September 15, 2013
Livingston, Zambia to Lanseria, South Africa (460 NM)
Today is a short leg. We are going to one of the wildlife reserves in South Africa, the Tshukudu Lodge. Lanseria is a sizable international airport just half an hour away from Johannesburg. Lots of private jets land here.
One and half hour car ride to the reserve. This time of the year, South Africa is hot and dry. We were told this year is the driest in 10 years.
The concept of South Africa's reserve is very different from Kenya and Tanzania's. The reserve is manually surrounded and isolated from very developed agricultural area or even townships. A mere two hours drive to metropolitan city centers. The reserve occupies 125,000 acres of land and most animals were born inside of the reserve. They move from one area to the other for grass but do not migrate like those in the grassland.
One hundred thirty six big steps to clime up to the lodge. Cottages are build high up to avoid animal's reach. Tshukudu in tribe language meaning "place for rhinos". Sure enough, our first drive out, we saw 5 of them inclose view.
September 16, 17, 2013
If Kenya grassland is a loving side of nature, I feel the Tshukudu reserve is more like a harsher side of nature. It is dry and hot now, winter is dry and cold. Animals are not active most of the day. Therefore, game drives are in early morning and late afternoon (5:30 am and 4:00 pm). Well paved road. Regular street cars can come in and drive around without a guide.
I don't know, maybe too much human interference or too close to the city, I cannot grasp the feeling of "Safari" here.
Our first game drive, we are in close view of Rhinos. Rhinos can weight up to 7 tons yet is vegetarian. Like elephants, they eat almost every minute of their awaken time as oppose to lions. Lions make a kill and can go for a couple of days without eating. It seems that life is easier for meat eaters. ... Just joking.
Baby!
Impala in sunset light.
Zebras here is not black and white. There are brown shadows in between. At first, I thought they were dusty.
Elephants are overpopulated here is known to be aggressive. They have to walk far for water. We see many of them.
September 17, 2013
Had a little change of plan. We took one day off from Tshukudu and decided to stay in "Joborg", Johannesburg, to see the capital. The capital is well developed. Feel like back in L.A. Jeffrey got a needed hair cut in the mall.
Tomorrow, we will leave the group and will fly to Nosy Be, Madagascar with G as our co-pilot for the rest of journey.
Posted with Blogsy
about to leave africa already! so soon!
ReplyDeletethis post reminds me not to go during the dry season, but maybe best at the end of the wet season.