. We watched while they took dirt baths in the road. Next was a water hole full of hippos that were more out of the water than we have seen before...I think there were about 10 of them. And a huge crocodile just laying on the bank. Finally, a big giraffe. Quite a morning drive.

Guess I could not just let everyone else do all the posting. I am having just the best time, Africa is everything I expected and more. Today our fearless ranger Raymond and our equally bold tracker Simon took us down to the water hole and a close encounter with a lion having a drink. He walked so close to the vehicle we worried for Simon's extremities, but the lion just kept on going. He gave us a few roars and went on down the road. This is my first safari and I am struck by how little the animals care about the vehicles and how close we can get. It is pretty amazing.And totally awe-inspiring.I now understand why people come here again and again. Before returning to the lodge we encountered a giraffe and Raymond let us get out of the Land Rover and walk aways into the bush to get some great photos. This is truly the trip of a lifetime!!!
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Helen

Helen, so happy it is everything you expected and more. This is exactly how we felt on our first safari. The wild animals don't look at the range rovers as predators as long as there's no herky jerky sounds/movement from within.

Keep enjoying such a surreal experience!

As we all know only too well, all great trips must end. Jerry and I will leave here at Leopard Hills for the airstrip in a few hours, Linda Ron Jan and Fred, the lucky ducks, will leave ahead of us for Lion Sands. Last night we were treated to the spectacle of the wild dog pack on the hunt. All 6 of them trotted along the road in front of us for awhile, then someone smelled/saw/heard the impala herd and off they went like a bolt. Running running running, but the Impala heard/saw/smelled them coming and took off too. It was really exciting and I at least was happy that the implala all got away!Back to the real world for us.
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Helen

Ken just put up his ROAR lll pictures on www.ngaire.smugmug.com

This links directly to ROAR lll
http://ngaire.smugmug.com/AFRICA/Africa-Tours/Roar-III/17310137_ZCV7KL#1315922275_6nPBC2h

We spent two nights at TINTSWALO then four nights at LEOPARD HILLS then two more nights at TINTSWALO then three nights at LION SANDS. The pictures are in the order Ken took them that is why it is back and forth with Tintswalo.

If anyone wants any of these you can download them from the website very easily.

Brings back great memories just looking at these shots. I looked at the other trips too and realised we do not have LION up there I will get Ken (in his spare time) to put those pictures up also.

WOW! Spectacular. Thank you, Ken!

I agree with you Kim awsome pictures!


(And to think....I was excited about seeing a pair of Cardnals in my back yard this morning... until I saw these pics!)

Same here Arlene my back yard Cardinals were exciting until I saw Ken's pixs!!! WOW

And if South Africans were visiting here, they WOULD swoon over the cardinals in our back yards :D - no such bird in their world.

Shall we start marketing an exchange program? A safari through the wilds of Florida (early bird dinners; outlet shopping; everglades on the air boats; theme parks) in exchange for an African safari? It's a thought

Cheers, Anne

Wow, what a great way to wake up in the morning. Great pictures. I'm really looking forward to the next safari.

We are now on our way home after 4.5 months of traveling. Lion Sands lived up to it's name. We had two different lion family encounters with the Charleston pride and their 3 cubs. We got so close and got to watch them interact with each other. Last night was rhino night. We first encountered 2 "teenagers " playing at fighting. Landon, our ranger, estimated they were about 5 and 7 years old. They were pushing and shoving and all of a sudden, they decided to see if we would play. They both came right up to the Land Rover on my side. We could have reached out and touched them. They were just looking at us like...don't you want to play. If that wasn't enough, we went around the corner and found 4 rhinos doing the same thing!!!

The last morning we encountered the lions again walking down the road. All of them!! 3 cubs, 4 lionesses 2 males and got to watch them for a long time.
There is just too much to tell so I'll quit now. I will post pictures when we get home.

We really enjoyed traveling with Helen, Jerry, and Linda and Ron. Now that everyone else has left, we have to make our own way to the check-in counter tomorrow evening to start the long trip home.

Jan and Fred

Bet you were a little bit stressed by the rhino invitation to join the fun, Jan! We truly enjoyed travelling with you and Fred as well. Have a safe trip home!
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Helen

Jan, You and Fred are heading home? What will you do with yourselves until the next trip? Your playful evening game drive sounds like a fun, fun night.

What will we do without SA posts? I want to go back NOW.

We are home after 32 hours plus of flying and layover time. Because we got to use out Amex points for first class, the flights were not as bad as they could have been. We flew British Air on 747's with the layflat beds that they make up. We actually did get a bit of sleep from Joburg to London and a nap from Lond to Dallas. The only fought spot was in Dallas. There were so many international flights that landed at the same time, we stood in line for more than one hour just to get to the custom clearance spot. Luckily, we had a four hour flight layover so we didn't miss our plane but a lot of ours did.

The luggage from Luggage Free arrived yesterday so I'm up to my ears in unpacking. I haven't even got all my photo cards uploaded.

Hopefully, I'll get a review done and some pictures posted before the next trip!

We had such a great time with Helen, Jerry, Linda and Ron. All of the places we stayed were magnificent..I couldn't believe the the "next one" was as good or better than the one we were leaving. The game drives were great as well and we saw lots and lots of animals.

Jan and Fred

Jan, glad you're home safe and sound. I can't imagine how long it would take me to "rest up" from a trip like that, but hope your reoovery period is short and uneventful. When's the next trip?

Welcome Home Jan & Fred! Yes, when and where is the next trip?

Welcome Home, Jan and Fred! Glad your flights were uneventful. I am just getting my pictures up and running and of course I was only away for about 1/10th of the time you were. We arrived home without either our DVD from the Shark diving or the disposable underwater camera. Luckily the operator said they never destroy their footage so another DVD is on its way!Phew!Such a fantastic trip. Amazing places and good company. Thanks so much Brown and Keene and Ker & Downey!
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Helen

Next cruise is June 2012.. Back to back south Hampton to copenhagen on the Voyager. Probably just short trips until then. We are a little worn Out!