I'll start with some updates on the place were staying. It's very nice and quite plush even though it's obvious we're in the bush. We have our own little "hut" with a 20ft high ceiling that is a thatched roof. The compound/lodge/resort is all thatched and is quite African (naturally). There is a bar and dinner tables outside by the pool. The bar is where we all sit around swapping stories from the day. Castle is the local beer brand and it isn't bad at all... We've been turned on to Amarula which is like Bailey's but mixed with the fruit of the Marula tree (an elephants favorite). Quite good... I'll definitley bring some back. There are probably two other groups at any given time out here that are also on safari so we all sit around and eat dinner together and talk about home. All good people.
The food has been excellent! We've eaten a different game meat each night and the sides are all great. We've had impala, kudu, blesbok, wildebeest, and chicken (not game I know but it keeps the variety streak alive)!! They had some mashed greenbeans the othernight that were fantastic... I would have never thought to prepare them that way.
As far as the hunting has gone, Aaron has "harvested" a zebra, a kudu, and a jackal. My dad has harvested a zebra and a warthog and Alan got an impala. 5 more animals to get before the wishlist is filled! (wildebeest, another impala, gemsbok, and two more warthogs in case you were wondering.) The guide and trackers are very respectful of the animals. They're shot humanely and cleaned up afterward out of respect (and it makes for a better picture. Heh.). The hunting is exactly what you'd expect in a safari... Ride around in the bush in the back of a 4x4 truck with rifles and start tracking the game. Gives us plenty of opportunity to see many many many different types of animals.
So far out here we've seen (and photographed) the following wildlife: rino, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, kudu, blesbok, springbok, wildebeest, gemsbok, warthog, hartebeest, klipspringer, steenbok, impala, nyala, bushbok, eland, waterbok, ostrich, emu, and tons of other cool and colorful birds. Of course they have all the same domestic animals...
It's hard to believe that we're still going to see more wildlife! We are on our way to Kruger National Park for 3 days to see all the other animals that they don't have where we have been staying. It's a 5 hour drive and I can tell you already that I miss our highways. I'll be 3 inches shorter when I get back to the states because of all the bumpy rides!! Talking to other tourists that have been, they say that Kruger is like RMNP but with the most diverse wildlife in the world. I'm ready to see some elephants, lions, hippos and the rest of them all!! We will spend one night outside of the park and one night inside of the park. Super excited for this side trip.
Photos photos photos!! I'm going to have to spend hours going through the 1000+ pictures I've taken so far. I'm sure I'll pitch maybe half of them as I'm still getting used to the lens and taking 4 or more photos of each animal I've seen. The photo opportunities so far have just been training for the Kruger trip. I've seen pictures where you get so close you can frame a lion and the side of the car in the same shot. Unfortunatley there is no getting out of the car for a super close up! :(
So enough animals... The human/social aspect of the country is quite different from the states. This is probably obvious to everyone but I didn't realize the extent of it until spending time here. I liken it to the way the US had racial segregation during the 60s. The racism on both sides is blatant and glaring. Our tracker eats lunch with us in the field but doesn't sit at our table at the lodge. I wish that would change. I think in time it will.
It is obviously poor in this area but it's better than other African countries or so I'm told. Some of the guys brought pens and candy for the kids but they need more. I will say that the safari industry out here does a lot to employ and bring money to the area. It employs lots of locals and the folks who work for the safaris end up staying on the property and are fed the good meals which is all much better than living in the tin shacks and cooking over wood fires. People are collecting firewood all over the place to cook with.
We're having fun over here seeing a bunch of the country. While riding around in the back of a 4x4 looking for animals to shoot is fun I am excited to see more! I'll have some updates after Kruger I'm sure. Tot siens! ("Untill next time" in Afrikaans!)
-- Dan
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