Safari Time!!

After the Ekhuteleni experience, our group switched to go on safari. It was tough, because many of the people in our group were still recovering from sickness from the cultural experience at Ekhuteleni, but we were still all able to make it out to safari. On ssome of the game drives, the group was not complete but the most important thing was that we were all safe. :)

So, the first day of safari, the group went on three game drives at the Mkhuzi Game Reserve. This game reserve was actaully where we stayed and slept at night, and it was really cool because the entire reserve is unfenced, including our camp, so in the past semesters some of the animals have come into our camp to join us. :) Our first game drive was at 6am for about two and a half hours, and I was able to see giraffes, warthogs (like Pumba from the Lion King), and a lot of impala and inxala. Our driver's name was Israel and he drove us around in an uncovered jeep kind of safari car. It was really cool! Later on in the day, we had our second game drive where we saw a black rhino and the coolest thing ever...a leopard attacking an impala. Seeing a leopard is such a rare thing! Our coordinator, who has been doing this for 20+ years and is like 60 some years old, has seen a leopard only once in his entire life, and when he saw it was just by itself not even attacking anything. Later, our guide told us that he has never seen a leopard attacking something and the last time he saw just a leopard was 8 years ago. Our coordinator, Reg, said that we really got a treat because some people go their entire lives on game reserves and never ever seen a leopard, so it was really, really cool! People also usually don't get to take pictures but a few of us were able to snap one! :) Later on in the day, we had our third and last game drive before dinner. On that drive, we saw hippos, a baby crocodile, and a python. The whole day was so cool, and it was such an exciting experience! I absolutely loved it.

On Friday was our last day of safari, and we went to a different game reserve called Phinda Game Reserve. Here, our group attempted to search for the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. At the end of our safari trip, we weren't able to see all of the Big Five, but we were able to see buffalo, rhino, and leopard. I also got to see three cheetah! Here's a pic of two of them! It was amazing! Definitely, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had!

So, after safari, our group had one last day at AE to pack up all our stuff to head out for Capetown. I wasn't one of the ones who got really sick in the psat week, but I did get a little sick, but I was able to recover and pack up all my stuff in the end.

I will continue to blog, but basically our entire group leaves AE, where we have been staying for a little over 2 months, early mroning on April 11 and begin our drive to Capetown. We will be following the Garden Route passing through the cities of East London, Port Elizabeth, George (where I will bungee jump off the world's highest bridge), and Carmel. We will also get to see so much of the coast and do so many amazing things. I'm way excited! IT is going to be such a great traveling week and one of the most unforgettable weeks of my life. I already know it. :) So, until next time...