South Africa: Safari 4

We crammed one last safari drive into the day before we had to head back to Cape Town to meet our friends coming in from America. (My parents decided to delay their flight by a day so they could fit in two more drives. Excellent!) So our last drive was a continuation for the hunt for elephants.

We started off with a herd of giraffe.

Then we spotted something pretty special: a serval. It was poking its head out of some brush. I seriously have no idea how our guide spotted him. We stopped the car and then it came out in full view. Spectacular!

But what could be better than a serval? TWO servals! A friend popped out and joined him.

Our guide spotted a small herd of elephants on a nearby mountain, so as soon as the servals disappeared, we were off. Fast. So fast.

Our guide navigated as best he could, but the elephants couldn't be reached. They were in an area that was basically enclosed by thorn bushes. But, while we were poking around, searching for a way in, we saw this.

It's a kudu skull and spine, and the jawbone was nearby. It had been eaten by predators and scavengers just a day or two before. It was fascinating!

So I asked if we could get out of the truck and touch it. Because you don't go all the way to South Africa not to touch a kudu skull. Our guide obliged, and Leigh and I were the only ones interested. Weird.

As afternoon drew near, our guide decided that we'd head back toward the game lodge and hopefully spot some elephants on the way. He wanted so badly to find that for us because he said we would appreciate it. He said some people come on safari and spend all their time on their phones. Their PHONES? WHAT! Who are these people? Sick. Just stay at home, jerkfaces.

We spotted lots of amazing animals on our way back.

And then this happened.

I had to narrow down the 200 photos I took of those lions to my favorite. I was out of control. I wanted to hug them, but Leigh reminded me they'd eat my face off.

We packed our bags and got ready to go. Before we left, I decided to try achieving one last feat: hugging a wild hog.

The hogs were not intersted.

South Africa: Safari 3

Our third safari drive was spent looking for elephants. It was exciting and yet absolutely terrifying. 

We  took some photos outside the game lodge before we headed out. 

This is my reaction to Leigh's suggestion that we climb over the fence and go down to the river, which was known to have hippos. 

We spotted this adorable guy just outside our room.

Look took a spare moment to read and enjoy the pool, even though it was freezing. 

Wild hogs were all over the place. I just wanted to hug them all. Unfortunately, the hogs were not interested in my hugs. Lame.  

The first spot we stopped outside the game lodge area was a place with numerous termite hills. They're hard as rocks. Inside, the queen termite has all her little peons go out and return with food. She grows and grows uninhibited. A queen termite is about the size of a big man's pinky finger. Gross. 

The hills are strong enough to hold the weight of a person and then some. Leigh was the first to hop up there. A squat Irishman on his honeymoon needed a few attempts before he eventually climbed up; his new bride was still impressed. 

We all could try the termites if we wanted. They're full of protein and are a good food source for people who lived off the land. Well, I didn't come all the way to South Africa not to eat termites. 

Leigh took this picture of my reaction, which cracks me up. Termites taste like, you know, wood. It was a surprise and yet not. It made sense but was still weird.

There were plenty of beautiful things to see. 

This is an aardwolf. What is an aardwolf, you ask? I have no idea. From what I can tell, a fox and a hyena had a baby many thousands of years ago, and that baby likes to eat insects. I spotted it and shouted, "It's a ... thing! Turn around! A ... thing! With fur!" Our guide said they are extremely rare, so it was neat to get a chance to see one. I have never even heard of this animal. I seriously had no idea it existed until I spotted it and thought it was a fox-hyena, or a foxyena. 

Leigh was the best animal spotter of everyone! 

This is our guide surveying the landscape for elephants. Incredible. 

We were on the trail of the elephant herd. We spotted traces of them here and there, and our guide traveled with serious urgency. And when I say "serious urgency" I really mean "crazy speed considering paved roads were rare."

This was a moment of fear ...

... because of this "road."

But we survived! Hooray!

At the bottom of the hill we spotted this guy. Yes, it looks like a regular rabbit, but I would estimate it weighed about 20 pounds. Really. My dad's reaction: "Put that guy in a pot!"

We ended the night with a sundowners, which means we had drinks while watching the sun set. The idea is infinitely lovely, but it was so, so cold. We toughed it out, though. It was fantastic. I had hot chocolate and everybody else had grownup drinks. 

We saw a group of three zebras fighting. It was so exciting! We surmised it was the zebra version of The Maury Pauvich Show. 

We pulled up to the gate at one of the few entrances of the massive, massive park and had to actually wait to be let out. There was a sign: "I'm in the toilet. Please be patient." Leigh demanded a photo. That poor man. He eventually came out and was so embarrassed. He probably goes hours between cars, and then we pulled up. Oh well.