Another Kruger Safari

We spent 4 days on safari at Kruger National Park this past weekend.  We have been on safari at Kruger before but were in a different part of the park and wanted to get in one last safari holiday before baby #3 arrives.






Adalyn's 4 princesses had to join in on the game drives as well.

Looking up at the traditional beams as you lay in bed is always beautiful

I found a wonderful lodge that was family friendly so Adalyn could go on game drives and was intimate so we had more of a personal experience.  From the food to customer service and excellent game drives I highly recommend Naledi Game Lodge for a perfect South African Safari.  There were only 5 families staying there and with the staff outnumbering the guests, no detail was left behind.  They even gave the father's a shaving gift set on Sunday and sang to them.  



Our chalet overlooked a river so we could enjoy spotting the animals coming to drink and bath.  The weather was great while we were on safari, even getting into the upper 80s during the day.  Adalyn enjoyed swimming in the pool, though the water was quite cold to me, the water thermostat said 63.








There was another family from Norway at the lodge who had a little 6 year old boy that Adalyn became fast friends with.  Despite the fact that he did not speak any English they played well together, even holding conversations with each other and managed to figure out that they wanted to sit together on the game drives.









We went on 6 game drives, 3 hours every morning and another 3 hours in the late afternoon.  The weather would start out quite cold, but by the time you stopped for coffee/tea in the bush it was time to take a layer of clothing off.

Adalyn is into dressing herself, and despite it being in the 80s she had to wear her pink hat and gloves.

The opposite for the afternoon drives, it would be warm and sunny, but when the sun went down while we enjoyed another round of drinks in the bush we put another layer on.  The night drives were great though we definitely saw more animals during the day.

Herd of buffalo

 On the first game drive I sat in the 3rd row of seats and that turned out to be a bad decision.  It was far too bumpy for my pregnant body and I had to brace myself as we drove therefore not getting to enjoy the experience as much.  I decided to rest up and not go on the next morning drive which gave Adalyn and Mark some time together.  I wised up and moved up a row and added a pillow to sit on which made all the difference for the remainder of our 6 game drives.

Warthog

I was very happy to see all the amazing animals we had on our list, though we did not spot a leopard or cheetah so I guess we have to come back again.

Wildebeest

Some of the animals were quite close at only 6 feet away and our guide and tracker did an excellent job of giving us an amazing experience.  I have never been on a safari with a tracker who sits at the very front of the vehicle before but it was amazing what he could detect from animal tracks/smells/broken branches as we drove along.







At times we would stop the vehicle and he would get out and walk through the bush just to track down an animal.

Our tracker with Adalyn and her buddy enjoying a drink by the river.
Elephants were on the other side doing the same.

There were 3 safari vehicles from our lodge and we never saw another lodge so it was great to be out in the bush and feel more at one with nature.  All of the guides would work together and communicate on cb radio as to where each had seen an animal that day so the others to go to the area and see it as well.

The highlight of the safari animal experience was seeing 3 lions, a mom and her 2 sons, enjoying their buffalo kill. I was shocked at how close we could get to the lions, only 6 feet away in the vehicle, but they were not bothered by us as they were enjoying their meal.





I think this is how everyone looks after a big meal (maybe minus the blood).  Of course since they had to kill their meal, they are probably a bit more exhausted.

Adalyn and Mark found a great climbing tree at the lodge. 

 It was also great to have a vacation just the 3 of us.  Grant has been on 2 safari vacations before and he is too young to go on the game drives (he's too loud and won't be still when necessary) so I thought it would be best to leave him at home with Joyce so he could play and enjoy himself.

At 32 weeks pregnant, I enjoyed someone else preparing all the meals and all the relaxation time I was able to get in 4 days.



Adalyn enjoyed this safari more than the others we have been on because she is starting to realize how unique of an experience it is to see the animals in their natural habitat.  We try to explain that safaris are not an option in America but I don't think it sinks in with her. This holiday was a great last getaway before baby #3 arrives and hopefully won't be our last safari.

Beautiful mountain view drive home

Starting our 4th year in Africa

On June 9th, 2013, we left America and moved to South Africa.  Now 3 years later I wanted to capture the changes I feel since we have moved.

Things that once felt strange such as domestic workers walking around the neighborhood in 1950's attire now doesn't get a second look from me.  Sadly, even the poverty level, state of homes, and amount of workers looking for a job right outside our neighborhood gate feels normal.  It is still strange to see children and babies with their mother along the side of the road spending all day selling items or asking for money.

After 3 years I use more local terms, disobey more traffic laws, and I am more comfortable with the metric system.  I drink more tea, even eat biltong and have become accustomed to a house with no heat or air conditioning.  Adalyn is less and less American to me the longer we stay here due to her accent, the words she uses and her food choices.

I am still surprised by customer service here, when it is great it feels odd.  Maybe American customer service is more in your face or intrusive but it is all I have known.  When I go to a government agency I don't expect it to go well now and figure if I only have to come back once then it was a success.

I used to be bothered not to find items in the grocery store but it is the norm to have to visit multiple stores each week to get everything you need, so a one trip a week would be quite the accomplishment.   Although when I go to the grocery store and they are out of chicken, bread or lunch meat it still irritates me as I do expect some staples to be always available.    It is still odd to find workers stocking the shelves with huge pallets during the day where you either can't get through an aisle or you have to ask the worker to move so you can buy an item.

I don't miss the American food I once did and don't mind not finding all the American products therefore having to wait for family to come over with it.  Although it take longer to get things accomplished here the quality of life is still far beyond what I imagined.

The neighborhood we live in is so family friendly, there are lots of places to visit for the day and attractions to see around Pretoria.  Our American dollar gets us much more now than when we arrived 3 years ago so that gives us more options.  The weather of Pretoria is fantastic, even in the colder months you still can go outside and play.  The food is good at restaurants and there are several concerts and events to attend.   Adalyn and Grant are enjoying more extracurricular activities than they would in America because it does not cost as much here.

Despite the frustrations that can arise when living outside your home country we are enjoying more family time than we did in America.   Because we rent a home there are no house projects, no lawn to take care of and having a domestic do all the cleaning means we can enjoy spending more time together.  It has been sad to see most all of our American friends leave and return back home but glad to have had this African experience with them.    

We don't know when we will leave and are in no rush as we love life here.  The local people we have met and the school Adalyn attends have both been lovely.  I know it would be a huge adjustment to go back to America in probably every aspect so I try my best to absorb all the wonderful aspects of this expat life.