Michael S. Liberman

South Africa Day 5: Kruger National Park

Today was our first safari day at Kruger National Park – South Africa’s largest wildlife refuge. We left the Protea Hazyview Hotel at 6 a.m. and entered the park around 7 a.m. It’s Freedom Day is South Africa, a national holiday, so the park was crowded at the end of the three day holiday weekend. Sam – our park guide – did an amazing job finding wildlife to see in the park. After our first safari day we’ve seen four of the Big Five – elephants, buffaloes, a rhino, and lions.  

Part of the Big Five: Elephants in Kruger National Park

A pride of lions in Kruger National Park

A zebra in Kruger National Park

The view from our safari vehicle

If we see leopards tomorrow we will complete the Big Five!!

South Africa Day 4: Johannesburg to Mpumalanga

On the bus to Hazyview in Mpumalanga:

Today was moving day. We traveled most of the day by bus from Johannesburg to Mpumalanga along the Panorama Route. Once outside of Johannesburg it’s surprising how much of the countryside is cultivated for farming. We passed acres of corn fields.

Farmland outside of Johannesburg

 After driving all morning to Lydenburg and lunch at Wimpy, we made our way to the spectacular Blyde River Canyon – the world’s 3rd largest canyon – to see The Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and God’s Window. 

Russel at The Three Rondawels

The falls at Bourke’s Luck Pothole

Donna, Patty, and Mickey at God’s Window

South Africa Day 3: Rhino and Lion Park and Soweto

From the lobby bar of the InterContinental Hotel:

Today we saw Africa in transition, from a wild life reserve dedicated to protecting indigenous species to the changing face of Soweto.

We began the day at the Rhino & Lion Park Nature Reserve with the opportunity to see Rhinos, Lions, Water Buffalo, Antelopes, and Ostriches. Rhino & Lion Park is a privately owned facility setup to breed Rhinos in an effort to prevent the declining population as a result of poaching. A Rhino horn is worth $1,000,000 on the black market.

A lion at Rhino & Lion Park

Zebras at Rhino & Lion Park

Mickey with a leopard cub

 Next we visited Soweto. Our tour guide and Soweto resident Eric talked about life in the township and the challenges residents face as they adjust to life in a democratic South Africa. 

A street in Soweto

The Mandela House in Soweto

 Tomorrow we travel to Kruger National Park via the Panorama Route. 

South Africa Day 2: London to Johannesburg

From Johannesburg:

After a slightly delayed departure from London last night, we arrived on Johannesburg about 9:30 a.m. on Friday morning.  We passed through customs, stopped for coffee (tall Americano for 21.60 Rand), and met our Explorica tour guide, Eve.  With our early arrival we had time for a bus tour of Johannesburg on the way to our hotel.

On the road from Johannesburg to Sandton

New bedding as winter approaches

You need it, they have it here …

Street haircuts

Johannesburg market

South Africa Day 1: Boston to London

After Shan­non and Peter’s deli­cious din­ner last night in Mel­rose (mar­gar­i­tas and chicken and shrimp tor­tillas!) we were up early this morn­ing to meet the group at Logan at 6 a.m.  For the sec­ond leg of the trip we left Boston about 8 a.m. on a British Air­ways flight to Lon­don arriv­ing at 7:30 p.m.

We’ve got a short lay­over — enough time for this update and then some Fit­bit steps. Our flight to Johan­nes­burg departs at 9:20 p.m. and we arrive tomor­row morn­ing at about 8:30 a.m. Tomor­row is a free day so we’ll have some time to explore a lit­tle before we start see­ing the sights on Saturday.