Good morning! I first thought of naming today's blog "I can't believe South Africa choked in the Cricket World Cup again!!!" but then I decided to stay away from the negative and focus on the positive. After a very hot night at LVHS we spent a moment or two with Cor and Jamie in what must be the best sand pit in the world! And with two dogs helping you to dig holes, what 3 year-old boy wouldn't want to play here?!
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| Ji, Cor and Jamie with Cleo and Suko (?) |
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| One extremely lucky little bush baby! |
After saying our goodbyes we headed straight for Mashatu Main Camp approximately 45 minutes from LVHS. This used to be my home for 3 and a half years during a leopard study I conducted here between 2004 and 2007 so obviously it felt like I was 'coming home' in a sense. On the way to camp we came across an African Rock Python, which I just couldn't resist holding. At camp the fun really started! At first each staff member would just look at me with puzzled expressions when I greeted them on their names. Then I would see them recognizing me, or at least a part of my face, before they started laughing out loud and making wild gestures with their hands showing what they thought of my beard. "Villias! What's happened to you??" This carried on for most of the day as I bumped into old friends in camp and in the bush.
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| Villiers holding an African Rock Python |
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| The beard that confused so many old friends today |
Most of the morning was spent catching up with my old camp friends and after brunch Ji and I relaxed in front of the television to watch South Africa play New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup. Let's not go into the result of the game. At 16:00 we went on our first game drive and as always Mashatu did not disappoint. Highlights included two extremely relaxed saddle-billed storks and a pride of eight lions, including five small cubs. We spent a short while with them before finding a nice spot for sundowners. We also stopped to watch the stars on the way back to camp and it's incredible how bright the Milky Way is out here!
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| A very relaxed saddle-billed stork |
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| Two thirsty little lion cubs |
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| Time for play... |
We'll show you a bit more of Mashatu and its wonderful people and animals tomorrow. We've got free wi-fi in camp, but cellphone signal is very poor.
Have a great Saturday!
Villiers
Highlight of the day:
Villiers: The stars!
Ji: Imran Tahir's reaction when he took his first wicket against New Zealand plus the fact that we were out on a game drive when South Africa lost!
Lowlight of the day:
Villiers: South Africa choking AGAIN!
Ji: I'm not even going to say the cricket, because it was a given right from the start. My low light is the fact that the light was already too poor for good photos when we found the lions.
3 comments:
Nêrrrrr! Villiers daai slang man! Hoe kan jy die ding so nonchalant vas hou asof dit 'n ou pêl is? Pragtige sandput-pêlle! Jy was kleindag ook lief vir sandput speel - kry die foto by jou Ma. Ek hou van die "leninge langbeen dame" op die "loopplank" - sjoe ek het nog nooit een gesien nie. Ek hou van die baard! Ji julle moet elke oomblik geniet op Mashatu.
Nice! Shock tactics are a great way to leave a lasting impression!
Mashatu sounds idyllic - bring some of those stars back with you please...:)
Mooi man, daai luislang lyk rustig. Eks baie jaloer, dit was 'n great sighting! Die welige baard is pragtig! Ek kan dink dis amazing om al jou ou vriende te sien. Stuur groete asb! Ek't ook die krieket gekyk en kalf gehoop julle het nie TV nie, hehe. Shame. Geniet Mashatu!
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