Addo National Park

Christine and I left the Garden Route and began traveling inland on 28 September.  We were taking three days to travel a picturesque, round-about way to eventually meet up with Christine's family for some camping on the Indian Ocean.  Each night was spent in a different location.

Friday night we arrived in Addo National Park:


This is a nature reserve with lots of elephants and other African wildlife.  Christine still had her new phone at this point and took most of the pictures of the wildlife we saw as we left on Saturday.  The most amazing animals sighting was two male lions in their prime walking up a ravine toward a herd of oblivious zebra grazing on the hill above.  These guys were fat, sleek, beautiful, and intimidating.  We were glad we were a distance away... far enough to get out of the car and spy on them through the binoculars.  When one looked directly at me, I was very relieved to be out of range!

We stayed in a cabin and braaied outside under the large moon.  In the public kitchen, there was a warning sign about feeding the monkeys.  We did not see any here, but I would later get to experience these firsthand while camping.

One picture I wish we still had was of a large sign at the entrance of the park.  I cannot remember the exact wording, but it warned visitors that it was against the law to drive over elephant manure.  Seriously!  Why?  To protect the amazing dung beetles feeding on and brooding in the manure from being crushed.  Later in the Kruger, we would see these amazing creatures in action.

Storms River Videos

While crossing the suspension bridge, we noticed nearby slabs of rock that were straight with sharp edges.  The ocean waves crashed against them, but when the ocean pulled the water back from the rock, the sound was flat and quiet.

After crossing the suspension bridge, we found a field of round rocks smoothed by rubbing against one another.  When the ocean pulled it waves down across the smooth stones, they "sang" a beautiful song I tried to record.  Christine and I enjoyed sitting on this beach and listening to the rocks sing.

Storms River Mouth

Storms River is located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  The river mouth is in the Tsitsikamma National Forest.  Across the span of the river's mouth is a suspension bridge we were able to walk across.  We enjoyed a delightful brunch here, followed by a walk to explore the river's mouth.

This is the mouth of Storms River as it enters the ocean:

These lilies were everywhere:

Christine on the suspension bridge:

The dark looking hole is a large cave full of very large bats!

Driftwood the ocean waves have collected on the beach:

Fresh water springs from the lush forest dribbling into the salty ocean.

Whale Videos

The whales we saw from the highways and boats were humpbacks, Bryde's whales, and southern right whales.  To get an idea of what they really look like, I am including pictures from the internet.  I did NOT take these pictures or draw these diagrams.  Videos are below the pictures.

Bryde's Whale






Humpback Whale

Our group saw a humpback breach just like this one above... only I happened to be looking in the wrong direction and missed it.  Bummer!


Southern Right Whale
There were two of these that we followed in our whale watching boat in Plettenberg Bay.  They come to the surface often to breathe and blow.  How loud it was!  What amazed me was how large these whales were... and we just saw the top part where the blow holes are and their tales.  Massive!



There was no way I could catch a whale in a picture, so I just took videos.  These did not turn out great, but I did manage to capture some tales and blowing to show the kids that I actually did see whales.

Christine looking for whales...

Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours

We sailed (zip-lined, as we call it here) 90 feet above the canopy floor through the Tsitsikamma forest of Outeniqua Yellowwood trees.  What a rush!  Christine's wonderful pics and video of this adventure were lost in our robbery, but I can include just a few I managed to have on my phone.  (I didn't work hard to get photos because we knew we would buy the video... lesson learned!)

Our guide was hysterical and full of pranks.  He was always trying something funny to startle those he felt could take it (a German couple on the tour were not so impressed with his silliness, so he left them alone).  Once he told me to go, and so I jumped, but before I got too far away, he grabbed my harness and held me back, shaking and jostling me as I dangled 90 feet in the air.  He insisted that he hadn't told me to go as he shook me back and forth.  I laughed with delight.  He was always up to tricks which made the trip very entertaining; we never knew what to expect and had to stay on our toes.  The middle pic is of him sailing to us on the last run, hooting and hollering all the way.

Elephant Videos - Part 3

It is evident by the big smiles that Martin loved walking Marula!  He loved her bold personality and the leadership traits she demonstrated.  Marula "adopted" Thandi (who was injured) when she arrived to the facility and never leaves her side; she always stays with her to care for her, and the two are never seen apart.

Snacks such as apples, sweet potatoes, and oranges are fed to the elephants after the walk.

Marula and Thandi take a drink of water before heading out to join the rest of the herd.

Elephant Videos - Part 2

The elephant guides had the elephants demonstrate tricks they can do on command.  I wasn't ready with my video camera and missed capturing Marula kneeling down on one knee.  (I did catch her standing up.)  I was ready for Thandi to blow and the third one to shake her ears (sorry, I cannot remember her name, but she favored children).

Elephant Videos - Part 1

Christine and Thandi, whom she loved.  Thandi is so sweet-natured, gentle, shy, and the "pet" of bold matriarch, Marula.  The guides told us that Marula "adopted" injured Thandi when she arrived, and the two stick together all of the time; they are never seen apart.

Christine gives Thandi snacks after walking her.

Cheetah Videos - Part 4

Near the end of the walk, we switched cheetahs with the Israeli couple that was on the tour and walked Thandi back "home."  She purred almost constantly, which was a treat since Shaka did not.  However, she did not seem to enjoy being touched and was more temperamental than her easy-going brother.

When we finished our walk, Shaka and Thandi set off at a run and leaped over the gate for their treat that awaits them at the end of each walk - raw chicken pieces (with the bones broken).  And what a gentleman Shaka was... he let his sister eat the last of the chicken in his bowl.  Ahh...!

Cheetah Videos - Part 3

Cheetahs are frightened of animals taller than themselves (and everything shorter than themselves is considered prey... even a human kneeling down).  They freaked out when walking by this enclosure that housed llamas and other animals.  Thandi ran in fright, while Shaka talked back by squirting.  Too funny!

Shaka and Thandi drink at the end of their walk.  The guide had to remind Shaka that ladies drink first... and the term "ladies" includes his sister!

Cheetah Videos - Part 2

Martin and Shaka

Shaka loved to stop and smell while on the walk.  He could smell that leopards and other wild animals had been in the area, so he was constantly marking his territory.

Cheetah Videos - Part 1

Getting ready to take the cheetahs on a walk...  Shaka is in red; his sister, Thandi, is in black.

Walking Shaka.  (Sorry for the shakiness!)

Dolphins Video

The dolphins in Plettenberg Bay were incredible, especially since many had their brand-new babies right at their sides. They were teaching them to circle the fish and hunt.  I managed to figure out my phone's video camera on the very last sighting of the dolphins.  I missed the babies, but I captured the dolphins that came closest to our boat.  Here is the video:

Sea Kayaking in Plettenberg Bay

Oh, my!  Christine and I took an early morning sea kayaking tour in Plettenberg Bay.  Cxx and her husband, Hugo, own their own kayak... and now I know why.  It is so much fun!  The key is learning to read the waves and water.  Christine did this so well that we didn't spill... and the guide was impressed.  Go, Christine!  I told Brady that if we lived by the ocean, we would have to take this up as a hobby.  Delightful!

Ready to Continue and Finish the Blog

Whew!  I arrived home on October 11th after a total of 24 hours in the air.  Yowzah!

Security was a hoot in J-Burg!  They hardly looked at me or my stuff going through initial security, but that was not to be the final round.  Right before we boarded the plane, approximately 10 airport staff members appeared to our gate and told us that since we were flying to the US, we needed to go through extra security.  They brought in tables and sorted us into two lines - men and women.  At this point, we were all getting nervous for no one was answering our questions (trust me - I tried asking, but to no avail).  I pointed out to my fellow flyers that this was the security that we did not receive when first entering the airport.  And... since they did not possess the equipment the US does, they were going to do it themselves.  Sure enough... we were each patted down, our shoes were shaken and clapped together, and our carry-on bags gone through.  My, my... that was an experience for all of us!

Upon arriving home, I caught a virus... along with the rest of my family... and we spent the next week recovering, healing up, and for me - restoring my body to North American time (it took 9 days for my body to remember what continent it lived on and to sleep through the night).  Sleeping is such a joy!

Last week was spent getting caught up on duties set aside during the trip, but now I am ready to finish the blog.  Thanks for hanging in there and patiently waiting.  Keep checking back until you know you've come to the end of the trip.  Enjoy!

Trip Data

Sitting here at the airport in J-burg waiting for flight.  Will have to finish posting once I am home since my phone battery is low. 

Here is some fun data of my journey for those of you who love that kind of thing (a-hem, Ems.).   :-)

43.5 hours in the air
12.5 hours on the ocean
3,062.5 miles in the car (not including trip from Secunda to J-burg or time to and from Denver)
82.5 hours riding in the car
More animals than I can count or remember.  :)

Ocean Sunset at Plett

Animal Day 3

All of these places were in one day - Teniqua (cats), Birds of Eden, Monkey Land and the Elephant Sanctuary.

The bird who hitched a ride on our shoulders climbed down my arm and chewed on my sports watch.  He sang to us, and we sang back.  When I passes him on to men, he shrieked at one and bit the next.  A ladies bird, I guess...

Animal Day 2

Elephant Sanctuary - walked Marula, the elephant matriarch of the place.  We discovered an elephant's personality comes through their trunk.  She told me how to hold her trunk amd nudged me to speed up and walk boldly.  :)