Beautiful South Africa

Going for a little drive to a waterfall

Distant view of Tugela Falls

Tugela Falls 

Long tailed Sakabula bird.  It's tail is so beautiful
when it flies...fluttering behind it like a kite tail.

They were selling little clay animals to passersby and yes we bought some.

Pilanesburg

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

African Safari on New Years Day!

Ponchos to keep us warm in the wee hours of the cool morning

Enjoying the hippos, birds and turtles in a viewing area

Riding in the winds...
Andrea trying to get some tangles our of her hair during snack break.

This silly Hornbill continuously knocked on the
windows of the room where we stayed.  He would
go from one window to another tap tap tapping.

Getting the ears cleaned!

This guy was at the waterhole where we ate our meals.
Look at his crossed hind legs. They do this to rest them.

Seeing some sights with the kids!

Elephant Sanctuary

Wow!  We did all this in a day!!

Monkeys greeted us as we entered the Elephant Sanctuary

The sanctuary is a place where they have rescued & orphaned elephants.  They are cared for until they can be released back into the wild.

We all got to take turns feeding one of the elephants.  Here is Andrea's turn:

Riding elephants

Touching elephants

...and we all got to hold the trunk and walk with the ele :-)

 Andrea got kissed by an elephant!!!

Lesedi Cultural Village

Trying out a little mopane worm.

Yum.  Eat juicy or dried.

Yummy lunch buffet

Menu 

ha ha!  Loved this part of the menu!

May we all Hamba Kahle always!  :-)

Hugs from South Africa!

LION RESERVE

Yes, this was one full day!  The elephant visit began really early, Lesedi was during the lunch hours and last of all we went to this lovely reserve for injured or rescued lions and a few other animals.

So here is the first story!  This lioness below locked eyes with Aaron!  She came right up to him, hunched in a prowl with her eyes glued & then raised up to full standing position...big paws on the grate, never diverting her stare!  All the girls, even African lionesses love Aaron!  Of course the camera froze right then...or was it me...realizing that if not for this metal shield on the vehicle our son, Aaron, would have been dinner for this lioness! 

Beautiful Cheetah

Petting the toddlers

Next story: This little toddler bit Andrea's skirt and wouldn't let go!  It left a big snag in her skirt.

Another story:  See how happy they look.  

This is the moment just before the ostrich bit Andrea's toe!!!

A few more scenes from the day: