Day Nine

Wow, what a day. Up at 4:30 and it was very cold. I was thinking this balloon ride wasn't going to be worth the effort but it was.  I was disappointed that we wouldn't fly over a park but quite frankly seeing the mountains, rivers and agriculture was as interesting. I thought it would be miserably cold but it was't nearly as cold up in the air as on the ground.  We got warm in fact.

Car driving itself. 

Back for breakfast and a lens change and we headed out to The Hodespriut Endangered Species Center, a highlight of the trip. 

But first we sat for about a 1/2 hour with a leopard and her cub. The couldn't coax the cub into the open and after calling and calling to it she had to go and fetch it. I love to hear the leopard rasping. 

The Center was started as a cheetah rescue facility by the owner of our camp.  And it then evolved into all endangered species rescue and breeding facility. To be so close to the African wild dog, one of the most endangered species of predators on the planet, was too cool. 

 

 

I wish I could go on and on about this interesting place but Carline won't tolerate it and we're short on time.  But, I will add the best part, playing with two tamed cheetahs that cannot ever be released.  Really, really neat. 

We saw a lioness and her two cubs by a water hole on our way back to the lodge.  We had a late lunch and will meet at 5:00 for sundowners and a nighttime elephant back safari followed by a tour of the barn, dinner and finally to bed.....Caroline used some belts to secure our doors last night. We're such titty babies. 

Day Eight

We finished the day seven blog with no squabbles.  Wine by the fire and ostrich for dinner. Good but that warthog was the best.  More like dark meat beef but a little pork mixed in. 

Our rooms are fenced but they communicate with the main lodge that isn't fenced so I'm not sure how that works. I am a little uncomfortable walking alone to my room at night across the bridge and through the woods so Ray walked me. Our room has no locks and Caroline stayed behind to talk to Matt. 

In an effort to conserve as all nations but the US do we have agreed to share bathwater.  Caroline goes first and swears she doesn't pee.  Tonight I got lucky because the turn down crew let the water out. New water for me, YEA!!

I'm bleary eyed and we get a wakeup call at 4:30am for our balloon ride. I have a mental picture of me nodding off, falling over and hanging by one hand. 

Tidbits:

The common name for many birds is the sound they make such as the "Go Away" bird, that bosses us, the "Oh No" bird that is apparently afraid of heights as this is what he says while in flight: oh no, oh no, oh no, and the blacksmith bird who mimics the sound of a ping on metal.

There aren't any doors in the tri level cruisers so you must climb up and over the sides. 

Caroline caught wind that we could charter a flight to Londolozi that takes 20 minutes or do the scheduled rode transfer of 2 1/2 hours.....we're flying. 

By the time I get home I will have had ten flights.  

My email has locked me out. 

Elephants pee and poop at the same time.  

When taking malaria drugs you sometimes have vivid dreams. Mine are of things coming through unlocked doors and they usually have fur.....with spots.