Day 2 in South Africa, May 5th 2017 (early morning- & late afternoon game drive in Pilanesberg National Park)

My first early morning game drive. Woke up at 5.00 AM and after a small breakfast went down the 132 steps from the Tshukudu Lodge to the bottom of the hill where the safari vehicles were waiting for their passengers. It was still dark when we left at about 5.45 AM. We drove towards the Mankwe Dam/Hippo Loop area in the middle of the Pilanesberg National Park.

coffee break at 7.30 AM

bridge to hide at Mankwe Dam

  

Day 1 in South Africa, May 4th 2017 (from Johannesburg International Airport to Pilanesberg National Park)

sunrise over Africa

LX 288 approaching Johannesburg

my route from JNB to Pilanesberg National Park

Tshukudu Bush Lodge in Pilanesberg National Park

first view of the Pilanesberg!

african highway traffic

entering Pilanesberg National Park through Bakubung

all excited to see the Big 5

my first sighting of the Big 5 was not a good one.......

but it got better!

african road block

just one way out - in reverse!

first view of Tshukudu Bush Lodge

you can hardly see him, but he's there, welcoming you at the steps leading to the lodge, Happy Harry

the lounge at the lodge

our Tshukudu ranger Ally

and off we go on our first afternoon game drive!

one of the Tshukudu Lodge safari vehicles

zebra's

more zebra's

and 1 more zebra

more passionate photographers on board

little bee-eater

waterbok

majestic......

Chienbäse Liestal 2017

Vlieland!

Celebrating Christmas one day late on Vlieland, but with a lot of joy! Sadly enough my Nikon camera decided to stop working, so pictures are made with my iPad mini, as is this blog entry.

Botlierskop Private Game Reserve: Feeding The Elephants

Today we had the chance to feed the elephants. We took turns in feeding apple halfs to the bull and the 7 year old calf, the mother was still too protective over her calf so she was fed by the caretaker (in the background) while we could feed apples to her young one.

feeding apples to the 7 year old calf

feeding the bull

open up!

big tusk

lashes of about 10 cm!

big nose, big ears

big molar

and after apple-lunch it is time for a stroll with the family

South Africa - Day 2 - from Cape Town to Montagu - African Game Lodge

After our night in the Cape Towm airport hotel we drove to Montagu. Beautiful scenery that did remind me a lot of Utah. From Montagu it was another 30 km on dirt roads to the African Game Lodge where we would go on our first game drive and where we would spend the night. No electricity, no internet, no mobile phone signal, no TV. Lots of animals! Stargazing at night!

right out of Montagu 2 fighting baboons came running out of the bushes!

this way to the African Game Lodge!

our rental car on the left
it looked like this guy on the right needed some help

our south african cottage for the night

on the outlook

our private game drive vehicle