Africa

Hi everyone,

Sorry i haven't been writing lately but we haven't had any Internet so far. Anyway we arrived in Johannesburg and stayed overnight at a little hotel. The next morning we went back to the airport and got on another plane which was about an hour long. When we got there Gareth was waiting in Polokwane (I don't know how to spell it) with a rental car to drive the rest of the way.

About three hours later (the car ride was longer because we had to stop for goats, cows and an Elephant to cross the road!) we arrived at the South African/Botswana border and had to leave the car in South African territory. Then we took a cable car across a huge river, and after signing some immigration papers we were on our way to camp.

A tour jeep met us half way to camp and took us out on a drive. We saw a few giraffes, elephants, impala and even some lion! Its was a lot colder then last time we went to Africa but we still had a lot of fun. As the sun started to set we got out of the car and had sun downers which is were you stretch your legs, have a drink and watch the sunset. But when we were having our sun downers the tracker saw something in the bush, it was a lion! Not to mention that that very lion had been collared so it had a grudge against humans. So we all stayed very still and one by one we all got into the car. Anyway when we got back to camp they showed us our rooms (room 8 and room 11) and then we went for dinner. Here is a bit of info for you: Dinner was served in what they call a bomma (again I don't know how to spell it) which is a big area fenced off to keep animals out. They used to be used for cattle.

The next day we were up before our ranger came for wake up call and after some coffee and hot chocolate we went out for our morning drive. We didn't see a lot but it was still beautiful.

When we got back we had breakfast and then hung out for a few hours till the next drive. The camp was surrounded by a gate so it was safe and Gareth had been there before so he showed us around. We walked on the paths, went to see the discovery center and the crocodiles outside of it, the lookout decks and the curio shop. While we were there I did a little exploring of my own and found a secret passage outside of the gate (woops!) so I decided to go back to the room.

Later that day we went out on the night drive, and other then some lionesses and there cubs, we didn't see much. But we did get stuck and we couldn't get out to push the car because we were surrounded by lions. So another car had to push us out.

When we got back we went for dinner and then we went to bed.

Then the next morning we went on our final drive and didn't really eat a big breakfast. On our drive we saw some warthogs, some jackal and we even got to see the rare wild dogs! A little more info for you: Although wild dogs are very rare they have the highest kill rate of animals in Africa even higher then lions. Think about that. Well after our drive we went right back to the border, and set off again.

back in Polokwane we had to wait three hours for the flight but Gareth had to keep driving. After the flight we all met up in Johannesburg at the Westcliff hotel.

In Johannesburg so far we have gone shopping a lot gone to the lion park an area were you can pet the lions, feed giraffes, ostriches and look at all the other animals. Karen was attacked by a lion and the trainer had to pull it off of her. The good news is other then some scratches and ripped jeans she was ok.

And so know I am here at the Westcliff about to go sit by the pool. So bye our plane leaves tonight at 10:20 pm and its eleven hours long and then we have to go get on another ten hour long flight to Vancouver.

Well have fun wherever you are!

-Chloe