Pilansberg National Park

Our day at Pilansberg National Park was one of the most exciting of my life. It was something you dream about your whole life - something you read about in books or see on TV. Leigh, Alfie, Mia and I saw some of the largest, most impressive animals in the world. We saw things that would get me wound up just to see in the zoo. We were within maybe 10 feet of bull elephants and watched a baby elephant split a tree in two. We stared a rhino in the eye. We saw yawning hippos, bouncing springboks, kicking wildebeest and running giraffes. The best part: we heard a lion roaring. Mia roared back from her car seat. The nature reserve was spectacular and stretched for miles. I don't think it ever set in that it was really the wild. Nothing in the park was fed or bred. They survive on their own in the endless expanse of plains and mountains. It was like Kruger National Park. I haven't been uploading photos because it takes a lot of time, but this is something that requires a few. Here are my favorites of the, oh, 450 we took.

When Tanya and her friend arrive, we've decided we have to take them back. This is something everyone has to see.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Coffee Bay. We'll stay there Tuesday and then return to Joburg on Wednesday. Then we leave for Cape Town the next day. Who knew vacation time could be so busy?