It wouldn't be a trip to Africa without mentioning the Big 5 - can you name them?
If you said lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, and rhino then you are correct. The Big 5 Game animals aren't called the Big 5 because they are big, but rather because they were considered the most difficult animals to hunt on foot.
Our group left around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday to travel to Pilanesberg National Park, located just a few hours outside of Joburg. Our mission? The Big 5. With Lesika from Ek Se Tours, one of Awethu's first entrepreneurs at the helm, we headed off on our journey. When we arrived it was probably 45-50 degrees and raining cats and dogs (thought I'd stick with the animal theme). The ranger informed us that there were no ponchos to be had. So what?! We weren't going to let a little rain stop us. So our little united nations snagged 2 dutch folks and headed out on a game drive together.
I learned a couple of things on this game drive...
1) Although I had a lovely guide named Nelson, no one compares to Safari Steve and He ain't "Heavy" he's my tracker, who you can only find at Bush Camp in the Sabi Sands.
2) Hippos are incredible!! We saw 10 hippos including 1 baby!! I love hippos.
3) Don't let your male colleagues bring their iPhones if they have pre-downloaded the big 5 game noises.
4) Giraffes from Namibia are slightly lighter than their brethren from South Africa.
(SA giraffe pictured below)
5) The leopard turtle is one of the Small 5
6) Don't go out on a game drive without a poncho during the rainy season. Your Lulu will only go so far.
7) Sometimes the worst ideas make the best stories.
So 10 hippos, 10 giraffes, 5 elephants, loads of antelope and birds, 1 jackal, 1 leopard turtle, and 3 zebras later, it was a great day. #imsorryimnotsorry
And although we didn't see the Big 5, I did meet little Chris at a roadside stand on the way home. He was very excited to share his green lion umbrella with me. And I couldn't help but share his little face with you.
Something new every day...
If you said lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, and rhino then you are correct. The Big 5 Game animals aren't called the Big 5 because they are big, but rather because they were considered the most difficult animals to hunt on foot.
Our group left around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday to travel to Pilanesberg National Park, located just a few hours outside of Joburg. Our mission? The Big 5. With Lesika from Ek Se Tours, one of Awethu's first entrepreneurs at the helm, we headed off on our journey. When we arrived it was probably 45-50 degrees and raining cats and dogs (thought I'd stick with the animal theme). The ranger informed us that there were no ponchos to be had. So what?! We weren't going to let a little rain stop us. So our little united nations snagged 2 dutch folks and headed out on a game drive together.
 |
| Top row: Lesika far left in yellow, Marcelo far right in red. Middle row: Shazia, Julie, Rohit, Adel, Laura, Gang, me/Jen Front row: Vivek, Hemang, Soichiro, Esteban |
I learned a couple of things on this game drive...
1) Although I had a lovely guide named Nelson, no one compares to Safari Steve and He ain't "Heavy" he's my tracker, who you can only find at Bush Camp in the Sabi Sands.
2) Hippos are incredible!! We saw 10 hippos including 1 baby!! I love hippos.
3) Don't let your male colleagues bring their iPhones if they have pre-downloaded the big 5 game noises.
4) Giraffes from Namibia are slightly lighter than their brethren from South Africa.
(SA giraffe pictured below)
5) The leopard turtle is one of the Small 5
6) Don't go out on a game drive without a poncho during the rainy season. Your Lulu will only go so far.
7) Sometimes the worst ideas make the best stories.
So 10 hippos, 10 giraffes, 5 elephants, loads of antelope and birds, 1 jackal, 1 leopard turtle, and 3 zebras later, it was a great day. #imsorryimnotsorry
And although we didn't see the Big 5, I did meet little Chris at a roadside stand on the way home. He was very excited to share his green lion umbrella with me. And I couldn't help but share his little face with you.
1. #nofaironthehippos. But I am glad someone in our family saw one this year. Also - I am surprised you didnt take him with you.
ReplyDelete