Sleepless in South Africa

Well I am officially suffering from some serious Jet Lag. It's 3:33 AM here and I haven't slept a wink all night!! I thought about taking a sleeping pill about an hour ago but realized I would probably be completely wrecked for tomorrow, not that my current state is going to leave me any better off...

Not really any point in trying to force myself asleep now since I'm expecting a wake-up call at 5:00 AM for my 6:00 AM safari. I will definitely be taking precautionary measures to make sure this doesn't happen again tomorrow night.

In the meantime, if anybody wants to chat on Skype go online because I CAN'T SLEEP!!!

Evening Game Drive

Some of the Rangers and Trackers

Zebras!!! They're stripes are like their fingerprints, each one is completely different and unique.

A Zebra with an Itchy Bum

Massive Male Giraffe!! Our Ranger Johan said he was about 16 years old. The darker their colour, the older they are.

Stunning.

The Three Ladies. Mamma with two little ones.

No big deal just a LION walking towards us!!

On the hunt

There's something up ahead in the bushes...

Stalking the Prey... Mom up the middle, the cubs flank to the sides.

African Sunset

Cocktails Anyone...?

Legendary

We met our Ranger Johan at 4:30 to begin our first evening safari. I'm at a complete loss for words and can't begin to describe all the amazing and incredible things I was just so fortunate to witness!!

One of the highlights was watching a mamma lioness and her two female cubs stalk a herd of wildebeests. Unfortunately they were unsuccessful, as one of the young was a bit too trigger happy and spoiled the hunt. Would have been super cool to see a kill. Maybe tomorrow...... Off to bed, wake up call is at 5:00am for the morning safari.

Kapama Private Game Reserve

Warthogs on the Tarmac

Our Ride

Enroute to the Game Reserve

The Wine Cellar at the River Lodge. Definitely a good sign!!!

Ohhhh Yeahhh!!

Liquid Lunch. Awesome wine from Golf Pro Ernie Els' Winery in Stellenbosch

Looking for Lunchtime Snacks...


Just got to the Kapama Private Game Reserve in Kruger National Park. Very cool place!! We were greeted at the Hoedspruit airport by a herd of warthogs and our Ranger who whisked us off in an open top Land Rover to the Kapama Game Reserve. During our short 30 minute drive from the airport to the Kamapa River Lodge we spotted a giraffe, a zebra, and a group of gazelles!!

We were greeted at the River Lodge with fresh lychee juice and after check-in we headed to the restaurant for lunch and wine!! Never a dull moment around here, as we were entertained by a few lunchtime visitors looking for afternoon snacks.

Just about to leave for our evening Game Drive. Can't wait to see more amazing wildlife!!!!

Tuesday Morning

Chillin' in the South African Airways Lounge sipping on coffee and OJ. Feeling a bit disoriented as to date and time of day. My left eye is still twitching!! Apparently travelling for 24+ hours does weird things to your body.

Woke up late this morning so no time for breaky at the hotel. The food in this lounge isn't the greatest, looks like I'll be waiting till we get to the game reserve to eat. No complaints though, hanging in the lounge is certainly better than being in the regular concours with all the riff-raff.

A Foreign Land

After racing through the sky at 888km/hr for 11 hours I have finally landed in Johannesburg. I can't believe I actually made it here in one piece, luggage and all!! Flight was super long an uneventful, I slept the entire way. The South African couple I sat beside said the flight attendant came by to check to make sure I was still breathing since I had been unconscious and had barely moved the entire flight.

Staying the night at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Johannesburg airport. Just polished off a meal and a bottle of wine at the restaurant. My left eye won't stop twitching!! Feeling a bit loopy and tired, not sure why since I've just spent the last 18 hours asleep. Off to bed, need my beauty rest because tomorrow I have another flight to catch to Kruger National Park to start my Safari!!

Land of the Wooden Shoes

Two flights, two sleeping pills, one tequila shot and 12 hours later I have landed in the land of the wooden shoes. Ahhh the joys of sedated travel....

I was able to sleep the whole way from Toronto to Amsterdam, so I'm actually feeling not too bad. I only have 2 hours to kill here at the Amsterdam airport before I begin phase 3 of my incredible journey to South Africa. This next flight is the last of three, and will certainly be the longest at 11 hours.

It's early in the morning, so finding a bar/restaurant that's open might be a little tricky. Nevertheless, this is Europe after all, so I am optimistic. Off to scour the airport for food and booze before my next flight!!

Leaving on a jet plane....

Well after several requests I have decided to start writing my blog again. And what better way to begin then by documenting my crazy trip to South Africa!!! As many of you know, I am already enroute. I just landed in Toronto a few minutes ago and have just completed phase 1 of my incredible 3 phase journey to this very far away country.

The flight to TO was relatively uneventful, but productive as I managed to get some much needed work done (Ange, I am emailing you as I type!!). Sat next to a super cool guy wearing a bow-tie!! Why don't men wear these anymore???? When worn well and on the right person, I think they look amazing.

Just sitting at my gate, they've already started boarding for my next flight!! Luckily I had a few minutes to inhale some food and a much needed shot of tequila. Ready to pop a couple little blue pills and wake up in Amsterdam!!