The Big 5

We were lucky enough to see all of the Big 5. They are called the Big 5 because they are the 5 most dangerous animals to hunt. We also saw many other animals including cheetah, wildebeest, white rhino, white lion, monkeys, giraffe, kudu, warthog, and hippo.

lion

leopard

water buffalo

elephant

black rhino

Game Drives

Lawrence, our tracker, Floris, our guide, BBD, Ann Marie, Zach, Mick



Sunset during a game drive



Mick and Marvin the lion.



On the game drive



This elephant was very interested in Zach and Zach wasn't too happy about it.

The Lodge

Entrance to the lodge



Our chalet. 2 bedrooms



The pool and a viewing deck. We had dinner on the deck our last night there. The animals came right up to the lodge.



Computer/TV room and library



The main lodge - Outdoor eating area and sitting areas. Firepit is on right of the picture. We ate dinner around the fire on our first night. It was a sit down tablecloth dinner with amazing food.

Each day we had tea and coffee at 5 a.m. Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. after the a.m. game drive. Lunch at 3 p.m. Dinner at 8:00 when we returned from the p.m. game drive.

View of Table Mountain from our hotel room

Cableway to top of Table Mountain

At the top of Table Mountain - Robben Island in the background

Hiking at top of Table Mountain

View of Harbor from the top

Robben Island

Our guide and ex-political prisoner in the actual cell where he was imprisoned


A communal cell in F block


Maximum security wing. Fourth window from left is window to Nelson Mandela's cell.



Nelson Mandela's cell where he was held for 18 years.

Quick updates

The last couple days have been at the Game Reserve. Very little time or computer access to post. I have some amazing pics from Robben Island tour and from the game drives. I will try to get those up on Monday. We've seen too many animals to list, but all of the Big 5 - lion, leopard, hippo, water buffalo, elephant - we've also seen cheetah, zebra, monkeys, and many others.

Unfortunately, I did not get a photo but on our last night in Cape Town, Zach gave some change to the street dancers and they invited him to join them. They were all young boys dancing and singing a traditional dance. It was the cutest thing EVER! He was a little embarassed but he did it. On the same night Mick tried both wart hog and kudu at supper. She liked both. I tried crocodile...didn't like it...very strong tasting.

We will go on our final game drive tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. before departing on our long journey home. None of us want to leave.

One final note - the lodge where we are staying - Jackleberry Lodge - is amazing. The animals come right into the grounds. The lodges are breathtaking and they have a small library, pool, and the eating area is so beautiful. I will have to post pictures so that you can see. Also, our guide and tracker, Flores and Lawrence, are the BEST! We are the envy of all the other groups. They find the animals before anyone else and we always get the best views and photos. Flores was able to make the lion from the other Reserve next door roar last night and that started the one on our side to roar.

safaris/internet!

hey everyone. just wanted to let you know our first 2 game drives have been successful! we have already seen the big 5.!!!! (: i just wanted to let you know that the internet here is limited to one computer provided in the lodge's library, so we will not be able to check in as often as we would like!!! got to go,, we are about to go on our 3rd game drive, it'll be a hot one!!!!!