Thought I would start a new thread so easy to find what we all might have to say during the Family Safari. Off to so Africa did not seem to do it.

My family is on its way. Brent,leigh anne, Charlotte, and Ben left this am. Going via Chicago to lhr. Brayden and I are at BA lounge waiting to board our flight to lhr
We all will meet up in am at lhr then fly to JNB Sunday night. Everybody is excited

Karen, if you or others want to combine this with earlier post you all know best. .

Please keep us posted as best you can Ralph. We are all excited for you, and need lots of details!

Waiting, waiting for more reports. I will never forget handing over my laptop to Anne Drennan, I think from Leopard Hills, and within about 5 minutes, she banged out the most wonderful blog with great humor, and telling everything we had done "up to now". Too bad Ralph, this time it is all up to you! if there is not an Anne with you!

An interim report. We all managed to meet up at the American arrivals lounge. That took a load off my mind to know we are all together. Some took showers and felt better after the long flight.
We got checked in ok at Virgin Atlantic , sadly no up grade to upper class for granpa. We are now all in the American admirals club. I have a life time membership from my working days. Nice all of us got in with no problem. I was a little concerned they would limit the number of family members.

The kids are having a great time , makes it all worth while.

So excited to hear more Ralph! I'll bet the kids will have outstanding trip. XXOO

Great to hear from you Ralph. Excited for you all. I am sure you all know how lucky you are to be doing such a great trip with family. Hope you will be able to post updates for us. Hope you have a wonderful time!!!!

Off to a GREAT start, can't wait to hear more....pleeeeeze!

Can't wait from pics of everyone!!!!!

We are on day four now. Today the rest of the group with Jim and Pam and Ralph’s family all arriving tomorrow we will probably have lunch together.

Tinga was great, the lodge is excellent and they had the best chef there I have ever experienced anywhere in the world. Lindyway was her name and I understand she used to be at Singita and is now at Tinga. Game was good we saw a lot but it was hard to get some sightings as the bush was very dense that made off road at times impossible. A road is being built so if we stay at Tinga we can drive on both Tinga and Lion Sands land. That will make everything perfect.

Madikwe Game Reserve. We came here a few years back on Roar 3 and we hit it at the time they had just “burned” the land and also they were experiencing a drought it was SO dusty. Going off road here is limited to the big five and also only in certain areas that will not damage the soil. I know some people find this frustrating after being used to “off road” safaris. It was not the best so I have not been back with anyone since.

However, we have experienced fantastic game on our first day - simply outstanding.

In one day we saw all of the following. The highlights are as follows all being high quality sightings.

A male and female ostrich (you cannot see these at any of the normal camps we go to) that were fantastic we were in about 12 feet of them at times. The male had red shins to show he was ready or was mating.

Excellent elephant, zebra, giraffe, herd of wildebeest, rhinos twice once with a tiny baby, three beautiful male kudus along with a lot of other antelope, but the highlight of the day, the lions and our special giraffe adventure.

Madikwe lions are HUGE. We are on the edge of the Kalahari dessert and these are Kalahari lions. We came to a lion kill of a red hartebeest and found a lioness with three one month old cubs. They were in a thicket so it was not very easy to see as those cubs were so small they were hiding them. We were within feet of the thicket so very close. We could see them suckling they were precious. Next to this area were two lionesses. So after viewing the cubs we drove over the two lionesses that were sitting down but awake. One started to wander off and the other lioness stayed in her spot. We stayed with the lioness that was sitting. Suddenly that sitting lion became very intense looking in the direction that the other lion had headed. I said “if an impala passed by we could see a kill”. I had no idea how right that was going to prove to be. We saw eagles circling over this area. We went to investigate to see the lioness dragging a male impala across the grass to a small thicket area where he “stashed” his kill. She did not eat it she was already full from the earlier kill. She stayed with it for while and was growling and still in the state of a “kill mode” is what the ranger told us. Then the lion went back to the rest of her pride.

Clay’s wife Brooke was a little apprehensive about the whole safari situation. She was in the front seat and closest to the action and she was really close to the sitting lion and was obviously nervous. Then when we were right on top of the lioness with her kill she was again the closest person. I think it was a bit much for her very first drive but she handled it well.

Later we were looking for a large herd of buffalo. We went down a tiny road and came to the end of the road. We heard the sound of a flat tire. At that time a large male giraffe popped his head out of the trees and looked at us. Then he move even closer. He was a stunning male in the prime of his life and very dark. We all piled out of the jeep so the ranger could change the tire. The giraffe disappeared and then very quickly came back and moved even closer, probably a distance of about 50 feet away. He stood there the entire time watching us intently he did not eat or move a muscle. I have never seen a giraffe stand still that long. The tire was repaired and we all climbed in and headed back down the road. As soon as we left, the giraffe left. During that time the ranger was changing the tire my daughter used the “bush bathroom”. My 11 year old grandson said “ the giraffe was so intent on watching because he was enjoying his first sighting of the rare female white bottomed Texan”. We all just cracked up - the family safari is starting out very special we are all having so much fun.

If Madikwe continues to provide this type of game drive for the next three days it may be something we should consider again, whether you can go off road all the time or not.

I am posting this AFTER our morning game drive that was unbelievable. Will get this posted while I can and then start writing up this mornings adventures.

Hopefully Ken can post some pictures at some time.

So today was VERY exciting. Yesterday evening the lodge found a large pride of 19 lions. So this morning we went out in that area to find the lions. On our way the call came in they found the lions with a large wildebeest kill. We saw some lovely giraffe on the way including a young female with a bouffant hair style on top of her horns. We hav never seen that much hair on a giraffe before. She was certainly “styling”

As we drove up we saw three young males hard at work on the kill with the appropriate amount of growling and crunching. Sitting off to the side were about five female lions. After getting some great photos of the kill (in perfect position and sunlight) one of the females stood up very focused and started to move. The other females followed. You could tell they were “on a mission” we tracked them through the bush knocking down trees as you off road. They were definitely after something and of course were still hungry not having had a chance at the recent kill yet. This was the first time the family had experienced crashing through the bush in pursuit of a big cat. They were all so excited. Unfortunately we lost them so we returned to the scene of the kill.

On arrival we saw some jackals coming closer. There were four of them. These are some of my favorite animals. They are so beautiful and hard to see anywhere else that we normally go. They started fighting over a scrap that was across the road from the lions it must have been where the kill took place.

Then one of the adolescent female lions came back and slowly and very quietly slipped in amongst the boys. Only a little resistance from one of the males and she was set.

There was so much happening it was one of the best sightings I have had. I have to rush and get off we are about to leave here and go to over to another camp.

After the last three game drives I am really pumped up about Madikwe, it has been fantastic

We have arrived at Madikwe Hills, Jim and Pam and their family and Ralph and his family have arrived. They are in their rooms now and we will have lunch at 2.00 pm. Once that is over we are OFF on our game drives. I hope the first game drive for the group is what we have been experiencing. Going to ask our Ranger to go back to this mornings kill to see if Hyenas, Jackels, and Vultures may be in residence.

Internet here is pretty good hopefully Ken will be able to post some pictures.

Thank you for the exciting reports, Ngaire! Really looking forward to photos, but your descriptions are great!

Adding our thanks too! Loving all the details of your adventures and can't wait for Ken's pictures!

Oh, to be back at Madikwe Hills again. What a wonderful place. So glad the safari rides have been going well. Can't wait for more reports!!

What a great time you're having. It sounds like everyone is having such a terrific adventure. I would love to see the expressions on the faces of the kids.

Like you now, I guess we got lucky when we were at Mateya....lots of good sightings at Madikwe Hills, saw the Big 5 the first day. BUT you are having so many unique experiences! WOW....can't wait to see Ken's pix. Keep up the great work and thanks for posting to us. I can't wait to hear more.

It cannot get any better than this!

Today after lunch we all set out on our game drives. Each family went together. After a few small sightings we arrived at a HUGE male lion that had just woken up and was starting to move. We followed him through the bush it was so much fun. He had a heavy dark mane, he was a truly magnificent lion. For those of you that went to Ukutula to the “walking with lions” this lion looked like REX the male lion we saw there.

This male was probably the most impressive lion I have ever seen. He finally plopped down next to another large lion with a very red mane also very impressive. All around were female lions as well. Lions were everywhere, and the other vehicles in our camp got to see them too.

Then our ranger said we are leaving now to see if the wild dogs cross over the river hunting. Of course hearing this I was immediately ready to abandon the lions. We arrived at the area the wild dogs have been crossing and found a film crew in place. They had preference for filming but we were first in line after the film crew left the area. Our ranger Sam stopped the car where he thought they would go once past the film crew. He had the exact right spot the dogs came and the first one passed so close to the car. Then came another and another the dogs kept coming. There were seventeen dogs in all with the alpha male leading and the alpha female right behind. A sight I thought I would never see I was quite awe struck. We followed them along a fence line as the ranger explained they run a large animal into the fence and it gets electrocuted and then they have their kill. After following for about 15 – 30 minutes we pulled out to let others have a chance.

When Jim and Pam and their family took their turn THEY SAW THE KILL! They had all their little grandchildren in the vehicle but I guess they all handled that sight okay. Next Ralph’s family came into the sighting so they all saw the wild dogs. We were able to go back in and see the dogs with the kill. A flurry of white tails with sentries posted looking all directions to watch for hyenas or other predators.

What an afternoon. The game here has been nothing short of spectacular. I told Pam, Jim and Ralph how good it had been and felt that this afternoon would be the same. We were not disappointed.

They have four cheetah brothers on the property right now so tomorrow we are “on the hunt” for cheetah. All our vehicles are heading out for the cheetah. What I like about Seasons in Africa camps is that they all really work together and try to be sure that if there is a group that everyone gets to see the key sightings.

Most of our group are on their first safari. Imagine that this all happened on their very first day. Jim and Pam were also charged by a little baby rhino and the adult rhinos paid no attention whatsoever.

Internet is pretty good so I hope Ken has a chance to post some pictures tomorrow. I am sure he has some good ones but the wild dogs were hard as they were moving fast and so was our vehicle.

Hopefully my next post will be about the cheetah.

Fast addition - we saw Cheetah - four males. No time now to write more but will tonight after this afternoons game drive.

Sightings sound fantastic--love to see wild dogs and cheetahs in the wild. Only seen them in captivity.

Can't wait to see some of Ken's photos. I have faith that he overcame any obstacles.

-------------------

Eugene

Photos From Family Safari - Madikwe Hills:

It sounds like you all have a fantastic first day at Madikwe Hills. How special for all the first timers.

Thanks for taking the time to share your safari stories with us. It's been almost 5 years since I was there.

Great photos, Ken. Love seeing the wild dogs!!!

See I knew that my faith in Ken's photo expertise was justified!

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Eugene

BRAVO ! You're having the best of all safari's possible with family and great sightings...It couldn't be any better.

Wonderful photos Ken !!

Terrific!! This is why we all keep going back :)

Awesome pics. Those wild dogs are pretty clever, sort of like the coyotes here. The coyotes will send out a female to try to lure away Sam, our German shepherd, from the calves so they can get one. Fortunately Sam is fixed, so has no interest in the female.

Wondering for a few seconds just how many legs could a cheetah have until I finally noticed the head of the other cheetah there in the shadow! Thanks for the pix Ken!

Wow, what a commentary Ngaire! I know you love your wild dogs! Ken, what magnificent photos! That lion is one beauty of a male, and well, I just love catching a picture of the "tears" coming down the cheetah's face!

Things continue to go well at Madikwe. This morning we all went looking for the cheetahs. It appeared they were being very elusive. So our vehicle decided to give that up and go to a brown hyena den in a different area, no luck there either. We had sightings of a Cape buffalo, elephants and two rhinos with a small baby rhino during the trip to the hyena den.

Then the news that the cheetah had been found. Fortunately we were in close proximity to the cheetahs. They had travelled a huge distance since their last sighting. It was about time to head back to the lodge but we voted to stay and go on standby for the cheetahs and forget about breakfast. The standby was long so we had to wait our turn but it was worth it to see the four male cheetahs. They are really beautiful cats.

When we got back to the lodge a troop of baboons visited the waterhole in front of the lodge to provide a little excitement at lunch. The two other vehicles left early for the game drive determined to find the cheetahs again. Success for those two vehicles as well, they found the cheetahs and were able to get in very close for a good sighting.

After the others left for their game drive a breeding herd of elephants visited the water hole in front of the camp. There was a really tiny baby and some small elephants as well. They were having a really good time at the waterhole.

The waterhole at Madikwe has been very busy. Impala, baboons, warthogs, elephants all paying us a visit. The bartender said the lion come between 6.00 am and 7.00 am. We may get up to see them tomorrow.

In the afternoon we decided to try three different hyena dens again. No luck yet but we will try again tomorrow. I love brown hyena and to see puppies outside a den would be the icing on the cake. You can only see this type of hyena at Madikwe they are not seen in the Sabi Sand area.

We still had a great afternoon as we saw two lionesses with six cubs. The lions here are all so healthy and thriving it is nice to see. We also had a really close encounter with two elephants. One within feet of the front of our vehicle who stopped right in front of us and posed very nicely. Plus a larger cow very close at the back of our vehicle. Both elephants were very calm it was a wonderful experience to be that close. Plus of course zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and other assorted antelope and smaller animals.

The food has been good and we have a children's menu all sorted out now so everyone is happy.

One more day here I still have hopes of the rare sighting of brown hyena puppies.

Fingers crossed you get to see the brown hyenas today. You're having such a fantastic trip. What if you never want to come home?

Posting for Ralph:

What a morning! Our ranger told us the dogs were out this morning hunting. They had made a kill and were going back to the den. We heard they had gone so far to make their kill they were trying to cross the river at a different spot. When we reached the dogs it was just amazing. The night we saw them before they were focused on the hunt working as a pack. This time they were all over the place going back and forth trying to figure out how to cross. The younger dogs were playing and having a great time. Dogs were right at the vehicle and all around us. We spent a long time watching the action and then all of a sudden they joined together and started moving. We were of course off road and we stayed with the pack as they were moving through the bush. We were in the middle of the pack when a kudu jumped up and the dogs gave chase and we were right there with them, it was so incredibly exciting. The kudu managed to escape and the ranger said it was the young dogs who gave chase. The pack had already made a kill and wanted to get back to the den so they got no support from the rest of the pack. We were with the dogs the entire morning. I was in absolute heaven.

After lunch we did a site inspection on another property. This is a camp we will not use so mark off one possibility for a new camp. It took us over two hours so we made it back just in time for the afternoon game drive.

The afternoon was quiet at first and we had Brayden, Ralph's grandson with us. All our game drives have been so great I was disappointed this one was so quiet. The wind had picked up and that stops the game from moving around. We were on the hunt for a pair of mating lions where the male was bigger than the one we had already seen. That seemed hard to believe. We had fresh tracks and they knew the block the lions were in and several vehicles did a co-coordinated on foot search. No luck.

So we gave up and started looking for rhino as Brayden had not had a good rhino sighting. We found a crash of five rhino including a really big male and a baby. We followed them off road for a while it was a great sighting. Next we found a black backed jacket. I love these animals and they are very rare in the Sabi Sands area so this is the best chance to see them. He was just a few feet from out vehicle we got some good shots. Driving down the road we found a brown hyena that caused big excitement everyone wanted to see a brown hyena another animal you cannot find in Sabi Sands. We got a pretty good sighting but too much grass and a bit dark for good pictures but a good sighting nonetheless. We stayed with the hyena for about 10 minutes. Then coming back to the lodge we found a young male elephant that gave us a nice show right at the vehicle. So it turned out to be a very good drive.

We will try for the lions again tomorrow then it is a sad farewell to Madikwe Hills. It has been an incredible stay with tons of action at the waterhole off the deck. The kids have all bonded and everyone is very happy

I am writing these reports on an iPad as Ken is using the computer for his pictures. I find typing on an ipad very difficult and I am pretty tired after such a full day so forgive typos etc no time to do this any other way but a quick overview of the action..

We fly to Kings Camp tomorrow at 11.00 am. I heard the 6 year old is very upset she does not want to leave Madikwe Hills.

Sounds like such a great trip so far! I am so so happy you got so much time with the dogs Ngaire! Keep the posts coming ....

Just love hearing all about your trip....make sure everyone keeps their doors locked at Kings Camp so they won't have any uninvited visitors.

I love the reports and so happy you all are enjoying this remarkable adventure -

Can't wait to hear some news from Kings Camp (my favorite - at least so far!) Hope your game drives are the best yet and if you're really lucky they'll make you one of those hamburger and french fry lunches!

We had a great charter flight from Madikwe to Kings Camp it was very smooth. Every one was playing on their iPads including the youngest child who is 6 years old.

Our first afternoon game drive started slow. Then we saw a young male lion calling and heard another lion answering. We followed the lion off road and he joined up with a much larger male lion with an impressive dark mane for a 3 year old lion. The two lions plopped down to snooze, the usual sleeping lion sighting.

Suddenly they both raised their heads in almost perfect unison and looked intently in the same direction. Their body language changed and we saw a female lion that the ranger said was not related to the two males. They took off chasing the female too fast to follow. So we drove around to catch sight of them. We found a third young male laying down. The original two lions showed up and the rangers said it was going to get ugly a fight was about to take place. However the two younger males though not together seemed accepting towards each other. The larger male was off to the side. The ranger said the two younger males were related and that these three lions would probably form a coalition. It was a great lion sighting with lots of action. The game drive continued and we found a herd of 400 Cape Buffalo. We also had some giraffe and elephant sightings.

Dinner was great and the children now have their own table and the adults all play musical chairs at dinner. We have been coming in at 5.30 pm and eating about 6 .00 pm. I know it sounds early but we finish dinner so early and the kids are whipped by then and can get a good nights rest. The adults are also enjoying time after dinner to sit and visit

The next morning barely 5 minutes out from camp the tracker jumps off the vehicle for some leopard tracks. Clay said " I see a leopard in a tree" We race off road to find a beautiful 3 year old male in a tree with a fresh impala kill. To top off the sighting there was a hyena at the tree as well. The leopard is growling at the hyena. We were all in awe then the leopard repositioned his kill. It was amazing to watch they are so powerful. We spent a long time with the leopard while the other two vehicles came to see the leopard.

We pulled out to let another vehicle in and carried on with our game drive. Within about 5 minutes we saw a female leopard crossing the road and tracked her walking through the bush. This was some very difficult off road driving. We had to keep visual on the leopard until another vehicle joined to take over the sighting. Well that little adventure was too much for our vehicle, the clutch went out so we had to call to be rescued.

After our new land rover arrived we had a fantastic elephant encounters and finished up with the Kings Camp bush breakfast. I think their bus breakfast is the best of all the lodges. Fresh cooked eggs to order and they had some great side dishes including mushrooms and creamed spinach

We got back to camp and played some hearts. The kids braved the cold swimming pool. A herd of elephants paid a visit to the watering hole with some tiny babies. It was a lovely morning. We have been starting our game drives at 2.30 pm so pretty quickly after lunch we went out again and went to see if the leopard was still in the tree. A tawny eagle was on the carcass eating. Something i have never seen before. The leopard was on the ground a little distance away and then he went to the tree and climbed up always a fun thing to see the hyena came back as well.

Again we had some great elephant lots of giraffe and a big male rhino who was clearly in an excited state as evidenced by a fifth leg. We followed him for a while as he was marking his territory. It was a very exciting day topped off by another wonderful dinner.

We have truly had some amazing sightings we need some lion cubs now

One more day at Kings Camp then. It is off to Leopard Hills. Internet is not great not sure if Ken will be able to post pictures. And by the way Kathy we are having one the hamburger and fries lunches today.

Wow Wow Wow The kids must be enjoying this so much! I bet it is fun for the parents (and grandparents) to watch the kid's reactions. Great reports Ngaire, Keep 'em coming!

Photos From Family Safari - Madikwe Hills:


Clay, Connor, & Brooke.

Great pics as always, Ken! I am loving the giraffe pic!

Photos From Family Safari - Kings Camp.

Today i went out with the Webster's again and we were going to head straight to the male leopard that was in the tree with the impala kill. However we heard that the impala was gone from the tree and there was no leopard in sight.

It was quiet at first but we had some nice sightings. Four rhino was especially nice. Some real close elephants with a tiny baby. Great giraffe we have so many good giraffe sightings. We spent a lot of time looking for a leopard and her two 4 month old cubs. Also dropped off our tracker to follow up tracks for lions on foot. Just as we were about to go home when we got the call the mother leopard and her cubs had been sighted. We raced to the scene to find vultures in one tree and the mother leopard in another tree with her kill. The rangers told us to be quiet and then the cubs would come. Sure enough they came out of the bush and climbed into the tree. They took turns eating and checking in with mom. It was terrific. All our vehicles were at the sighting and we reluctantly left and went back for breakfast.

We played some cards and relaxed. Connor my grandson and RAlphs grandchildren started playing hearts and they are hooked on the game and having so much fun together. Connor shot the moon he was so proud of himself.

We had lunch in the boma and it was nicely set up with a make your own burger bar, salads, sausages and made to order stir fry. Then we were treated to the best song and dance group I have ever seen. They were terrific and full of energy.

The afternoon game drive started with going back to the mother leopard in the tree. However there was nothing left, no vultures, no impala ans no leopard. So either it had fallen and the hyena got it or the leopard moved it to the ground. All the rangers and trackers starting looking at all the clues on the ground to figure out what happened. They found the leopard under a bush with the kill she had moved it to the ground. It was not that easy to see her and the cubs were not around.

We left and went in search of a large herd of Cape Buffalo. Then we got a call that four male lions had been spotted. They were great. All about two to three years old. Sleeping getting up and walking around and then plopping down again. At one point one of the lions walked over and laid on the top of two other males. He got pushed off a bit but these three males were a pile of paws, manes and limbs.

On the way home we saw some hippos and a rhino sharpening his horns on the electrical wire posts. Quite a sight.

We only have one morning drive left here at Kings Camp. This has been the best stay I have ever had here. The game has been terrific with lots of lion and leopard. Great elephants, giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, and all the plains animals. The food was terrific too and so many great details attended to under the watchful eye of the Managers, Warren and Lisha a wonderful stay.

The kids are all best of friends all the adults are getting along extremely well. This has turned out even better than the three sets of grandparents even imagined.

The search for new camps has not been that successful for various reasons.

We will consider using Tinga as long as we can drive on the lion sands property. It is a lovely lodge with nice rooms, great chef and management and the right size. This should work great as a road over the river is being built that will connect the two properties making the superior land around Lion Sands quickly accessible. The bush around Tinga is too dense in most places.

The two camps in Madikwe were not as good as Madikwe Hills. The two properties in the Timbavati area did not work either. One was in an area where the bush was too dense for off roading for good sightings. Or you could make a very long drive to get to better land that would be a pain every game drive. The other was in an area with no leopard.

I will work on 2015 lodges when I get back and come up with the best combination I can with new lodges for the people who have been before mixed with lodges used before. There is no point in going to inferior lodges just because they are new.

I have seen over 70 camps now and no camp is perfect. Those that have a balance of game, bush environment, lodge facilities, good rangers and management are few and far between. The more camps you experience the more you see the issues and differences. Everyone loves their first camp but those that repeat begin to see the differences

Ken got some pictures up tonight and will post today's shots after this post

Just love reading this! Ken, once again, your pictures are terrific. Thank you both for taking the time to share with us!