Day 1

We met up in Johannesburg at the airport after a very tiring journey for the Stines and the Looneys. We got settled in at the Commodore Hotel after arriving in Cape Town and re-convened in the hotel lobby for a drink and a small bite to eat. Feeling revitalized, we headed out to explore the waterfront, where we enjoyed a late dinner.

Day 2

Chip was eager to have a go at surfing, so we headed to Muizenberg (a beach-side suburb of Cape Town). We left before sunrise and met up with his instructor, as pre-arranged. It was a beautiful morning to be out on the beach! Bravely, with board in hand, Chip and his instructor took to the icy water, which is somewhere around 63 degrees F. Next stop? Kalk Bay! Known for its raw beauty, interesting shops, vast selection of restaurants and stunning views, we ventured onto the rocks, enjoying the intensity of the crashing waves. We enjoyed a relaxed walk along the wharf, past all the colorful fishing boats.

We then headed to Boulder’s Beach. We ambled down the boardwalk, enjoying the waddles and shrieks. Observing the penguins and their fluffy young chicks, and noisy squawks were particularly memorable. Our next visit was to Cape Point. We saw baboons foraging on the side of the road and stopped to observe for a while. Mary L and Collin rode the funicular to the top of Cape Point, while the rest of us enjoyed the walk, instead. We were lucky to have perfect weather! Blue skies, low winds, and no pestering baboons. We also saw a small herd of Eland.

Hungry bellies began to grumble and jet lag was setting in. We headed off to The Toad at The Farm Village in Noordhoek. We had a delicious lunch followed by a leisurely stroll around the shops. Our plan was to continue to the Twelve Apostles Hotel for sundowners and a beautiful sunset. A few members of our group were fading, so we headed back to the hotel via Silvermine. Mary and Chip wanted to enjoy the sunset while the others rested, so we found a spot at the waterfront for a cocktail. We marveled at the glorious sunset over Robben Island while we enjoyed our drinks. Dinner at Baia Seafood Restaurant at the V&A Waterfront gave the guests a taste of authentic South African seafood. The beautiful views of the harbor and Table Mountain completed the setting.

Day 3

Time to rise and shine came at 5:30 am! A sunrise walk up Lion’s Head was the perfect start to the day. We reached the base of Lion’s Head as the sky started to lighten. Gregg, Chip, Mary S, Taylor, Collin and I headed out at a quick pace with much banter and chirping as had become the norm. The views of the city below improved with the rising sun. Table Mountain, Camps Bay, The 12 Apostles, Bantry Bay, Seapoint and the city bowl followed suit.

It was a cloudy day, unfortunately, we did not witness a great sunrise. However, despite the misty conditions on Lion’s head, we were still blessed with a spectacular view. Getting to the top was amazing. It was cool and the all-around views were magnificent. In spite of the clouds, we could see all the way to Blouberg and the Simonsberg Mountains.

A fit yogi lady came rushing up the mountain and asked us if we would take a picture of her doing a handstand on the top. Her skills were so impressive, it inspired Chip! He had to attempt to do the same! He got Gregg to hold his legs and posed for a handstand picture at the top. It was hysterical! We all took pictures around the beacon to prove we made it.

Lunchtime! We went to The Sidewalk Café in Vredehoek for lunch. This is one of our favorite lunch spots because we have a great relationship with the staff, and the food is delicious. We made reservations at the Africa Café for an authentic African culture and food experience. The night included lots of banter, laughter, face painting and dancing. The staff at the restaurant danced and sang for the guests throughout the evening, what a memorable experience!

Day 4 and Day 5

We had an early morning departure for the airport to catch our flight to Hoedspruit. We visited the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center. Here, visitors have close experiences with the creatures they have rescued. Sadly, these animals will spend their lives in the center, as rehabilitation is not possible for them. We touched a cheetah and felt the weight of a vulture on our arm. We experienced the majesty of a lion and we touched a Bateleur Eagle. This visit was a real eye-opener to the challenges faced by wildlife in our modern world.

We enjoyed Kapama Elephant Interaction. The elephant experience started with a brief history of Jabulani, a rescue elephant. We also heard about the rest of the herd that came from Zimbabwe to be part of this unique elephant experience. It also allowed us to observe the elephants in their natural environment as they peacefully go about their daily routine.  

The grooms shared amusing anecdotes about each elephant’s unique personality, their quirks and antics. After an introduction to Jabulani, we had the opportunity to feed him and interact with him. We placed our hands in his mouth and felt his soft tongue. We felt the back of his ears and his trunk too. This was an incredible photo opportunity!

Day 6 and Day 7

We left for Hamiltons tented camp in the Kruger National Park. We enjoyed sightings of elephant herds and a leopard along the way. A startled giraffe came running out of the bush and all we saw were its legs and belly a few feet from the window – we all had a good laugh!

After an afternoon snack, we met our guides, Simon and Themba. During our game drive, we found ourselves surrounded by a herd of elephants with lots of young. They were comfortable with our presence, which allowed us a close-up view of them.

A few teenage elephants used us to practice their defense tactics on. They would charge with full force, shaking their heads and trunks, and then abruptly stop and move off, repeatedly. We even had one pick up a small branch and attempt to throw it at us. This took place amid trumpeting and low frequency rumbles between them. We stopped for drinks and enjoyed a beautiful bushveld sunset. Returning to the camp was a delight! Hurricane lamps were lit and set out on the steps to the lodge. A table set with white linens, antique silverware, crystal glasses, candelabra and a welcome note, met us. After dinner, we enjoyed singing and dancing from the lodge staff, with Andrew and Henry joining in too. In our comfortable beds that night, we could hear the nightlife outside. The sounds of baboons in the trees, the bark of a bushbuck and the roar of lions all added to the intrigue of the safari.

Day 8

Our 5 am wake up gave us a morning coffee at the main lodge. We saw a hyena walking along a game path towards our vehicle with some determination. We also saw a very protective lioness with her cubs in a river bed below us. The lioness’ focus on us was intense, watching our every move, ready to charge at any moment. Very impressive.

We enjoyed numerous elephant sightings, lone bulls, small breeding herds and two young bulls going head to head. At the lodge, Mary S spotted a young leopard only 200 yards from the lodge. He casually continued on his path across the road in front of our vehicle.

We re-grouped around 3:30 pm for high tea before our afternoon game drive. We saw a fair-sized herd of buffalo, a mother and a baby rhino and the same young leopard that we had seen in the morning. This time there were a few impala nearby which he attempted to stalk. He was a little immature, unskilled and distracted. He would stalk the Impala and then lie down and roll over in the grass playfully, then get up and try again. It was very endearing to watch.

We stopped in the bush near a large termite mound. We watched the glorious sunset with drinks in hand and took some fun pictures of the group. In the fading light of day, we saw a herd of elephants approaching us, then cross the road ahead of us instead. It was a little eerie barely being able to distinguish their large shapes in the hazy light. We listened to the odd break of a branch or rustling of the grass as they made their way through the bush.

Day 9

Today’s drive yielded much the same as the sightings from the previous day. We did see some wild dogs too. There was a herd of impala that they chased, but it did not escalate to a hunt. They lingered around us for a fair amount of time, allowing us to observe them. We heard over the radio that the kids had spotted two cheetahs. You can imagine how this delighted them! Our evening drive gave us sightings of two young rhino who posed for our photos, more elephants, and other general game.

Day 10

Up again in the morning for our last game drive. We were all departing Hamilton’s today! The Stine’s were leaving us to return to the USA. We had organized a transfer from Hamilton’s to Hoedspruit where they would fly to the airport and back to the USA in the evening. The Looneys and I drove through Kruger to Leopard Hills in the Sabi Sands.

Our farewell from the staff at Hamilton’s included singing and cheering. They had been so accommodating during our stay, we were genuinely sad to leave. Leopard Hills was a beautiful contrast to Hamilton’s. The brick and mortar structure had thatched roofs, positioned high up on a koppie. The view was spectacular, we could see the plains below and the watering hole.

Day 10-12

 

The routine of the day at Leopard Hills was much the same as at Hamilton’s. We had a guide and a tracker this time. During our stay, we saw 5 different leopards with numerous sightings of 2 of them. On one occasion, a male leopard had claimed a female’s kill. She was down in the riverbed protesting with growls as she waited for him to leave. On the most exciting drive of our trip, our tracker and guide took us to a riverbed where they knew a female leopard and her cub hang out. The mom had given birth to three cubs, but a dominant male in the area had killed two of them.

We found a large, gorgeous male and in the crook of a large Jackalberry tree nearby was a tiny leopard cub. The mother came back to the scene and greeted the male submissively by rolling onto her back. She was attempting to redirect his path away from the cub. The male went down to the pool of water for a drink and while he was there the mom called to her cub with gentle grunts. The cub was limping due to a swollen front paw – already having had an altercation with another adult.

Other sightings included a pride of lions. On our second encounter with them, they were on the move at dusk. The lionesses had flared out to surround a herd of impala. We heard a bark from one of the Impala in the herd, having sensed the presence of danger and the herd moved away. We were disappointed to miss witnessing a hunt, but we saw the lions congregate, greeting each other by rubbing heads and bodies together. The danger bark from the Impala had alerted hyena in the area and they came by to check things out too.

Day 13

We skipped the morning game drive and slept in a little. We packed and after breakfast, we departed for the airport. Our guests loved their trip with us. We gave them two distinctly different lodges with such unique experiences, something we do for every safari we book.

Our guests also appreciated the hosted aspect of their trip. If there was a sudden change in plan due to unforeseen circumstances, we had the local knowledge to choose an exciting alternative. A hosted safari has these distinct advantages, among many others! To find out more about why a hosted safari is better, contact us.