Diary for Sailng on Windwanderer.


Monday 26th February 2015

2015-02-26

Monday 26th February 2015

Well we are back in South Africa, and are staying with John and Helen again this time at their place in Joberg, after we got over our jet lag, we settled in for a few days,did a few touristy stuff, than we were off to their private game reserve.

There were five couples there they are all friends of John and Helen's and even though we all had completely different personalities we all got on so well.

Buffalo Thorn lodge is a five star lodge it's only small and has five separate lodges, so we all got one to ourselves, I can't even begin to describe how this place was, but I'll give it a go anyway...haha

The lodge itself is not only five stars but just first class all the way, we all joined up for meals which we took turns cooking, but no dishes to be done or beds to be made, they have staff that do it all, it was so so good.
The lodge itself is set on around five acres and all that is between you and the wild is an electric fence.
They have had a few break in's one being a Elephant that stampede all the gardens and just caused drama all over the place, but the main break in's are the Monkeys.
This time was no exception not the elephants, which was a pity, that sure would of been something to see, but the never ending pests the monkeys, they got in twice, our cabin was spared thank god, but several times the rangers found them jumping on beds, they stole all our fruit from the kitchen and broke into another lodge and a window was broken, I thought this was all so funny, not the broken window but the rest it's a pity no one else did.
The monkeys always crack me up they are like teenagers causing havoc, but not really doing too much harm, I can just picture them jumping up and down on the beds...haha

Out side the fence of the lodge is a watering hole and it's lite with a spotlight, we saw a variety of animals come up to have a drink day and night.
There were the white Rhinos, one very large Giant Eagle Owl, Impala, kudu, Heina,Wart Hogs, and of cause the big Bush Rabbits.
We did have Elephants come up once but we all missed them by about ten minutes as we were out on a safari at the time.

Every morning we set off early around six and would go driving in the safari truck, than stop for a quick coffee and a snack than get back around 11am have brunch which was usually a huge meal and we all would need nana naps after, than around 4pm we would take off once again, we would stop for sundowners in the middle of the bush, than get back around dark sometimes just on dark, have dinner which would go on to very late, then off to bed ready to see it all again, the next day.

Many late nights and early mornings I would sit outside on the deck and just watch the animals come up to the waterhole you could also hear a lot of other animals in the distant, a few times I heard something close by and freaked myself out big time and would make a mental dash back inside real quick.

Did we see the big five, no but we managed to see three and what sightings they were.
every time we went out we saw something, a few magic moments that we had was with the White Rhinos, when the ranger spotted two of them and knew they were going to a particular waterhole, we raced there parked the truck and all sat quietly, in a few minutes they walked out of the bush and down to the waterhole, their eyesight is not good but they knew we were there, they just could not work out what we were.
We sat and watched them drink and roll in the mud and just chill, it was magic.

We also had a run in a few days later with another Rhino who looked like he had, had a fight he had some blood on his face and was one very grumpy old man.
We were driving down the dirt road when he stepped onto the road in front of us and no way in the world was he going to let us pass.
No matter what side of the road we went he would move over in front of us, he never once charged us but if we had got close to him I'm sure he would of tried, eventually he walked around a bush on the side of the road and we managed to get past him, he chased us down the road a bit, than thought better of it and off he went to terrorise the next thing that come across his path.

Every day we saw Elephants and lions the two that were special was when we were in what they call a dug out, which is just a shed with a little peep hole. 
A whole family of Elephants came down to a waterhole to drink and play, there were all ages in this group, one teenager decided to go right in, and it was so funny he pooped in the water than swam away from it, only that his business kept following him, well he kinda freaked out, and was trying to brush it away with his trunk only for it to float back again and again, this amused us big time.
Then some other teenagers saw him and decided they wanted in on the fun as well, before we knew it there were four of them in, all having a great time splashing around climbing onto each other having mock wrestles it sure was a fun sight.
We watched this heard for a long time and the babies were so so cute, but all good things have to come to an end and we needed to get back.

The other big thing for us was the lions, two separate occasions, one was when we came up to them after they had just killed a wilder beast, it must of only happened about an hour ago.
We watched them eating it, heard them snarling at each other blood all over their faces even the younger ones swiping each other all the time we watched, the Male kept a close watch on us, and yes it was a little disturbing watching them but it's what nature is all about I guess.

The other time was when we came across them at a waterhole and we watched a mother and some younger ones just hanging out, all of a sudden we noticed the old male laying close by, we managed to get very close to it, actually a little to close when one of the guys in our truck stood up to take a pic, the male was at attention he even licked his lips, the ranger told him to sit down quick, with a little panic in his voice, he sure did not stand up again and I know most of us were leaning well back into the truck too.

So yes we sure seen some sites at this magical place, the list could go on and on, but we did manage to see so so much, this is one experience in my life that I will never ever forget, I just hope it's still around in generations to come so all can maybe share some of the magic that this little part of the world has to offer.

Well tomorrow is another day.