Lions, Giraffes & Zebra's Oh My!

Just 2 hours south of home, Ongwediva, is one of the 'The Best' game parks in Africa - Etosha Game Park. So, of course we had to check it out....

Rumor has it this park 'is it' - where you can possibly see a lot of game you can't find elsewhere - i.e. Zebra, Giraffe, Lions, etc - and all very close-up....if you're lucky. Although, other rumors have it - you can spend a whole weekend among Etosha's 100,000 klms expanse and not see but a single bird. We decided we didn't mind testing our luck given our weekend would consist of just reading and eating.

Entering the majestic, barely touched park under beautiful, clear skies within 5 minutes we were driving within 5 feet of a herd of Zebra!! Best of all, as Meme roars up they did not run off, but just carried on with their petite dejeuner au grass while glancing up from time to time just to make sure we were keeping our distance.

Driving on while discussing how lucky we just were, within 10 mintues we drive up upon 12 Giraffe munching on the road-side trees, while towering over the Meme with surprisingly little fear.

With our luck increasing by the minute we're soon informed by a nice South African couple that there's a Rhino on the path parallel to ours. Excited to see one of the 'big five', we turn Meme around and race over to luckily find his enormous body hiding in the brush ! Let me explain (just in case) the 'Big Five' - this term refers to not the largest animals, but to the ones most difficult to hunt and typically see in the wild. We've seen loads of African Elephants (one down) so we were excited to add the black rhinoceros to our list as our second. Now we've just got to find the African Buffalo, Leopard and Lion (not Ryan)....but that's not going to happen b/c first, the African Buffalo doesn't even co-habit Etosha and the Leopard and Lion are very rarely, if ever spotted.

We press on, circling the massive salt pan to get to our campsite on the other end of the park, 150 klms or 4 hours away. But the drive is worth it as we get to spot even more giraffe, oryx (see pic), springbok, steenbok, warthogs (my favorite) and some crazy looking birds.

At our campsite we 'set up camp' and head over to the watering hole at our campsite to watch the sun go down and possibly check out some more wildlife. Not much to see there besides a beautiful sunset, hundreds of mosquitoes and 2 pesky little jackals which decide to roam around the campsite. Thinking these jackal are just searching for food, we turn in....then wake up to find these little pests have nabbed my tennis shoes - luckily we spot one shoe off in the distance and later find the other discarded in the bushes. (see pic - the culprit).

Next day we load up Meme and head back toward the park entrance (150 more klms) stopping at several different water holes to try our luck at seeing some different game....ideally another 'big five.' 100 klms later we decide we've probably exhausted our luck until we see 'the king'.....yep, a Lion (another one of the big five) just 40 feet from our car - commanding our respect, we take as many pictures as possible, keep our distance and (of course) role up our windows - just in case.

Thrilled and content we head towards the park exit just up the road and amazingly again passing a couple more enormous African Elephants on the way...what a site!

We're coming home soon....can't wait to see you all...xoxoo.

Teachers vs. Students - Whitey Scores

Last week Lyon (or 'whitey') took to the sandy GT football field to play a friendly soccer game of Learners vs. Teachers. The teachers quickly and intelligently recruited whitey for their friendly match against GT learners (students). Whitey's supportive wife was there with camera and video to capture the event....thank goodness.

Other supporters included: Reah, our new little friends next door (see pic), and all the other learners and teachers at GT....totally 700.

The final score was 1-1 but the learners ended up winning the match (in penatly kicks) But it must be said: there was one 'teacher' (and only one) who scored for the teachers team....and that was (yes, you guessed it) - Whitey!

Rucana Falls....or Rucana Fall rather

Last weekend (jan 26-27) we decided to take a trip up to the 'gorgeous, flowing Rucana Falls' a couple hours northeast smack on the Angola border.

On our way up to the falls we decided to stop in the tiny town of Uutapi to check out the famous 'baobob tree' (pronounced bay-bob). The tree was ginormous!! Funny enough we had to pay to get in the gate to see the tree, but it was ultra cool b/c we got to sit inside the tree while our guide let us know about the long history of the tree as a hiding place for tribespeople and their cattle during several wars.

Next it was on to the town of Rucana where were quickly acquainted with the town when we drove 5 min loop which turned out to be 'the town'....not much there at all. So we headed to the falls, excited to see all the water gushing over the seriously high drop......and well....turned out there wasn't much falling (as you can prob see from the picture) - there was one tiny little fall - basically NO WATER falling.....look close and you might see the tiny little fall.

After our 10 minutes (too long) at the falls we decided to go check out Kunene Lodge, 46 klms (and 2 hours later) down a seriously gravel road into the heart of Himba land. We carefully navigated Meme through wasit high water and tough gravel along side the beautiful Kunene River. As we passed through small villages of unclothed Himba tribespeoples, we realised very quickly how far out in the bush we were given the alien look many of the tribespeople were giving us as we noisily drove past. The tribespeople weren't the only species that found us 'foreign' as most donkeys we passed could not understand the concept of moving off the road, instead of running on the dirt road in front of the card. After carting along at 1klm/hour behind a baby donkey we decided we won't make it to camp before dark if we didnt get out and physically usher the donkey off the road....so after 5 min of trying tricks we'd see the locals use with 'donkey herding' we were finally back on our path to Kunene River Lodge. (We have video proof of this and it is hilarous). The lodge turned out to be very beautiful, right against the river with great food and cool lizard watching. After a long day and relaxing night, Reah, Block and Lyon turned into our cozy trio-bungalow for our cozy evening reading session.

Early Sunday morning we toughed the roads again, but with more luck and less donkey interference and headed 4 hours back home in the pouring rains.....which would not stop for 1 week, causing approximately 100 in people in our town (and the surrounding) to be pushed out of their homes/huts and businesses. (so sad).