Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Our African Adventure; March 28- April 1, 2014 Part 1

I’m writing this entry in two parts due to the length.  There were a number of different ways we could have broken down our safari  We choose to cover the lodge and then each animal type rather than by days or game drives.  We had three evening game drives and four morning drives. Part One will cover our travels to the lodge and the lodge itself.  Part Two covers the animals and game drives.

We departed our ship on arrival in Durban, South Africa for a flight to Johannesburg; where we spent the night.  Some scenes around Durbin.

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Do you think our police officers would drive cars like this.

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Never far from home.

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Durbin campus, University of South Africa.

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We were in and out of Joburg quickly.  The most interesting item was three Airbus A380s parked on the ramp at the airport.

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We flew from Joburg to Nelspruit.  Then an 90 minute drive to Kruger National Park.

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At the airport and where we are going.

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Driving from the airport to the Park.

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These are eucalyptus sticks used to support the thatched roofs of houses.

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Arrival at Kruger. 

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Daily reports of animal sightings.

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Our Lodge is Lukimbi Safari Lodge; bottom on the road marker.

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About a month before our arrival the area had flash flooding with significant damage to the bridge network.  Our airport transit vans could not cross the damaged bridges and the lodge Land Rovers had to meet us about 30 minutes out for the final run to the lodge.

The transfer.

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The reason for the transfer.  Actually crossing the river wasn’t that bad.  It was the angles of the approaches and exits that required the four wheel drive of the Land Rovers.

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Entrance to the main lodge.  The compound is surrounded by a single electric wire at night to keep the elephants out.  Otherwise all the other animals are free to wander through.

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The registration desk.

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Entrance area

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Main room with bar in the background

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Library

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Gift shop

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First sighting; the rarely seen wild American Shopper.

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Dinning area

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Outdoor barbeque and indigenous show area.

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Swimming pool.

4. Lukimbi Lodge Pool (6)

This covering was placed on food and drinks to keep flies and other insects off.

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We had individual lodges and a central meeting/eating/admin lodge.  After dark we had to be escorted anytime we were outside.  This was our Lodge.

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A visitor to Noreen’s INDOOR shower discovered while she was taking a shower.  Boy, was she surprised…..and so was the frog!!

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Ken’s outdoor shower, all kinds of critters welcome.

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Our bathroom; Noreen’s shower was to the left.

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Our sitting area.

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Sleeping area.

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Porch sitting are.

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View from the porch.

View from back deck

Time for safari and to find some critters.

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One to Part Two……

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