So today we leave for the Giraffe Safari. Ken and Sheila are already there doing a pre-safari trip with their family. I am sure they are having a wonderful time.

We fly Qatar to Doha (overnight in the airport hotel) then arrive in JNB on the 7th.

On the 8th we are flying to a camp I have not visited before called Tswalu in the Kalahari Desert. Going to be a new experience for us - new camp and never been to the Kalahari before.

Then we meet up with 12 of the group in JNB on the 10th to leave for a Kwandwe Safari Lodge on the Cape where we will do RHINO darting.. They check every Rhino every year and the money we pay to be involved supports the cost of Rhino monitoring.

Then it is back to JNB to meet the remaining people in the safari group. We do 3 nights at Lion Sands, 3 nights at Mala Mala and 3 nights at Royal Malewane.

Jim and Pam are also taking their family on a safari POST our trip and have time to fill in so they are joining me on checking out two new camps in the Madikwe Area.

Going to be gone until August 1st --- the wild dogs are calling me.

Hope you have a wonderful time -- looking forward to the safari mail.

Woo Hoo....can't wait to read all about your experiences. Safe Travels!

Will the CHEETAH groups also be able to see rhino darting ?

Rhino darting not in the current plan. I have to have exactly six couples no more and no less so it is a little difficult to pull together. The rhino darting is private not a big group thing.Someone always has to be left out and if anyone cancels it gets difficult as then the others have to foot a higher bill. Been a bit of a challenge I have done it twice now.

Not out of the question but complicated.

Have a safe trip. So looking forward to it. We are out of the country for BOTH conventions. I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried. Now my TVs are in no danger of me throwing things at them if I was here to watch.

Wishing you all a spectacular safari - can't wait for the stories and the photos!

Sounds like a wonderful trip, Ngaire! The Kalahari is where Meerkat Manor was filmed, which was one of our favorite TV shows back in the day. Hope you have a great time and we'll be eager for those spectacular pics we've become accustomed to from Ken.

Now in Doha in the airport hotel. As it was our second stay here they upgraded us to a very large room, wood floors, large screen TV, free internet and close to reception. We checked in at 6.00 pm and check out at 6.00 am. Nice rest between flights. Going to wander over to the club and get a little dinner then back for a good nights sleep.

We had a good flight on Qatar. The stewardesses were lovely and from Ukraine and Russia. Fantastic pea soup I had two bowls.

Already looking forward to Oceans Basket dinner at the JNB Airport tomorrow night. A major seafood restaurant chain in South Africa with great seafood and very reasonable prices.

Pam, I like the way you think!


Have a great trip everyone!

First we were so saddened to hear the news of the shooting in Dallas and feel for the families of those police officers. Hard to comprehend that event took place in Dallas. We were glued to the tv this morning.

So did my first game drive at Tswalu. Beautiful topography. This is called the GREEN Kalahari. Bright red soil, lots of different grasses and bushes and trees with various shades of green and mountains all around. Stunning!

First sighting a pangolin. This is the place to find them but the odds are not high. He was huge and calm. He let us move the grass from around his body, we were able to lightly touch his scales. He did not care less we were there a very strange behavior. Then we saw about ten sleeping lions. The Kalahari lions are so big. The males here have black manes but are not around at the moment.

Then it was the hunt for the rare Desert Black Rhino. These are most agressive rhinos. We finally found tracks and started searching in earnest then success we spotted them. A mother and 15 month old baby rhino. We got an amazing sighting. Only once did the rhino show any signs of stress but the pen she relaxed and we stayed with them for about an hour. The horns are totally different. Both horns about the same size, very thick and on a different angle I spotted that right away.

So to get a pangolin and desert black rhino on the first game drive was pretty amazing we also saw wildebeest, oryx, sable, giraffe, Impala, eland and kudu. At the very end we spotted a small cat and yuan (our ranger) at first thought it was an African wild cat. But no, the miracle day continued it was a caracal a beautiful cat. Yuan said he has only seen two before and he has been here three yeArs. Plus the cat just sat there in the spotlight so we could get a good look at the cat.

Tomorrow we focus on cheetah, meerkats and ardvarks.

This is very different from Kruger. More driving with less density of animals. No elephants in the reserve. This reserve offers more opportunity to see all the smaller animals you do not see that n Kruger and a larger variety of antelope.

Lodge looks nice but we went straight on a game drive and did not get to the lodge until about 6.30pm. Room is huge, tons of space and dinner was excellent.

Good internet so hopefully ken can post pictures tomorrow

A fantastic day at tswalu. Where to start.! At 8.15 am the meerkats wake up. They started popping up all over the place. So many little ones as well. The little creatures are adorable. The little ones were playing and we were able to stand a few feet from them. Totally habituated to humans they come right to your feet. The conservation team spends eight hours a day with them. If they stop within two weeks they are aftaid of humans again. Having an opportunity like this to walk with the meerkats and watch them dig and find insects was amazing.

Today we so many different species. Amazing sable, oryx everywhere and very calm, roan antelope, ostrich, about four other species of antelopes we have never seen before, giraffe everywhere including many babies the youngest being just a few months old. Yesterday I thought there was less game but today I was proven wrong. Then yet another pangolin. This was one the entire body was visible and he was on the rocks and again very relaxed. Much smaller than the one yesterday they are such unique animals.

In the afternoon the highlight was the cheetah. Two BIG cheetah males. We spent about two hours with them. Sleeping, grooming each other, stalking antelope but they gave up. Wildebeest came and the cheetah got spooked. Although cheetah kill wildebeest a mob of wildebeest charging cheetah is very dangerous for cheetah. So we followed then as they moved away.

They were famous for their dogs. They had two packs but disease took out both packs. Perfect terrain to keep up with wild dogs. They are reintroducing wild dog in the next month.

Leopard was sighted today but we did not see the leopard. They are here but not in the numbers they have in Sabi Sands.

This property has divided the areas. Lions, rhinos and antelope in one area. Then cheetah, leopard and antelope, giraffe in another. The cheetah and leopard are thriving without the lions. Smart idea. They only have species that are natural to the Kalahari and everything is doing well and really big here. The thing we missed was the ardvark but we did not want to leave the cheetahs. We only had time for three game drives. There are no elephants, very few Impala very few buffalo, no hippo these and many other animals are missing.

This is the perfect lodge for seasoned safari guests. Not big five territory but amazing in a different way,

Food was terrific. Service wonderful and very friendly staff. Self service for drinks. A big wine cellar just go in and pick your wine.

We leave tomorrow to meet up with other giraffe guests in JNB. Then off to Kwandwe.

Hope ken gets some pictures posted he has taken so many shots and we stayed out so long today had no time.

What a great visit! Count us in for a visit in the future!
--------------------
Helen

Ngaire, such a great narrative, I was almost able to picture it on my own. Can't wait for Ken's pics!

Tswalu sounds wonderful!

Giraffe - Tswalu


Blue Wildebeest.


The young male at the left is only 15 months old - lions are larger in the Kalahari.




The rare Desert Black Rhino with calf.


Notice the size of the second horn.


Ngaire's first Pangolin sighting.

Wow! Just what kind of animal IS a pangolin? He looks kind of aardvark-y? What a great experience to pet one!
---------------------
Helen

Love the great photos...you sure know how to whet our appetite for CHEETAH !!! Keep enjoying and reporting in .

Meerkats at Tswalu:

More from Tswalu:


Oryx.


Male Kudu.


On our second game drive we found another Pangolin.


Sable.


A 3 month old giraffe standing in the road.




Roan Antelope.


Two male Cheetah brothers.


Back to the lodge.

We are at Kwandwe. No time to post been on the go constantly. Will just share the highlights but we have seen a lot of animals, ostrich, oryx, baboons, aardwolf, lots of antelope of all types. We have two vehicles six per vehicle

Within 10 minutes on our first game drive we saw a male cheetah, he was on low ridge height of a termite mound. He kept sleeping, then looking around and rolling over with some yawning and grooming. Then word of a mating pair of lions. So we left the cheetah. The other vehicle saw them briefly. We did not. Then we had wonderful giraffe so close with young ones as well. Then we heard the cheetah was mobile. So we raced back and the cheetah was hunting and stalking some springbok and kudu. It was so exciting the cheetah has not had a kill for about three days we REALLY thought we were going to see that. But the wildebeest sounded the alarm and it was over for the cheetah.

Second game drive started with the rhino darting. Fabulous. This time it was different we watched the rhino drop and the mother and baby were right next to each other and close to the vehicles. We all had a chance to inject the rhino with shots, rub the horn, mouth and ears. Incredible experience.

Then we found lions. A mother, with two year old male and female cubs. They had a warthog kill. We had a great sighting with the female cub stealing the kill then the male cub getting it back. Lots of interaction, chewing and crunching. They all looked really fat they must have eaten something besides this warthog.

Back for a yummy lunch and a two hour break

The afternoon was good lots of sighting but nothing spectacular at first. Hippo out of the water was good. We were looking for a leopard but instead found a black rhino with calf. These are rare and so everyone was very excited. They are more aggressive than white rhinos and hang out in dense bush. However we got quite close and they were right out in the open. That was a big sighting.

Food here has been excellent and we have had a fantastic time. One more day to go I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

Back from the morning game drive. Today it was misty and colder. Six went on a game drive that included fishing. The other six went on a regular game drive. I am sure you are not surprised I was not in the fishing group.

As we were eating breakfast a herd of elephants crossed in front of the lodge on a hillside. We did go and see them early in the game drive and spent a lot of time watching them. Now back at the lodge I am looking at them right in from my window. They came back to the lodge. A HUGE bull is in front of the herd facing all the other elephants.

Today the highlights were following a female lion as she walked, took a drink and we think she was looking for her two cubs. There was zero wind so smelling the scent of other animals was hard. An impala walked right in front of her in the bushes and she did not even notice.

We also saw a great herd of black wildebeest. I absolutely love these animals. Horse type white mane with black at the top and flowing white horse like tails. We saw them running quite fast and then some of them came up the rear slowed
down and walked right in front of us. Hope Ken saw them on his drive and took a picture.

Very close to oryx, ostrich, and a wonderful sighting of a bat eared fox, a really pretty animal.

Now the mist is gone and the sun is shining. Beautiful day. Hopefully cheetah again this afternoon for Cindy and David who missed the first game drive and have never seen Cheetah.

Darting:


The vet give us an explanation of the procedure.




Putting a chip in the horn of the baby.




David & Cindy.


George & Gail.


Brooke, Clay, Ngaire, & Ken.


The Girls.


The Giraffe Group.

David & Ken.

Great animal and people photos, Ken.

Wonderful pics, as always! Wow- those Rhinos! What do they feel like?

That is amazing!! Where, what camp, were you to be able to see this ?

This was at Kwandwe on the Eastern Cape. We also saw five cheetah together a rare sighting for sure. Some went fishing and caught a lot of fish.

Amazing game and wonderful Rangers. A possibility for family safaris for sure. One lodge with six rooms, a lodge with four rooms and a family farm house with a huge yard fenced area for kids to play with about four bedroom but room for trundle beds. No malaria area and I was able to see Netflix on my iPad. Internet was fantastic

Ken is behind on pictures hopefully internet will be good at Narina

More photos from Kwandwe:


Bull Elephants in the mist.


Catch and release fishing. Everyone caught a fish.


Ken


Gail & George.


Clay


David


Steenbok.


George tries out the tracker's seat.


A heard of elephants seen from the lodge.


Mother cheetah with her youngsters.

Your photos always wow me Ken! Thanks for posting them.

So now we at Narina at Lion Sands. First game drive was a little slow we did see elephant and a hippo out of the water.

However today was sensational. We started with the BEST breakfast, unique menu and fantastic eggs Benedict. Then we went to visit the WILD DOG DEN. Most unbelievable wild dog sighting. 12 adults and 12 puppies about 6 weeks old. I was in absolute dog heaven. They were running and playing right next to the vehicles. This is impossible to describe. Clay did take some videos and he will send this to Julie to put on our face book page. To me this was one of my all time safari highlights.

Then that was followed by lots of great sightings. One of my favorites was a group of about 14 giraffe frolicking in the river. The young ones were having a fantastic time. So we decided to get out and walk closer. What a sight this was. Then our ranger said "we need to go back now that is a Buffalo standing on the river bank" We were quite safe he was a distance away but we were told we qualified for walking up to one of the big five only four to go.

Then we saw lions, a male, female and two big cubs. The mother of the Cubs starting stalking. That motion is so different to just walking. We had a great line of vision BUT the stalking stopped. So we decided to leave and go see the elephants. On the way back we saw vultures circling. So our ranger walked in to see what the vultures were after. A kudu had given birth and the vultures were interested in the afterbirth.

Clay, Brooke, Ken and I went over to River Lodge to have lunch and for Clay to see River Lodge. We got back quite late so did not go to the area where our vehicles were driving. Both vehicles had an amazing afternoon. The sightings included a leopard the one group did a rhino stalk on foot. Ranger in the front and tracker at the back, single file and no talking. They were able to walk quite close to the rhino they were so excited. This flushed the rhino out to the other vehicle. Ine of the vehicles was in a herd of about 40 elephants that walked around the vehicle with lots of little elephants playing. In fact there was so much excitement by both vehicles I may have all my facts confused!

Ken tried to post some pictures but could not get that done. He will try again tomorrow. The Wild Dog Puppies are so adorable he must have some great shots.

Wow, just now catching up. Love the pics. The kalahari sounds and looks amazing, with different animals than Kruger.

Ngaire, Does KLT have a Facebook page, or are you referring to a personal one?

I can't wait to see my favorites, the giraffes, frolicking in the river!

Jim, in case Ngaire is awfk, here is the KLT Facebook page

Ken cannot post pictures from here. Mala Mala has better internet and we go there tomorrow.

Today we went to a different area and it was beautiful. Down the river with boulders and huge trees. There was a giraffe right next to the vehicle that just stood and posed he was huge and very close. We also saw the same group of giraffes we saw in the river.

Vultures were amazing today. Must have been over 50 of them and all types. There was a dead Impala but we could not see them on the kill on the ground. But this many vultures flying and in the trees is really a special sight. May not sound good to those who have not been on safari I know but we loved it.

Then we were really close to mother and baby elephant eating and watched them for quite a while. Then back to the dogs. Unfortunately we missed feeding and playtime. The puppies were all on top of each other sound asleep. One puppy was constantly trying to get the others up but to no avail.

In the evening we had a joint sundowners on a ridge over a dry river bed. As we drove up we saw an elephant a little down the ridge. The ranger told us to stay in the vehicle but looked at the elephant and told us to get out. We walked across the ridge and we were probably only 20 yards from the elephant. The ranger kept talking in a low tone and explained the elephant was aware of us but that same tone of talking calmed them. I have seen that done by rangers before. That was amazing.

So we walked into that Cape Buffalo yesterday and now the elephant on foot. The group yesterday did the rhino tracking and were close to the rhino on foot . On the fishing trip at Kwandwe the lions were just across the river while they were fishing on foot. Also when the others arrived at the sundowner tonight's they told us they had walked up to rhinos out of the water. Never had this much on foot interaction with animals with all the previous safaris we have done.

Been great game here and I will never forget those wild dog puppies . However it is time to move on and I am really looking forward to going back to Mala Mala.

Quick update. The dogs left today with all the puppies and went to Kirkmans camp. That means we have a shot of seeing them again as Kirkmans borders Mala Mala. They may even keep moving and onto Mala Mala land.

Only Narina guests could see the dogs here but now the dogs are on Kirkmans land, Lion Sands River Lodge can go over to Kirkmans land to see the dogs as those two lodges share traversing rights. IT IS ALL ABOUT TIMING.

Today we saw two big male lions but at about 250 yards. There is a massive drought and you cannot drive in certain areas or we could have gone right up to them. One vehicle saw a Kudu pass by them and they tried but failed to make a kill.

About to leave now onto Mala Mala.

Wild Dogs with pups:

Finally Ken managed to post some pictures. You can see how adorable those puppies were.

Arriving at Mala Mala it was like coming home. Our Rangers are Gordon, Dave, Fritz, all we have had before and we love them. A new ranger Jacque is on the team and Ken and sheila went out with him today and they said he was great. Then the managers Alex and Nerine who do a wonderful job are here So we have a winning team. The river is almost dry, hard for those who have been here before to believe but you cannot see any water from the lodge.

First game drive fantastic for us all. Necking giraffe, drinking giraffe, 10 of them with little ones. More elephants than you can imagine. Right at the vehicles. Lions, a male, females and about 9 month old Cubs. Sleeping when we saw them but active for another vehicle. Leopard had a kill in a tree, when we saw her she was on the ground. One vehicle saw a hyena come and then leave. Plus lots of other sightings.

They do have a pride with 3 months old Cubs, and mating lions. So much to look forward to for sure.

Tomorrow is another day - I cannot wait.

Another great day at Mala Mala. Between the vehicles we had terrific sightings.

Lioness separated from the pride. Agitated and searching for her family one vehicle followed her back to the pride. All the other lions came out to welcome her back with the little Cubs very exuberant. The pride had killed a buffalo. They remove the stomach contents and cover them with dirt to mask the odor from other animals.

A herd of about 50 Cape Buffalo were heading to the river. Vehicle went ahead to the river and parked to watch the buffalo arrive. Great sight they get so excited and are fun to watch.

Three elephants, mom and two little ones. When we arrived one of the youngs ones was laying down. You do not see that much as elephants sleep standing up. Another little elephant climbed up on the back of the elephant on the ground. So cute. Them mom broke off a huge branch and carried it with her " fast food to go" I guess.

They found the mating lions. One of the two males we saw last year that were so skinny. Now they are fat and happy building a nice pride. We did not see them mate but will probably see them again.

The newbies went in search of zebra and had a wonderful sighting and also saw great ostrich. Then saw a lion cub climb a termite mound and then he posed for them

Not often seen but found this morning a honey badger and two striped jackals.
Great morning - what will this afternoon bring?

It makes me so happy to hear that those two male lions are doing so well! The sight of the mother and son that were so sick still haunts me from LEOPARD. Your story-telling is wonderful, Ngaire. I can't wait for each new day! Thank you!

Ditto Kathy. I'm so happy the two males are doing well. Sounds like a GREAT time Ngaire with such excellent viewing !