suzyleech: 2010-06-27

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Morukuru - Day 2

...and then there were Lions.

We had an excellent lunch around a water hole, then went for an evening game drive. We found 4 immature lions wrestling in a tree - absolutely amazing.

On the way home ... under a dense canopy of African stars on a black moonless night - we stopped to enjoy the view.

I couldn't help recalling the part in the Lion King where Mufasa tells Simba about their ancestors in the stars that will always be there to guide them.

RIP Daddio, we will always love you.

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NEW photos :
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Tom, our tracker, followed the lion's prints in the road...

We found 4 immature lions wrestling in a tree ... 2 or 3 at a time :

Wildebeest near the airstrip earlier that evening :

And our evening refreshment stop...

Friday, July 2, 2010

Morukuru Safari - Day 1

Our 1st morning we had a very successful game drive.
We left around 7:45 (an hour after normal game drives ...
but hey, we're setting our own schedule here!)

Anthony, our guide, and Tom our tracker helped us find :

Zebra, Kudu, White Rhino, Giraffe, Wart Hogs and Elephants

Zebra :

Kudu (we had some kudu steak for dinner (not this one!)... very tasty! :

White Rhino:

Giraffe... look at that tongue! He uses it to get between the thorns and strip the leaves :

Bird... named?

Elephant :

Our Internet connection exists, but it is a *bit* slower than dial-up, so pictures are uploading about 1 per hour! Will get some up now, and the rest when we get back to Johannesburg.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

On our way to Madikwe

All we did today was drive.
Oh, and eat at Chicken Licken...
that was an experience in itself!
More fun tomorrow ...
Nic wants to see Elephants,
Darb has asked for Rhinos -
I'm just happy !

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Lion Whisperer - Kevin Richardson... WC 2010

We went to visit the 'Lion Whisperer' today...

I was not sure what to expect,

but was TOTALLY blown away by what I saw.

This guy, Kevin Richardson, plays with lions as if they were family pets.

You'd almost think they'd be that way with anyone,

until you saw the way they reacted to Nic ...

they looked at her like a nice appetizer!

Visiting the lionesses :

"The most love I've had from these 2 girls in absolutely ages"

Pictures from the way there:

Help Wanted Ads, Johannesburg-style:

Lunch at the famous "Maggies Home of the Chicken Pie"

burnt out fields next door... still smoldering....

When we get there, a helpful hint :

Our 1st giraffe sighting:

Then the action shots :

I will never again refer to a 'bear hug'...

This is from the video above ... different angle

2 lionesses giving Kevin some love :

The noise is eerie... they all start roaring at the same time

Other family members included a leopard

and a hyena .... looks just like Kitzy!

Thanks Kevin!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Homebase Hyatt

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone4

Johannesburg

1st day in Johanessburg.

Jed picked us up at the airport, then we went to enjoy a great steak dinner just outside our hotel.

Darby, Nic & I were up till 3am and slept till noon. We got a ride from Karel (more on him later) to the IBC (int'l broadcast center) where jed showed us the control room and the set. An early night tonight hopefully!

We're off to see the Lion Whisperer tomorrow (see link in earlier post below).

The ESPN Control Room (building 8) :