Day 9, Wednesday-We went hiking today! There was a rock shelter up near the top of a koppie (hill for us Texans) on a neighboring ranch. There were some clay pots in the shelter, but they looked like kilns or chimineas. The Natives about 600 years ago used them and you could see smoke marks on the very low ceiling. It took about 45 minutes to get up there, with just a little scramble at the end. My wife kept saying she was going to get bit on the face by a snake at the end. Not very many people know about this. Now y’all do. They have a bush spa here at camp and Anna got a massage in the afternoon. Later we drove over to a big cat sanctuary at another adjoining ranch and looked at lions, servals and caracals.
Some of the other clients rolled in with a really nice Cape Buffalo. From what I heard, there was a charge involved. I can't figure out how they got it in the back of one of those Toyota trucks.
It was our last evening there, and we enjoyed the comraderie and good food around the fire. I was sad to leave, because the whole experience had been amazing. From the people, the animals, and the sights and the smells, South Africa had carved out a piece of my heart. I got a little emotional saying goodbye, there may or may not have been someone cutting onions nearby.
On the other hand, we were ready to get back home. Not really...
Day 10, Thursday-We all know how that drive is back to the airport, when you're thinking about the whole experience. I won't bore you with the day's details, but we spent a lot of time at the Whisky and Wine Bar while our plane was delayed 2 hrs. And, I wanted to throw the inconsiderate old bastage sitting behind me off the plane!
Thanks for letting me share our trip, we WILL be going back in a few years.
someone