South Africa - Linda BDecember 2, 2013
Dear All,
Sorry, have been without internet….have just come out of the bush and flown into Johannesburg at hotel with internet…..
We have seen many wondrous things over the past week….lion and lioness mating (Greg has it on high def video!!!), a female leopard with her impala “kill” as she was dragging it up in to a tree, started eating it and then decided to move it around in the tree, dropping it in the process…she quickly jumped down to retrieve it before a hyena could show up and steal it from her, then she leaped back up into the tree with the impala in her jaws, settled down comfortably and continued with her evening feast ! What a site it was!! Greg had spotted the dead impala hidden by a mystery animal in the tree earlier in the day as we were driving by so our guide thought to come back later to see who was coming to dinner….it all worked out and we had a birds eye view
Rhino, Elephant, Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, lions, leopards (my fav!), warthogs, dingo babies…our guide knew where a den was so we drove over late in the afternoon and waited and waited for the cubs to come out….puppies are puppies no matter the species and where they are in the world….they entertained us until it got too dark and we had to leave them…..frolicking, licking and play biting, playing with sticks…it took every ounce of reason for us to stay in the He vehicle and not get out to play with them!! We are told there is a documentary by National Geographic called the Hyena Queen that was done on this den so these pups are the descendents of the original ones studied….we have been trying to buy a copy here but all is in the European PAL format…will have to order one when we get home….
The politics here are an interesting and complicated story….I bought a book about it and after I read it will let you know if it is a good read just in case you are interested in the history.
Today we are in Johannesburg at the beautiful Intercontinental Sun Airport, really! If you are ever in “Joberg” as it is called, DO stay here. Very convenient to walk across to. Every convenience you need (including internet YEAH!!).
As usual, gotta run!!
All is well and we are still having a grand time.
