April 2, 2024 - the trip to Sabi Sand
Today was an exciting day. To start we left the Royal Malawane, driving about 15 minutes to a gravel airstrip where we boarded a helicopter. This was a 45-minute flight through the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia. It is located in Mpumalanga, South Africa and covers an area of 26,946 hectares. The Blyde River Canyon is known as the largest ‘green canyon’ due to its lush subtropical foliage. It also has the deepest precipitous cliffs of any gorge on the planet.
Our pilot was a lovely young woman, Lydi. She landed us at the top of the gorge for a picnic lunch. I had to say, she was very talented navigating though the rocks to a landing spot.
After lunch, it was a 20-minute flight to a landing strip in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve where we were picked up and driven to the Singita Boulder lodge where we would stay for the next three nights.
After a rest, we went for a drive through the game reserve, there were giraffes, Lions, wort hogs, Rinos, and Impala. This last was camera shy. Every time we came upon a heard, they took off like a shot. I asked about that and the guide, Coleman, said it was because they are often game. So, I had Impala for dinner. I also got a great pic of two Hornbills, an orange and a gray, fighting.
After a brief stop for some refreshments, we started back in the dark. Came upon the lions from before, laying in the road. Some got up but one was reticent and remained in the road, so we had to find another way back to the lodge.
Once there, we had dinner, like I said, and then back to our lovely room for a night’s rest ready for an early wake up call, 5:00AM.
April 3, 2024 - Sabi Sands - Singita Boulders Lodge - AM Drive
This morning was a really early wake up call, 5:00AM! There was a guide at our door at 5:30 to escort us to the main lodge as the sun had not yet come up and they do not want guests walking around in the dark for fear of the animals. We had some quick refreshments, espresso and tea, then boarded our Jeep / Tank for our morning drive. This was quite the drive as we quickly ran into a heard of Rinos in the road. We watched and waited as the big dominant male kept watch on us to protect his group. Eventually he trotted off to the side and we continued on our way. I mentioned to Colman that the Impala were not going to like me as I had a taste of them for dinner last night! A bit down the road we noticed a Buffalo wondering along in the opposite direction. We backed up to get a picture. Then continued. The landscape was just breathtaking. We soon ran into a couple of Lions in the road. This was a brother and sister who apparently, according to Colman, had lost their mother. We followed them for a while and came to a pond where I noticed a Herin sitting on a Hipo in the middle of the pond. The Lions eventually moved on to a grassy area where they sat for a while chewing on grass.
We moved on all the while; these little birds would be in the road in front of our vehicle. They would run along until they could not keep in front and would eventually fly to the side.
We then came upon a large heard of Impala. There was a single Wilda beast among them as well. We went off road in search of the Leopard that had been spotted in the area, but no luck in finding him.
We passed some Warthogs as well, but they were too far and too fast to get a picture. We then stopped for a brief snack and a look at the vast expanse before us.
After a short break we continued on and found some Elephants. Continuing, we passed more Impala and spotted several Zebra. Then on our way back to the lodge, after an almost 4-hour drive, we spotted two Giraffe, a young and his mom.
April 3, 2024 - Sabi Sands - Singita Boulders Lodge - PM Drive
After realaxing a bit in our pool, we started out at 4:00, we first came across some Zebras and then the ever present Impala. Then some Kudu with the big red ears. There were some colorful birds along the way. Then we came upon a very majestic Water buck with these incredible horns standing by the side of the road. We passed by some wart hogs. These have been hard to get any pictures of as they run fast as soon as they see you, but this time one posed for me! We came upon another heard of Impala, and then some Mongoose sitting atop their borrow. They use the mounds created by termites as their home!
But the most exciting part of the evening was yet to come. Driving down one of the dirt roads right in front of us was a Leopard walking toward us! Colman quickly backed up the vehicle so Peter could leave his tracking chair and join us inside the jeep. We anticipated that the Leopard was going to stalk the Impala we had just passed so we watched and waited. We first followed her into the bush as she made her way from bush to bush at the edge of the clearing. Then we waited for a while in the opening watching the Impala for any sign of a pending attack. After not seeing her, we moved toward the bush and found her lounging under some bushes. As Impala are faster than the Leopard, we figured she would wait until dark and the element of surprise.
Alternatively, the way she seemed to be looking at us, we thought maybe she thought we were easier pray. Colman thought she might go for Peter or Cathy, but I said, there is more meat on Colman. But he said, it would be easier to drag one of the others up a tree.
We were dropped off at the Boma, an area that surrounded a fire pit and an outdoor kitchen where they were grilling various meats for our evening meal. There was also a performance by the staff choir with singing and dancing.
