Game drives

One of the exciting parts of this trip is the game drives (safaris) we've gone on. I'm currently living on a game farm in Limpopo province just south of Mokepane called Shikwaru Game Lodge. The game lodge profits support a ministry called Reaching A Generation which is dedicated to changing the lives of children in Southern Africa (http://rag.org.za/home.asp).

One of the advantages of living on a game farm is that I can go out anytime on a game drive or a walk to see the animals. It's pretty cool to be out walking and see a giraffe or a baboon. This farm doesn't have lions or rhinos so I don't have to worry about being attacked. However, there is a leopard that isn't supposed to be here but everyone assures me that it won't attack me!

One night last week, the team went on a game drive at Entabeni which has the predator type animals. It was really, really cool to see elephants, lions, rhinos, zebras, etc. up close and kinda scary.

Here are some photos of the drive at Entabeni:

Abby, Caleb, Bob and me in the drive vehicle.












The beautiful landscape of South Africa on the game drive. I was surprised at the mountains. I've always pictured flat terrain but the area I am in is surrounded by mountains.













View from the front seat. We had two guides - Godfrey who sat out front as a spotter and Simon the driver. Note the rifle...just in case...












The rest of our team in the other vehicle. You can tell it was pretty cold since it is the Fall season here.












Zebras















We watched a herd of 10 elephants for about 30 minutes as they made their way through the bush right by our vehicle. It was pretty exciting...I have it on video.



More elephants
















We watched as a lion/baby rhino drama unfolded right in front of our car. First we saw the mother, father and baby rhino. Then we saw 2 lionesses stalking the baby. At one point the dad rhino was holding the two lionesses at bay but then one of them snuck around the side of him. Eventually a third lioness showed up and two male lions. The dad rhino and one of the lionesses got into a little tussle as he protected the baby. Eventually the rhinos ran into the bush and the lions followed. Not sure if the little one survived but it was amazing to watch just a couple feet from our vehicle.

Dad rhino is holding off one lioness as the other one snuck around him. The momma and baby rhino are off to the left but not in the photo.














Dad goes after the other lioness who is trying to get the baby

















Two more lions show up

















Shows how close we were to the action (this is another team).












My camera died during the lion episode so most of these photos are courtesy of Kelsey Blessman.