Safari Day 1 - Off we Go!

Highlight of the day: seeing 2 white rhinos duke it out

We were up early this morning, had a quick shower and a delicious breakfast at a bakery/cafe down the street before boarding the truck at 9:00 a.m. Our vehicle for the next 22 days is a huge monstrosity of a truck, raised high off of the ground and built like a tank. Inside are bus-like bench seats, a few tables, and 2 benches at the front for extra room to stretch out for a snooze. The windows are made of a tough plastic, which are able to roll up to creat completely open sides. Here is a photo: The group is 17 people: a couple from Holland and the rest Aussies and Poms, plus our guide Toni, driver Jairos and cook Benson. Although this group is only together for 11 days up to Victoria Falls, we became great friends with them and couldn't have asked for a better bunch of fellow travellers to be with. They are: Sonja and Tom married couple from Holland; Alex and Nickie, couple from Sydney; Lynda and Bri, sisters from Adelaide :); Colleen from Coffs Harbour; Leeza from outside Melbourne; Alistair from Holbrook; Lola, Esme, Jos and Chris, friends from England; and Gareth and Lee, friends from England.

It was a full day's drive east to South Africa's Lowveld and Kruger National Park, our first destination. We arrived just in time to depart on a night drive through the park. Those of us who opted for the night safari transferred into an open jeep and set out into the park. We didn't know what to expect, and felt more than ecstatic at all we saw during the 3 hour drive through areas of the park. We saw huge spotted eagle owls, buffalo, zebras, a few different types of what we call 'deer things' (duiker, impala, kudu), a genet (small nocturnal cat), a HUGE bull elephant about 2 feet from the jeep, and a few other types of birds. But the highlight of this all were the two white rhinos having a go at each other about 20 feet from the jeep. They were both male, and one was defending his territory. They growled at each other and rammed with their horns until one of them (the intruder) left. It was so exciting and fascinating to watch. They didn't even seem to know we were there.

We arrived back at camp starving and freezing, but full of adrenalin, and were rewarded with a huge campfire and the first of many excellent meals cooked by our very own chef, Benson. Some of us stayed up around the fire, drinking beer and having a good time before retiring to our tents for the night.