Advertisement
Published: June 25th 2011
Edit Blog Post
Warthog
First Animal we saw in the park Pilanesberg was just incredible! We got picked up by our guide form the airport and started the 3 hour drive out to the park. As soon as we got there we took a couple of hours and went on our first game drive, within a few minutes we saw our first animal, a Black Backed Jackel, followed by a family of Warthog. I can definatley say that the Warthog were my favourite animals, they were just so cute. On the drive we saw Wilderbeast, Zebra, lots of variations on Buck, Impala and Kudu along with some Giraffe. We were just on our way to the campsite when we spotted some Elephant. We drove along a little further and smack bang in the middle of the road was a huge bull Elephant. We ended up having to wait for him to move along before we could go anywhere.
We got to camp and set up our tents and had some lunch. That night we went on a night safari which was incredibly freezing, but we were lucky enough to see some Giraffe having a fight (called necking). I have to say they fight in a very civilized manner, basically they both
Bull Elephant
This big bog was standing in the middle of the road... we had to wait for him to move off the road before we could go anywhere. attempt to give each other a dead leg in the hopes that one will eventually back down. The next sighting was a Black Rhino, we were so lucky to see one as they are the endangered of the two Rhino species and there are only a few in the park. We spotted some White Rhino and then went on the hunt for Lions. The guide that took us on the night drive got a tip off that there were some Lion sightings, so we gunned it to their location. Before we knew it, we looked to the side of the road and about a metre away from the truck were two Lioness and a Lion just lazing in the grass. We started heading back to camp, as by this stage everyone was frozen to the bone. Again we were stopped in our tracks by a huge Hippo also standing in the middle of the road on its way for its nightly feed. All in all we were so very lucky.
We got back to camp and the guides had made us a huge braai (BBQ on an open fire). It went down a treat after the cold drive we
had just had. I have to admit, that night was not very pleasant for myself as the temperature plumeted.
The next morning we woke at 6am and got through the park gates as soon as they opened. We didnt see much but the landscape was amazing at that time in the morning. At about 10am we saw a Lion and Lioness strolling in the distance with incredibly full bellies. This was, I think, one of our most prided sightings as it was just so surreal! We got back to camp for a brunch fry up and some relaxing in the midday sun. That night was really nice, our guide taught Aaron how to make a proper Braai Vleis so hopefully we can come home and repeat the process, meat definately taste better on a open flame compared to a gas BBQ.
The safari was great and we nearly got to stay on longer as on our last day we were at one of the far ends of the park where not a lot of people go when the truck we were in just died! It completely cut out. It was a little freaky being in a national park
Giraffe
Giraffe having a fight full of wild, dangerous animals, with no form of transportation, no cell phone reception and no rifle so we could walk! After many attempts we eventually managed to get it going by aaron and our guide, Craig, pushing the truck and me in the front seat trying to jump start it in reverse! Hey you learn something new everyday. One last picnic lunch in the park and we were back to Granny and Oupa's in Johannesburg.
Well we are just about out of Africa and onto Ireland, so hope all is well back home and we will blog again soon.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.096s; Tpl: 0.02s; cc: 7; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0447s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Shirley Capper
non-member comment
Africa!
Looks fantastic! Hope you said hello to Africa for me. Enjoy the next leg of your trip- cant wait for more news!