Wonderful buffet lunch on arrival. We headed out for new adventures at 4.00 pm. Not so hot today but we needed a little break after the flight and lunch to relax.

What a game drive. We started with warthogs that we had not seen much with the previous two lodges. They two waterbucks testing their skills and locking horns with each other. Then a big herd of buffalo. They were the same group on the airport. We saw a mother white rhino and her very small baby heading to a water pan. Our ranger got ahead of her but she never arrived. That totally surprised our ranger. Later we heard a black rhino had crossed the road in the white rhinos path so that all made sense. She had turned in another direction. Fairly soon we saw another rhino and a little older calf. These are such huge animals it is so great to see them.

They had been tracking lions in the morning but could not find them. So the rangers decided to try again in a slightly different area. SUCCESS we saw two lions laying down near the road totally full. HUGE stomachs. Then we heard the familiar sound of the lion growl. We knew it was either a male lion or a female ffighting over a kill. Just a short drive in we found the lions. Four fully grown lionesses and about three cubs. It was a wilderbeast kill that had happened that morning.

They female lions were squabbling about the kill with one trying to move it. A little cub had has deep into the wilderbeast. The cubs tummy was so extended she looked very pregnant. A feeding frenzy like this is so fantastic to watch. There was one vulture in a tree and I had high hopes of the lions moving off and the hyena and the vultures coming in to clean up.

On the way back to the lodge we had a serious traffic jam. Cape Buffalo were all over the road. It seemed like we would never get through. Finally we did make it and back to the lodge. Dinner was at 7.00 pm and it was a tasting menu with a main choice of either salmon or lamb. Tough choice so Maddy and I split the two dishes. Both were great.

We went to sleep in anticipation of tomorrows game drive.

At 6.30 am we left the for morning drive. it was a bit chillly this morning and I wore a fleece and gloves on the drive. The rangers immediately found tracks of two large male lions. From tracks on the road they figured out exactly where they were located. It was thick bush.

One ranger did some serious off roading and on foot tracking but they could not find them. The rest of the vehicles partrolled the roads around the block but the lions had not crossed a road. So they WERE there but we could not find them.Finally we gave up.

Then a herd of elephants were moving our way that were seen by one of the vehicles. This elephant herd disappeared not to be seen again.

This is a safari. Sometimes things just do not develop.

HOWEVER we ended the drive with a nice sighting of rhino and the pride we had seen the night before with the kill. The little ones were not sleepng and one of the cubs kept biting the tail of a female lion. They were all on top of one another. One face to coved with paws from a lion. Plus some birds our "birder" Paul had not see before, and a crocodile and a big lone Cape Buffalo. Plus of course some plains animals.

It is HOT today and will be very warm this afternoon. We will go out again at 4.00 pm

For Zebra 2 and Zebra 3.

One of the rangers here went to Madikwe on his break. Our last stop on the 9 night safari on both groups at Dithaba and Kopana. He said right now the elephants were great and there is a coallition of 4 male cheetahs. They are seen almost every day and are completely relaxed with the vehicle. Brown Hyenas were out and about a sighting you will never have in the area of the other two camps.

The bad news is there has been very little rain. The soil is dry so it is very dusty. I have been there before after a drought. Be prepared for a dusty safari but the positive is usually good game viewing as the animals are stressed for water and are more active at the waterholes and less rain means less grass and easier to find the game.

Caesar.




Nose to Nose.






On our way to Royal Malewane.

Heading to LAX in a couple of hours for our very long travel day(s). We have 12 hours layover in Paris and finally arrive Cape Town on Wednesday late afternoon. So excited to be going back to Africa!
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Helen

Safe travels! See you guys at BH on Friday!

Thanks Kim, looking forward to it! Have your own safe travels!
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Helen

Quick post. Finally we have a great sighting of an adult male lion, he was a beauty. Initially it was the sleeping lion routine but he rolled over on his back with feet in the air. Some pictures taken could not be posted here! Then up he got up and stretched and all kinds of yawning full mouth for quite some time. Then he walked to the front of the other vehicle and laid down again. It was a real highlight.

We also saw rhino, hippos coming out of the water, a stunning moonshot and a civit cat really close. The civit was beautiful. Plus of course other plains animals.

Tomorrow there is a leopard with small cubs and an impala kill but quite a distance from the lodge. Tomorrow that will be our goal but if the hyena came in and stole the kill we may not find her. We sure will try.

when does group 2 officially start? I thought it was this week, since Jack emailed me that they were leaving for SA last Friday....aware they probably lost at least one if not two days, but just trying to it out.

Safe travels everyone.

Alice and I leave Wednesday morning. Three nights at Birkenhead House for us. I'm not sure of everyone's itineraries, but there are combinations of nights at La Res, BH, and Cape Town that I know of, maybe others. Then group 2 heads for the first camp on Sunday.

Thanks Kim. Don't know what Jack and Laura have been doing then, but at least I now know when group 2 officially starts. Have a wonderful trip and hug them for us.

George and I leave Wednesday.

Group 2 has a lot of varying itineraries until May 10 when we fly to the bush and start the safaris. Most of them including jack and Laura are now in Cape Town.

What a morning. Probably the most incredible morning ever.

One vehicle tracked through heavy bush a leopard with two Cubs only two months old. Quick glimpses was all we got but we did not give up. At one point we could see the female but no Cubs. Then a hyena came along and the leopard hissed and then ran into the bush. If that hyena had not turned up the Cubs may have come out and we would of had a great sighting. After a lot more off roading and tracking when I thought they were gone for good we Finally saw the three leopards, they had moved into a dry river bed and we followed them. No real good shots as we were behind them but we could see the Cubs running and playing. This was really fantastic. We had called our other two vehicles but they were far out. I could not understand why they were not closer. One vehicle arrived just as the leopards went into thick bush.

We keep trying to find the leopards again and then one of the vehicles found them walking down the road. They did not have a great sighting but at least both vehicles got to see them.

I found out later they were late to the sighting as they had other large male lion in the reserve with an impala kill. Had to stop for that.

Our vehicle left to go see the male lion. Just to top off the male lion and the leopards sightings one vehicle saw a kill right out in the open and the other vehicle came in just after the kill took place. This sounded like a fantastic sighting. All these years I have not seen anything like this and I will describe what I was told.

The pride with the Cubs we had seen on a kill the first night saw a wildebeest herd. They started stalking the herd. They left the Cubs in the road to create a diversion. The wildebeest focused on the Lion Cubs and were going crazy. Meanwhile the adult females lions circled back and then pounced and killed a wildebeest about 10 feet in front of the vehicle. A little bit graphic for some but something rare that few people see. I guess I just have to keep on trying.

We were then thrilled with a wonderful breakfast in the bush. Everyone was so excited telling the accounts of the mornings activities. There are only two game drives left it seems to have passed so quickly. So sorry to say goodbye to everyone we have had a super time. But I am looking forward to sharing the safari adventure with the next two groups.

Thanks for that clarification Ngaire. Sounds like you are having a wonderful time, and I know this is one of your most favorite things in the world, so glad you are seeing so many exciting animals and uuuummmm "kills"

Almost there! We are in SAA lounge in jo'burg waiting for our flight to Capetown.

Had a really nice dinner in Paris at cafe constant. Thanks, Doris for that recommendation!

We have 2 days in Cape Town and will meet up with the group after that at Birkenhead House.
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Helen

Sounds great Helen!

We are on the plane about to take off for London! Two hour layover there then straight to Cape Town!! Been waiting soooooo long for this trip!!

Helen, Your welcome. So glad you tried Cafe Constant, its one of our favorites. Have a great trip!

Helen

We have 3 days in cape town before group 3 arrives. I would appreciate tips on what to do

Have a great time

Susan we have some stuff booked but haven't actually done any of it yet so will have to get back with you. We have tix for Hop On Hop Off, cable car up Table Mountain and reservations at Gold restaurant for tomorrow night which sounds like a lot of fun, dancing and drumming and food. I will let you know if it all works out.
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Helen

Thanks we would appreciate that. Sorry we will miss you. Enjoy your trip. The photos so far have been fantastic.

Leaving for the airport. TUL to DFW on AA then DFW to DOH and DOH to CPT on qatar, my new favorite airline for business class. Their international business class rivals F on most other airlines, and as a plus, it will be our first ever time on a 787 for the last leg of the flight.

Safe travels, Kim, Alice, George and Rachel! See you all soon.

Susan I forgot to mention also that our last day here we have a tour arranged by Ker & Downey that will eventually drop us at BH . We are going to see the penguin colony at boulders beach ( been there, done that,looking forward to doing it again!) and an ostrich farm . Should be a fun day.

Just got back from dinner at Baia and really enjoyed that as well.
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Helen

Not a good start. As we were leaving the house, George told me to grab his camera can, which I did. And it wasn't zipped up. Out fell his good canon camera. The lens is shattered. Not sure what we can do. We are in DFW now at the qatar airways club (a quiet haven, especially compared to the admirals club). I have my little point and shoot and iPad. He went ahead and brought the camera with the hope that we could perhaps get a new lens.

Rachel, check out fotofirst in Hermanus . If you are going to Capetown first, there should be no problem finding a camera store. There is also a camera store at the main terminal at

Cameraland 68 Long Street Cape Town South Africa 8000
Canon lenses


Sorry to hear this

We completely under estimated how spectacular BH is! Having lunch looking out at the ocean. Live is indeed good

Ahhhh, Kim we also had lunch looking at the ocean in Camps Bay. How lucky are we all!
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Helen

Some Photos from Royal Malawane:


Young Nyala males.


Cape Buffalo.


Large male Cape Buffalo.


Grey Heron.

Female Leopard hissing at a Hyena.












Black Rhino.


Eagle Owl.


Crocodile.

Rachel, it is possible that Ken may have a lens George can use. Depends on what model of Canon. Its a 15-85mm S lens that he uses with his 7D, but it will not work on the Canon full frame cameras.

If Rachel sees this, Barbara also has an extra canon lens.
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Helen

Thanks for the lens info. The camera itself still works, so that is good. We are in Doha Qatar waiting for our flight to Cape Town. No camera store in the airport. Originally we were supposed to spend the night here, but the airline changed the schedule, so now we just have a long layover and a night flight to Cape Town. I preferred the first schedule as I am not liking the idea of sleeping two night in a row on a plane, but this will allow us to experience Birkenhead house, and see you guys sooner, so that is all good. And the business class lounge here is amazing.

Thanks for the lens info. The camera itself still works, so that is good. We are in Doha Qatar waiting for our flight to Cape Town. No camera store in the airport. Originally we were supposed to spend the night here, but the airline changed the schedule, so now we just have a long layover and a night flight to Cape Town. I preferred the first schedule as I am not liking the idea of sleeping two night in a row on a plane, but this will allow us to experience Birkenhead house, and see you guys sooner, so that is all good. And the business class lounge here is amazing.

Good news! A new lens has been procured from the day free shop.

Great, Rachel! See you tomorrow
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Helen

Susan, I sent you a PM re our activities in Cape Town.,we thought Gold Restaurant was so much fun. Definitely touristy but we like that! Highly recommend it!
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Helen

Once again a HUGE thank you to Ngaire and Ken for putting together the best safari ever. A wonderful pre safari stay at BH, followed by La Residence. Then 9 fantastic days on safari where every game drive was amazing. Fantastic rangers, fantastic game camps and best of all, fantastic company. We had a wonderful time.

To everyone else who are now about to go on safari and to those who will be going in a couple of week, have a great time.

For the Zebra 3 people going to Capetown, consider the trip to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandala was held. Very moving, and part of the tour is led by former prisoners. We also saw whales from the ferry to the island! Purchase tickets on the Internet to save time waiting in line.

We loved Capetown! We loved every part of the Zebra 1 trip!

Incredible pics. One day;)