So, it finally happened. After 4 weeks in South Africa, I have seen an animal bigger than a monkey (that isn't a cow or a donkey). Having worked last weekend (and Deyo having decided to stay behind and be my personal shopper and chef) we felt like we really needed to get off the mountain this weekend. And luckily two of the other girls obliged with a trip to Pongola Game Reserve. A fairly upmarket private game reserve, we enjoyed a sunset cruise on the Pongola river (complete with sundowners), drifting amongst crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of exotic birds, whilst various not-deer and warthogs watched us from the bank (the SAs were amused at my insistence that I had spotted a deer and pointed out that there are no deer here. So not-deers it is). We also spied elephants from afar and girrafes from not so afar, having to stop the car to let them cross the road in front of us. An evening of braii fun of the afore-mentioned not-deer and poker with the guides and then a day in the spa today and we're like new people (particularly our feet which being permanently in flip flops/ slops, are becoming increasingly hobbit-esque).
We were a little taken aback by some of our fellow-guests who it turned out were on a weekend's hunt. Something the park allows as there are no natural predators to the animals (they have no cats) and the money brought in by the hunting goes in to conservation. Shockingly the list of available animals includes rhino, but the starting price of 250,00R (plus a cost per inch of horn) is inhibitory to most. It made us think twice before pointing out animals from the breakfast balcony in the morning.
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Your blog is amazing, and what an experience you've been having already! Don't know most of the medical terms but all sounds like you've got crazy responsibility and are seeing some pretty scary things.
ReplyDeleteI can just see, there won't be any Shunt when you get back, you'll be spending your Friday nights volunteering in Vauxhall soup kitchen...
If you go to Swaziland again, there is apparently a tour of a cheese factory... yes, indeed.
I did make it to Mozambique, but at the wrong time of the year (only got as far as Tofo) Go up north if you can, to Ile de Mozambique, meant to be incredible.
We miss you, keep the stories coming - and some photos??
Lots of love Octavia xxx
PS. Prohibition have got a new night - 1930s SS Atlantica - set on a boat (office) in Katharines Dock, it was ok, but the novelty has definitely worn off now. Going to a masked ball this saturday.