Elephant Walk Safaris Part 1

So Jeff turned the big 4-0 this last weekend and I wanted to do something big and fun since having a big party with all of our friends and family was not a possibility. I decided to whisk him away for the weekend to a place where you can go on safari on the back of an African Elephant. We headed out early on Friday afternoon and Jeff STILL didn't know where we were going! The kids did a great job keeping the secret. We drove to an airstrip in the middle of nowhere and we were supposed to take a small plane to the reserve but the pilot met us and said that it was too windy to fly so we would drive in and fly out on Sunday. We hopped in a van and started driving.
We drove a long way on this crazy long dirt road with sheer drops and washouts. I was kind of glad that we wouldn't have to reverse the trip on Sunday.

We finally went over a mountain and got a glimpse of our destination way off in the distance. You can spot the grass landing strip in this picture:
We got to the lodge and it was pretty cold and windy. They had a nice fire going though and we all settled in. There was only one other couple - a nice pair who were celebrating their anniversary. So they got to spend a nice relaxing weekend with S & T. Just what every couple wants right?
From the lodge we were able to see a lot of wildlife and we even spotted a couple of giraffes out in the distance.
Our first elephant experience was the bedtime encounter. You drive out to wherever the elephants are on the reserve - they roam free during the day - and then you get to meet them, ask questions, and then walk them back to their giant sleeping barn and watch them eat and settle in for the night. We headed out into the bush and then we found them. They were HUGE!
We walked with them and learned all kind of amazing things about these beautiful creatures. The elephant guides really know their stuff!
Once we got to know them we got closer. Their skin is amazing.... soft, rough, warm and prickly all at the same time.
Once we got close to their sleeping quarters they really picked up the pace like most animals they move quickest on their way back to the barn.
They each walked into their own pen and they had a big pile of branches and a big bucket of pellets. The pellets were obviously the preferred snack and watching them use their trunks to scoop them up was amazing.
After the encounter we headed back to the lodge to warm up. We had a nice glass of wine and some apps by the fire.
Dinner was advertised to be at 7 but I knew there would be a major delay when our host spread out the coals and got out the braai equipment. We sat down around 8:30 pm. It was the dreaded "braai delay". We were in good shape this time though because we had plenty of snacks!
Dinner was awesome. We had Kudu and Warthog and it was all delectible!
The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and relaxed in our room a bit.
Each room is it's own little tented cabin with a private deck and a hot tub. Sooo nice in the cold weather!
Then we set out to see the reserve via elephant. We saw this guy on our way to meet them!
Now that's what I call a safari vehicle!
Jeff and Teddy jumped on first..
Sooo excited!
Off they go!
Then Sasha and I jumped on. If you've ever ridden a horse and thought it was a long way down to the ground, then times that by 10 and that's how high it feels riding an elephant!
We headed out into the reserve. Where does an elephant take you? Anywhere he wants to! Actually there was a guide on foot and he kind of acted as a leader. Elephants are very, very smart and theses 3 were also very well-trained.
Looking back we could see our cabins.
The boys!
I love this picture because you can really see the size of the elephant we were riding!
We were able to see a bunch of wildlife as we roamed around. We saw a beautiful herd of Impala:
So riding an elephant with no saddle.... see how Jeff is leaning back on his hands? That's because the elephants spine is right under your bum and they have a raised spine. It's like sitting on the arm of a chair for an hour with no stirrups and your legs just dangling. After a while everyone's bum was screaming for a break so you do a lot of shifting trying to get comfortable...
Stay tuned for part 2!
FOR ELEPHANT VIDEO CLICK HERE.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

4 Wheelin' in Africa

 Right after we got to SA we were invited to go on a 4X4 weekend with the crew that Jeff works with. Even in the middle of settling in and craziness we had to say yes to that. So after work and school on a Friday we hopped into a rented "Bakkie" (pick-up truck) and headed out into the wild. We drove and drove until it was quite dark. Then we turned onto a dirt road for 27km. We bounced and jarred for what seemed like forever until we hit this gate:

Now I took this picture on our way OUT so remember that we were seeing this in the light of our headlights. Of course we don't speak Afrikaans but it HAS to say "make closed the gate" right? So we opened, drove through, and closed it behind us. We did this with several more gates just hoping we were in the right place and not about to get shot by some farmer.
 After driving on dirt forever, we drove on dirt roads some more and then did meet an old farmer with a huge white beard who assured us that we were on the right track and told us to drive MORE! We finally found the group, settled into a little river-side cabin and went to sleep. Next morning we woke up and got to take a look at our surroundings. It was beautiful! Very much like the TX hill-country outside of Austin. We drove over to meet everyone else and the kids and Roxy were in heaven with so many other kids to play with. 

We had a snack and then headed out on a 4x4 tour. First we drove through some bottom land with beautiful orchards and fields:

 Then we headed up into the high country!

 Our wagon train stops to take in a view:

 We even got a glimpse of the road we came in on. Kinda glad we couldn't see that massive drop in the dark!

 We went down a super-steep hill to a river and all got out to check out the area. Roxy loved the sand.

 Then we headed back up. This was soooo much steeper than it looks in the picture. You had to keep going forward at all times or you would slide back!

 Game face. Great driving babe!

 Back up high again we went off to explore a new area.

 We passed a whole bunch of termite mounds...

 and ended up high on a ridge where we could look back down on the farm where we were staying.

 Roxy was in the truck with us the whole time. Sometimes jumping all over everyone, sometimes lap-napping - her favorite thing to do!

 Line of trucks coming up, up, up.

 Such a steep drop. Do a good job Jeff!

 When we got home 4 hours later we were STARVING. We went back to home base to make some breakfast. Of course Roxy doesn't go anywhere without a squeaky toy....

 Our little cabin:

 Later in the afternoon some people did more 4x4'ing and Jeff went with them for solidarity but the kids and I were kind of done. Once you've been 4 wheeling on quads in NC with a bunch of commercial divers, driving on dirt roads in trucks kind of loses it's appeal. We're jaded, what can I say? We headed out exploring keeping our eyes open for Baboons and Leopards. Roxy loves chasing her kiddos everywhere. She was a very happy pup.

 We found this really cool canyon area.

 And we had to cross a river a bunch of times.

 Roxy is not afraid of water at all. She went flying across all the rivers and even fell totally in to a deep spot at one point. She just shook it off and kept going!

 It was a great day. That night we got ready to experience our first Braai. This is when the South Africans do cook-outs over a wood fire.

 We had to wait a loooooong time for the wood to burn down to cookable coals. Someone put a groovy crock-pot thing on the grill too. This is also really popular here.

 Roxy was out cold for all of this... she had a big day.

 She got a place of honor high on a table up near the fire though. She's a very popular little dog...

 On Sunday we had to drive back home but this time we got to experience the 27 km's of dirt road in the daylight so it was much cooler.

 Beautiful country:

 This is where this one insisted on spending the entire trip. Nothing like a 4 hour car ride with a squirming, nipping little puppy in your lap.

 She's lucky she's cute! At least we brought plenty of chewies so she wouldn't chew on ME!

 Finally right before we got home she crawled down into the foot well of the car and went to sleep. Something tells me this dog is going to be a very versatile adventurer!