A Change of Country

Yesterday during lunch I got a message that due to expected bad weather, instead of flying from Sabi Sabi to Kruger Airport to connect to a flight to Livingston, Zambia, I was going to have a tour service drive me. The distance was less than 2 hours by car, I would be able to enjoy the countryside and wouldn’t have to struggle getting my heavy camera bag into that very small airplane.

At 3:30 I left my room to go to teatime before the afternoon game drive. What had been a blue sky, beautiful morning was now black skies and storm clouds.

We loaded up, now joined by a German couple. She claimed the front row – the only one that I can easily get into, but with a little help, I got into the second row.

Our first sighting was of a family of rhinos – mother, her nearly grown son and her little baby. We had seen it before but could only see its ears. Today we got it out in the open.

Then we got word that the cheetah family was on the move. It appeared that they were on a hunt. They all got up on a high point but the lighting was not ideal. Other trucks showed up so we had to leave.

We found our leopard mom again, but still no cub. She has it well hidden. She climbed a tree and wasn't going anywhere.

Everyone with only a cell phone except the ranger!

Found another female leopard. But it was so dark, hard to get anything usable.

It started to rain a bit so we put on the ponchos they provided. But they were heavy hot and steamy. Luckily the rain stopped and we were able to have our sundowner drinks with a lightning light show in the distance.

After dinner I had to pack – I hate packing, nothing ever seems to go back in the same way or fit as well. Thunder and lightning all night long – and rain.

This morning, my ride was coming at 7 am to pick me up. Usually breakfast is after the morning game drive but they were so accommodating to make me a hot breakfast instead of a take away box breakfast.

For the first part of the trip we crossed over lots of mud that had been washed out over the road. It must have really rained hard. The Sabi River had lots of water in it – the driver said it had been almost dry.

The second part of the drive was through beautiful agricultural land. They grow macadamia nuts, avocados, mangos, citrus and bananas. But the bananas have been infected with some kind of disease so won’t have that crop for much longer.

Got to the airport with a couple of hours to kill. Was hoping one of the several shops would have a mouse pad. I once again forgot mine.

This plane was much bigger and I had 2 seats to myself so plenty of room. They had a nice little box lunch.

Flying into Livingston we could see the Zambezi River and the puff of white on the middle of the horizon is the mist from Victoria Falls.

Once we landed had to go through immigration, collect my luggage, out through customs. Met my driver from my next hotel. I am his only passenger.

The airport is in Zambia, the lodge is in Zimbabwe. So had to get out and go out of Zambia immigration. Drive across the Zambezi River (the border) below the falls (lots of water – yeah!), then get out again and enter through Zimbabwe immigration. Lots of people, hot and sticky. Then drove about 45 minutes to the lodge.

The lodge is amazing. It sits right on the Zambezi River. I’ll take pictures of my suite tomorrow when I have a little time.

Checked in at 3:30, had a little high tea, 15 minutes in my room to assemble my camera, day pack, etc. and on the game drive truck at 4:30. Whew. This truck doesn’t have the easy side opening on the first row and no “loading dock” to get into the other rows so I had to sit next to the driver. It is so low it was hard for me to get photos. I had gotten spoiled by having a whole row to myself and high up. Two other couples in the truck too.

Very dark and overcast so getting quality photos was impossible. But saw lots of giraffe, elephants, impala, baboons and one beautiful lioness.

We finished the drive with our wonderful sundowner drinks before returning to the lodge.

I was so tired I got up to leave before they brought dessert so they brought it to my room.

All for now 5 AM comes quickly!! Weather report for tomorrow looks better – fingers crossed.