Sunday, March 4

We were up early to meet our Uber drivers at 6:30 am and say goodbye to the wind, sand, and beautiful beach of Muizenberg

We drove by several townships where some of the poorest people in the Cape Town area live – in buildings that do not even look livable. 🙁

Sunrise

We had great Uber drivers, but this one was my favorite. He played gospel music as we drove to the airport. His countenance lit up when I asked if he was a Christian. I was not surprised when he gave me an affirmative answer. What a great way to start a Sunday morning.

Transferring luggage from vans to airport carts.

Moving nine people and luggage from vans to an airport check in line is no small feat. Plus we had several pieces of luggage that included items for a children’s home.

Our final look at the Cape Town area.

Snack/Brunch

We flew over barrenness like this for more than an hour. There was one road that seemed to be empty with the exception of a truck now and then.

We learned that this is called the Karoo.

As we neared Hoedspruit, we began seeing villages and more civilization.

This low veld – bush country – became familiar to us during the next eleven days.

On the ground (three-and-a-half hours later) and in the heat of Hoedspruit. Kristen is already rolling up her sleeves.

We understand that the long runway is created that way to prevent planes from hitting animals – especially monkeys.

The airport

There were many outfitters with signs displaying the name of their lodge.

This is how luggage is taken to and from the plane.

The air traffic control tower.

Meeting Phil and Kate – our hosts for the next week and a half.

Phil asking Jana about her time in South Africa and Jordan.

How many airports have to remind passengers to not feed the monkeys. 🙂

Getting our luggage. Every piece was there!

We had barely left the airport area when we saw zebra.

Notice the fence. Almost all wildlife in this area are behind fences – property of landowners. The electric fences protect the animals from poachers and the people from dangerous wildlife. Most fences surround thousands of acres.

We were introduced to The Drakensberg (mountain of the dragon) which we would learn about in the next few days.

This is how many workers get rides to and from their job.

A sight that became familiar to us.

It was easier to get photos of trucks in this area (for Inge) rather than in Cape Town where we rarely saw a big rig.

I was surprised to see the name of this company (top of cab) when I edited this photo today – Faith Wheels. I sent an email to the owner asking about the significance of the name.

Animals on or beside the road also became a common sight.

Three rigs in a one hour drive! I think that is all I saw in three days in Muizenberg and Cape Town.

The entrance to our African home. I didn’t even know there was an animal called a nyala – but would soon enjoy many sightings of this beautiful antelope.

We quickly learned that we would enjoy a safari-type-drive each time we drove in and out of Phil and Kate’s three-and-a-half-mile lane.

Cape Buffalo browsing at a waterhole along their driveway.

As far as I can tell, this is a Hamerkop.

We rarely drove in or out of their lane without seeing rhinos as there are 75 on the 12,000 acres they lease. Phil said this is one of the largest gatherings of rhinoceros in the world. Rhinos are highly desired by poachers – thus their property is diligently protected with double, electric fences and workers who care for the fences.

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I will tell you about our first evening at Bosbok Safaris in my next entry.