It's a fairly long ride to our next accommodation, a guesthouse within easy drive of Addo
Elephant Park. We drive through much of the same Great Karoo scenery and terrain that extends south from Kimberley and marvel at the variety of cacti which we've never seen.
Looks like prickly pear but not quite . . .
And then we do an abrupt u-turn to photograph a whimsical roadside installation in the absolute middle of nowhere!
At the end of a teeth-chattering, frame-rattling unpaved road we arrive at Kududu Guest House, set amidst an enormous fruit farm and (disease-free) Cape buffalo breeding facility. We check in and, you guessed it, we're off for a meal at the local 'farm stand'. This is the most high-end, posh farm stand we've ever seen, and the food is quite good. We also purchased our first souvenir - a springbok hide! Early to bed so we're all set for our elephant adventure tomorrow.
Addo is one of the many SA National Parks that allow for self-guided safaris which means that you can drive in, spend as much time as you like in a day, and wander around leisurely watching and waiting for the star attractions to make an appearance. The entrance fee is modest (around $25 per person) and the first thing that greets you are these two skulls, one female and one male elephant (I forgot which one is which!).
The second thing we see is an almost innocuous warning sign:
No doubt we will heed that! We later learn that just a few weeks prior to our visit, a woman got out of her vehicle to photograph a lion, and in seconds it was upon her and mauled her to death!
We're here to see elephants (and whatever else we can find) and within minutes we spot our first one, a solitary, rather raggedy-looking male (look at the visible ear), at a watering hole.
At its opening in 1931, there were only 16 elephants in the Park; now there are more than 450!! In fact, the Park has been so successful at protecting the elephants that contraceptive measures 'are being considered' (can't help but wonder how those discussion would go!) At another watering hole, we get a real treat . . .
There must be about 20 to 30 elephants in all, with small groups coming and going at regular intervals. One even crosses right in front of us!
We sit here for a very long time, just watching and, of course, taking lots of photos.
It's fascinating to watch the group dynamics. As one small group departs and another one arrives, there's some sort of pecking (trunking?) order that determines who gets to take which place at the water hole. We watch, fascinated, as the dominant matriarch (all herds are matriarchal) makes it clear who gets to get to drink where. And if the newcomers don't heed her directions, she sets them straight very quickly.
This wee one looked like a newborn. Elephant babies weigh in at around 450-500 pounds; mature elephants tip the scales at almost 4.5 tons!
They seem to have no fear of vehicles (or their occupants) and came within feet of our car, munching away.
We finally leave the herd and head to the 'protected picnic area' for lunch. The area is surrounded by a very high, electrified fence, admission is via an automated gate, and each picnic spot is fitted with a table, shade covering, and a braai which is South African for barbecue grill.
Then its off again in search of more animals and at another watering hole we find the second of our 'big three' sightings of the day - a Cape buffalo. An added bonus was capturing this lone black-coated jackal sneaking in for a drink.
I kept looking at him and thinking - he looked like a dyspeptic, cranky patriarch who wasn't too pleased that his ears look like an afterthought. Did I mention that they are huge - really huge (the buffalo not the ears)!!
A few more delightful sightings . . . a warthog who looks like he's late for a very important date.
A family group of kududus . . . .
And a closeup of this gorgeous animal . . .
And then eagle-eye Debbie spots what we had only dreamed of seeing today - a lion couple! Several pair were introduced to the park about 10 years ago and we actually get to see one of them!!
And here he comes . . . crossing the road right in front of our car!!
I couldn't have asked for a better pose!!!
'Do you think this is my best side?'
Or maybe this one . . .
This fella has obviously had a few facial encounters, but there's no denying his regal bearing. And, no, I didn't set even a hand outside our car to get these photos. Just rested my simple, inexpensive camera on the partially-lowered window and zoomed in. Amazing!
We end this spectacular day with another tasty meal - this time Tim has kududu carpaccio and pronounced it 'delicious'!
Deb's pronouncement that this was 'a top day' says it all!!!
Elephant Park. We drive through much of the same Great Karoo scenery and terrain that extends south from Kimberley and marvel at the variety of cacti which we've never seen.
Looks like prickly pear but not quite . . .
And then we do an abrupt u-turn to photograph a whimsical roadside installation in the absolute middle of nowhere!
At the end of a teeth-chattering, frame-rattling unpaved road we arrive at Kududu Guest House, set amidst an enormous fruit farm and (disease-free) Cape buffalo breeding facility. We check in and, you guessed it, we're off for a meal at the local 'farm stand'. This is the most high-end, posh farm stand we've ever seen, and the food is quite good. We also purchased our first souvenir - a springbok hide! Early to bed so we're all set for our elephant adventure tomorrow.
Addo is one of the many SA National Parks that allow for self-guided safaris which means that you can drive in, spend as much time as you like in a day, and wander around leisurely watching and waiting for the star attractions to make an appearance. The entrance fee is modest (around $25 per person) and the first thing that greets you are these two skulls, one female and one male elephant (I forgot which one is which!).
The second thing we see is an almost innocuous warning sign:
No doubt we will heed that! We later learn that just a few weeks prior to our visit, a woman got out of her vehicle to photograph a lion, and in seconds it was upon her and mauled her to death!
We're here to see elephants (and whatever else we can find) and within minutes we spot our first one, a solitary, rather raggedy-looking male (look at the visible ear), at a watering hole.
At its opening in 1931, there were only 16 elephants in the Park; now there are more than 450!! In fact, the Park has been so successful at protecting the elephants that contraceptive measures 'are being considered' (can't help but wonder how those discussion would go!) At another watering hole, we get a real treat . . .
There must be about 20 to 30 elephants in all, with small groups coming and going at regular intervals. One even crosses right in front of us!
And in their midst, the little ones, ever close to mama . . .
We sit here for a very long time, just watching and, of course, taking lots of photos.
It's fascinating to watch the group dynamics. As one small group departs and another one arrives, there's some sort of pecking (trunking?) order that determines who gets to take which place at the water hole. We watch, fascinated, as the dominant matriarch (all herds are matriarchal) makes it clear who gets to get to drink where. And if the newcomers don't heed her directions, she sets them straight very quickly.
This wee one looked like a newborn. Elephant babies weigh in at around 450-500 pounds; mature elephants tip the scales at almost 4.5 tons!
They seem to have no fear of vehicles (or their occupants) and came within feet of our car, munching away.
We finally leave the herd and head to the 'protected picnic area' for lunch. The area is surrounded by a very high, electrified fence, admission is via an automated gate, and each picnic spot is fitted with a table, shade covering, and a braai which is South African for barbecue grill.
Then its off again in search of more animals and at another watering hole we find the second of our 'big three' sightings of the day - a Cape buffalo. An added bonus was capturing this lone black-coated jackal sneaking in for a drink.
I kept looking at him and thinking - he looked like a dyspeptic, cranky patriarch who wasn't too pleased that his ears look like an afterthought. Did I mention that they are huge - really huge (the buffalo not the ears)!!
A few more delightful sightings . . . a warthog who looks like he's late for a very important date.
A family group of kududus . . . .
And a closeup of this gorgeous animal . . .
And then eagle-eye Debbie spots what we had only dreamed of seeing today - a lion couple! Several pair were introduced to the park about 10 years ago and we actually get to see one of them!!
And here he comes . . . crossing the road right in front of our car!!
I couldn't have asked for a better pose!!!
'Do you think this is my best side?'
Or maybe this one . . .
This fella has obviously had a few facial encounters, but there's no denying his regal bearing. And, no, I didn't set even a hand outside our car to get these photos. Just rested my simple, inexpensive camera on the partially-lowered window and zoomed in. Amazing!
We end this spectacular day with another tasty meal - this time Tim has kududu carpaccio and pronounced it 'delicious'!
Deb's pronouncement that this was 'a top day' says it all!!!
