Mossel Bay

On Friday morning we were picked up early in camp by our driver for our GARDEN TOUR route to Cape Town.  It's a two day drive and we spent the night in Mossel Bay on the Southern Coast.  Below are some of the photos of the Indian Ocean.  Notice the large waves coming in.  We were fortunate to be here during the Full Moon Phase which gave me wonderful scenes to work with.

Last Days In Camp

This post will wrap up our last days in camp.  We had an outstanding hunt.  We saw lots of game, many different species, and my restraint at not shooting more is commendable.  I was very, very tempted. However, one of the ladies on our trip, Margaret Hornady, who was on her first trip to South Africa managed to take several very nice trophies.  I haven't posted any of her photos because she wanted to keep it a surprise until she got back to Nebraska. But she couldn't wait any longer and gave me permission to post these photos on my blog on the trophies she hunted. 

Margi worked really hard for this beautiful Zebra. Climbing loose rocks to the top of a mountain isn't easy, but with a trophy like this; it's worth it.

Graham and Beans are wonder Professional Hunters. Margi took this White Spring Buck on the final days of our Safari. 

She also took a Blue Wildebeest and a Black Wildebeest but photos are on another SD card that I haven't downloaded and the connection is REALLY slow here at the hotel so those photos will have to wait.

South African Views

Here are some of the views we see every day as we go out hunting. . . .

Tollie's Goats

 Tollie Jordan and his family have raised goats for generations.  In fact, his great grandfather established the Boer Goats in South Africa. Several years ago, Tollie contracted with a rancher in Texas and sent 500 Boer Goats to Texas.  So now, every Boer Goat in Texas is a direct lineage to Tollies line of goats here in  South Africa.  (The Boer Goats have the white body and brown/red head.)

Now Tollie is raising the Kalahari Red Goat Breed which he established and is selling worldwide.
We saw little baby goats everywhere and they are so cute. 

The Kalahari Red is prized for it's meat value.

Could The Days Get Any Better?

I haven't mentioned anything about the wonderful meals that are being presented to us each evening.  Appetizers, salads, desserts, the main entrees all prepared by Karen that are as good as a five star in our opinion. The salads are all fresh and freshest vegetables. The first night our main entree was Nyala steak with a cheddar/peppercorn sauce; Glazed chicken pieces, Roast Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, And Green Beans.

The next night we arrived at dinner to a place marker with our photo of our game taken that day. The menu that night Crumbed blesbuck Strips, Lamb Chops with potatoes, Rice, Mixed Grilled Vegetables.  And last night we had Kudu Schnitzels, Chicken Schnitzels topped with bacon, cheese and mushroom sauce, Pumpkin cakes, Cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce, Potatoes in herb sauce. 

Every meal  is served with wonderful wine, horde ouvres, and desserts.

As always the hunting is wonderful. Cyndi and I both took Black Springbucks with Graham. I didn't want one until I saw how pretty the one was that Cyndi shot. 

Beth likes trophies with screwed up horns.  So this Nyala was perfect for what she was looking for.  She got him early in the morning.

This is "Ears" , the pet Nyala that was raised from a baby at Tollies.  He loves being around people and whenever people are over at Tollies, he comes up to be petted.  He also likes to drink out of a glass.  The funniest is when he feels ignored and tries to get attention by doing his Nyala dance.

If you look closely, you'll see the head of a Cobra in the grass. We ran across this fella one day when we were out stalking for a Kudu.  The PH said when his head is up, he means business.  If it hadn't been for the photo, the PH's would have thought we were kidding when we said we say a snake.  

Another Day In Paradise

The days are kind of running together now.  We really don't care what day it is. Each day is as good or better than the day before. We see animals in the wild, we see vistas that go on forever, we see plants and flowers that cause us to revel in their beauty and we are surrounded by people that are gracious, generous, funny and truly appreciate the bounty they have here on this glorious spot of God's earth.

 These are some of the pets that hang around Tollie and Karen's place.  They are really friendly and come up every evening to say "hello".

 Beth and Cyndi each got a white Springbuck, same morning, different hunters.

Just a beautiful evening

 Beth shot this really  nice impala with Graham.

The three young bulls were doing a lot of posturing. They wanted to make sure we knew they were bulls.

 Charla was incredibly happy with this beautiful Blue Wildebeest. Her first ever African animal, thanks to Graham, her PH.

 I really worked for this nice zebra. Graham made me climb a mountain.  No really!! It was a mountain. But the good news was, when I shot it; the zebra ran down the mountain and died close to the truck. The zebra got down the mountain a lot quicker than I did.

 Beth and Graham with her Copper Springbuck

I have a better photo of Charla and Graham and her Kudu that does have my leg in the lower part of the photo, but it takes so long to download photos; I didn't want to take the time to load another one. As you can see, she got a beautiful Kudu.

We're at Hunting Camp

We have been so busy since landing in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, I haven't had time to post anything about our trip.  It has been wonderful!  We were met at PE airport by two of our Professional Hunters, Beans and Graham.  Between the five us, we filled up their two trucks with luggage.

It took a couple of hours to get to our lodge where we are staying.  We have an entire guest house for the five of us.  Each one of us has our own bedroom and bath.  There is the Inyati Spa also on the premises, as well as a swimming pool and. .. . well, I'll just let the photos show you our "hunting camp".

This is our outdoor social area. On the 2nd night,
we had a chef and wine expert present different South African wines to us along with a specially prepared meal. Served to us in this area.

This is an outdoor "focal point" that I thought was interesting .

Cyndi, Beth, Becky & Margi

We're at the "range" where we all took sight in shots on the guns that we were going to use to hunt with.  None of us brought guns so therefore we are using the PH's guns.  Works out great.

Beans is helping Margi sight in and shoot off the shooting sticks.  Getting her ready to take her first African trophies.

Cyndi and Beans stalking for her White Springbuck.
Notice the thorns on the tree in the foreground. Those trees are everywhere! As well as cactus--the kind that jumps out and attaches itself to you.  

Cyndi got a beautiful White Springbuck!
It was a really good day!

Day 1 South Africa

Well, we are finally here. The five of us made it. . . Beth, Cyndi, Charla, Margi and I arrived in Port Elizabeth this afternoon after 23 hours from New York with a stop over in Johannesburg.  We've gotten very little sleep; we are pretty weary, and look like 8 days of hard road; but we are so happy to be here we are on the verge of "giddy". We were picked up in Port Elizabeth by our hunters, Beans and Graham, who then drove us about 2 hours north of Port Elizabeth to the area of Somerset East where our base will be for the next five days.  We all settled in immediately.  Unpacked, sat by the fire, had some wine, had a wonderful dinner, a little more wine, and some wonderful stories.  Tomorrow we sight in guns and hunt for Springbok for Cyndi and Beth.  They want a black and a white Springbok.  We also met Karly our "on sight" masseuse whose services we are definitely going to use.  After the telling of tall tales and setting all the plans for tomorrow, it is now almost 1:00am and time for bed.  Photos will be posted soon. 

We are in a beautiful place, with friends we love, and we are going to have a wonderful, meaningful trip in South Africa.  Till later, Love to friends and family back home.,

And The Countdown Begins. . .

You know all those things you've always wanted to do?

       You should do them. . . 

Next Friday morning our little group of five departs from various places (Portland, Oregon; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Grand Island, Nebraska; and Kansas City, Missouri) and meet in New York City.  We will spend the night and on Saturday morning set off for our long flight to Johannesburg, South Africa.  Then a layout over before we hop another flight to Port Elizabeth.  

While we have all been planning and anticipating for months, it seems like all of the sudden, IT'S HERE! 

Now, the packing, the list making, the slight panic at what I'm forgetting.  Are all my electronics charged up? Do I have enough SD Cards and batteries?  Are all the bills paid before I leave?  Do I have enough cash? Don't forget to call the credit card companies.Do I have enough room left in my bags for souvenirs?  Do I have enough books downloaded for reading? Snacks, sunscreen, shooting glasses, . . . . well, you get the picture.  I did get my tetanus shot and boy was my arm sore. 

I think I'll go check out the guest room again where I have all my stuff laid out to see what I need to re-think, re-pack, and go get.  I'll be doing this right up until Thursday evening.  And still that's part of the anticipation of getting ready for a wonderful trip with great friends.

Starting the Blog Back Up -- Going Back to South Africa

Well, I'm going back to South Africa and I'm so excited.  This time I'm going with wonderful friends: Cyndi, Beth, Margi and Charla.  If you want to see one of the places where we will be spending the first five days of our trip, look here:  www.safari-in-africa.com

Then after five days in this beautiful place we are getting a driver and taking the "Garden Tour" along the Coast from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town.  What a glorious trip.  Of course we are going to visit the fabulous wine country of South Africa and all this beautiful country has to offer in the short time available to us.

I remember my first trip many years ago to Africa.  When I told my dear mother (who is no longer with us) that I was going on safari to Zimbabwe, her comments were typical of her; but not typical of any other mother's.  Most mother's would be so excited that their little girl from Tennessee had the opportunity to go to such an exotic country and visit a foreign land.  MY Mother, on the other hand, her comment to me was, "For heaven's sake, Becky, you're going to someone else's country. Do you think you can behave?"  Yep, that was my Mom.

Well, I didn't get thrown out of the country and I went back; so I guess everything worked out.  If I have a connection while I'm away, I'll be posting to my blog; and those who are interested are welcome to sign on and share while we are away.  We leave on April 27 and return May 11.  There will be photos.