Wednesday, Jan 21 - Thorny Bush Game Reserve, Kruger National Park
We went out on two more game drives today. The first one was with Michael and Linda and we were trying to find some cats. Shoes and Peter tracked leopard to a specific area and while we are all looking through the bush to find the cat, my mom points to a tree. I am thinking that she is pointing out a bird as my mom tends to do (even while driving on narrow curving mountain roads but I digress) and there is the most beautiful leopard just sitting in the tree. I have amazing video of that as well! I am really looking forward to posting the video and photos of this part of the trip but I am unable to do it for another week! We also saw jackals, nygala, monkeys and impalas but that leopard stole the show!!
In the afternoon, it is just my mom and I on the game drive since this time of year tends to be slow for the game reserves. So my mom and I invite the staff to join us. We fill the 12 seater Land Rover and head out with the staff from the front desk, spa, kitchen and gift shop. It was the highlight of the trip for us sharing the game drive with some really nice folks that opened up their hearts and country to us.
Shoes, our Ranger, found more giraffe, lions, black rhino, bamboons, monkeys and in the dark driving 20 miles an hour spots a small chameleon on a tree. I swear this thing was the size of my finger and lazer eyes Shoes sees it all! Shoes grew up in the bush about 30 minutes from the reserve and had no electricity or running water. His dad is now 104 years old and had three wives and at least 10 kids. Shoes hears and sees all and he was a wonderful Ranger that showed us the sights and sounds of the Kruger area.
After dinner, mom and I were escorted back to our room (which they do at night since we are on a game reserve as the animals run wild) and our night escorts tells us that his mom died yesterday but he does not have enough money to get home. I ask him how far away home is and he tells us about two hours. I ask how much to get home and he says about 60 Rand which is $6 US. Mom and I are touched by his story so we give him $20 and the sheer appreciation in his eyes is something that I will never forget. He says thank you and I think no thank you for reminding me how truly blessed I am and that I should be thankful for every $20 I have. I cannot imagine not having $6 to get home or do whatever it is that I want to do with $6. I am truly grateful for all I have and all I have experienced. This is why I love to travel so much - it reminds me how lucky I am to be me!
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Hi Kelly,
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing trip. So I asked my mother-in-law a few suggestions for your trip as she has traveled to almost every place on Earth. Not sure if you are done with the Safari's but she recommend a few things in the area Sabi Sand Reserve-Leopard Hills Game reserve a spectacular location. In Jburg she recommended a place where you can pet baby lions with a guide, said amazing. Cape of Good Hope to see the Penguin Colony and to stay by the wharf in a nicer hotel. In Egypt, must hit the Museum of Antiquities to see King Tut and his compadres, Cairo is a dirty and poor city, stay in a better hotel. Alexandria is a nicer city with other nice museums as well. It sounds like you are doing just fine on your planning, but figured I would throw it out there. Great job on keeping up the blog. Also, have not seen your Mom in I don't know how many years, she looks great. Please tell her I said Hello. Safe travels.
Trina