SOUTH AFRICA TRIP (Part 2)

Beautiful Sun Set over Africa

Followers of this South Africa series, would remember that I posted about Kwantu Game Reserve and our departure from Kwantu to Knysna via Port Elizabeth and George. It was a long, but pretty journey, with a lunch stop at the world famous Bloukrans Bridge. 

The Bloukrans Bridge

This is the highest bungee  jumping spot ,in the world.  It is a very picturesque spot, on the road connecting the Eastern & Western Cape provinces, on the garden route. As  I suffer from  Vertigo (fear of heights) I skipped this adrenaline rush activity. I did watch, with a mixture of wonder and awe, a few ladies who dared to do this bungee jump. The bridge itself, is very beautiful arch across the Bloukrans River, close to where it meets the sea. Late evening we reached our hotel and the day ended with Dinner.

We were up, bright and early ,the next day , because we had four activities lined up. Little did I know then, that this was going to be, the most spectacularly memorable day of my life. The day itself, started innocuously enough, heading out to the Cango Caves near Oudtshoorn.

Inside the Cango Caves...

Inside the Cango Caves... another view

Inside the Cango Caves... artistic patterns

Inside the Cango Caves... on floors

Inside the Cango Caves... and ceilings

The caves are very large and intricate formations, of stalactites and stalagmites, forming artistic and intriguing patterns, hanging from the roof and springing from the floors. We took a standard tour of the caves. The insides are beautifully maintained and well lit. Low light photography was a challenge inside the caves, but I did manage to get a few good shots. After finishing the tour it was good to be back in sunlight and our next halt was Cango Wildlife ranch.

We reached the ranch in about an hour.  The first leg of our visit, took us past some breathtaking birds and animals. We got to see huge bats hanging upside down, the critically endangered Cape Vultures (there are only 16 of left in the world) and 4 of them happen to be here!!

Endangered Cape Vultures

Managed to sight and photograph some shy and hyperactive Ring Tailed (Madagascar) Lemurs,

Ring Tailed Lemurs 

beautiful Lesser Flamingos,

Lesser Flamingo

Lesser Flamingo pair

two huge Marabou Storks, seemingly levitating,

Marabou Stork

and a host of Nile crocodiles lazing in the cold sun.

Nile Crocodiles 

A lone pygmy hippo, sunning himself and snarling at us, occasionally.  Busy, spotted neck sea otters, were seen jumping in and out of the water and looking at us curiously before scurrying off.

The next leg of the visit was to see the animals, and they had quite a few there. There were two Servals  (African wild cats), Caracals (Wild Cats), Bat Eared Foxes,  Royal Bengal Tigers, White tigers, Cheetahs, et al. Had a fantastic time viewing  these beauties. Had the rare opportunity, to observe and photograph these wonderful animals, at real close quarters.  I seemed to get lost, in the spirit of the “Kingdom of Animals” here, at the Cango Wildlife Ranch. My spirit was gratified at seeing so many animals, all under one roof, knowing that they were well cared for and looked after, here. This reverie was unfolding beautifully, when the guide announced that those of us who wanted to, could go into the Cheetah enclosure, to stroke a live Cheetah.

What, stroke a live, grown Cheetah? What an opportunity!  I was excited and my heart skipped a beat. I was one of the first to pay the fees and was head of the queue.

Cheetah up close & personal

Wary of me

Ready to spring into action...

We were briefed by the Cheetah handlers, not to cuddle, hug or kiss the Cheetah. So sad. Anyway, as luck would have it, there were two Cheetahs in the enclosure, and we could stroke both. Since I was first, I was invited to come close, bend down and pet the Cheetah. At this juncture, both Cheetahs were resting, with eyes closed. I stroked them to my heart’s content.

Exciting & thrilling

I  gave my camera to one of the girls, in the enclosure, and asked her to keep on clicking. Both Cheetahs seemed to be enjoying my stroking and one of them even turned on his back, indicating, that he would like to be stroked on his stomach as well.

Exhilarating, tickle me he seems to be saying.

The handler asked me to move back, with a concerned look on his face. But no alarm, just the Cheetah wanting to be petted more. I was then asked to make way, for the second member and so on.  After all four of had our turns, I requested the handler for one more opportunity, as now both of the Cheetahs were awake and in a semi sitting position. Somewhere, my love for animals became infectious and he smiled indulgently and allowed me one more time.

And this time, stroking two live Cheetahs wide awake, one giving me the once over.

Two is better than one 

And now both awake.. one giving me the once over

And now both awake.. one giving me the once over

Was I scared? NEVER, for a moment, did fear enter my mind. In fact, it was a unique bond, that I seemed to share with these cats, who seemed to reciprocate, this bond. I just loved every thrilling, electrifying, exciting & exhilarating moment,  of this wonderful fifteen minutes of my life. This WAS THE BEST  moment of my life. Imagine, being in an enclosure with two wild cats, stroking them for continuously and not knowing any fear. Only thrill, excitement and a desire to extend this moment to eternity. Sadly, that did not happen, and like all good things, this visit came to an end, and we exited the enclosure. I was richer for this experience. This memory will last me, a life time (or even more, who knows).  But yes, this is one experience, that that all animal & nature lovers, must have,  or they are the poorer, not doing it.

And then our onward journey resumed and we were off to see Ostriches and the next day Cape Fur Seals and African (Jackass) Penguins. But again that is another wonderful experience, yet to be documented.

SOUTH AFRICA TRIP (Part 1)

After visiting Kenya & Tanzania in July August of 2011 I had blogged that the spirit of the Serengeti whispered to me and silently I resolved to be back. However after a gap of two years the visit to the Serengeti  is still due but the “Dark Continent”  of Africa once again opened its doors to me .. for a visit to the Rainbow Nation. Now again this was one more destination that was on my “must visit” list so when I got an opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands. After all an avid wild life enthusiast (or nut) how could I pass up such an opportunity especially when the itinerary  included a visit to a game park and visits to see and photograph Seals and Penguins?

So after all arrangements were made we set off from Mumbai to Johannesburg our first stop. After that (the only frustrating part of the trip) was a wait of 6 hours at Jo’burg  airport for an onward flight to Port Elizabeth. Port Elizabeth is a quaint little town well laid out with wide roads and lots of greenery. 

We were received by at the  airport by our Driver who drove us straight to The Kwantu Game Reserve... about one and a half hours drive. The road from Port Elizabeth to Ghramstown has 4 game reserves in close proximity of each other. The most famous of them being the Shamwari Game reserve. However Kwantu, I later learned is not far behind.. in fact it is doing some great work in the area of rehabilitation and conservation of animals.

On arrival at Kwantu, I was looking forward to a hot shower and some rest. However that was not to be as we were told that a group which had departed earlier had seen some lions so we were straight away bundled into a Safari vehicle and driven into the park. Dusk was about an hour away and  a some distance into the park we witnessed  a herd of springbok grazing with Zebras and other antelopes for company. It was a long drive further into the depths of the  reserve, the vegetation got thicker. Our driver took us off the dirt track into a largish thicket and there resting majestically was a pair of lionesses.

We went pretty close to them and the driver stopped the vehicle affording us an opportunity to happily click away. I even asked the driver to reverse the vehicle as a few strands of grass were interrupting the view and he happily obliged. I had my zoom lens fitted so I took a number of pictures at various zooms and all of them came out well. After clicking we just sat watching these beautiful bests resting regally on the ground. They of course were alert and even a slight movement in the vehicle was enough to send their ears pricking up.

Reluctantly we moved on and went off and rejoined the dirt track and drove higher into the mountains of Kwantu. After a ten to fifteen minute drive our driver stopped in front of a majestic beast.. a fully grown male lion. This royal guy was just sitting and gazing into the distance. He looked at us (gave us a once over) and then went back to gazing into the distance, then turning his eyes to us once again. 

It was a fantastic sight.. eight human beings (and driver) in the vehicle, absolutely silent, staring intently at this wonderful, majestic sight in front (about ten to twelve feet away). The only sound you could hear, was the sound of camera shutters going click, click at a frenetic pace. Afterwards, awe and silence. I looked into his two warm amber eyes,(liquid pools really) trying to guess what he was thinking. Would he like us for supper?  Was he irritated by us, entering his space? Or was it just boredom, seeing us humans gaping at him in reverence and awe? I sat mesmerized gazing into his eyes, lost in a world of my own.  I was shaken out of my reverie by the start of jeep engine and we headed back to the lodge. A hot shower and dinner followed. And I slept like a log.

The next day was a cold day and began much the same way as last evening. Bundled into the Safari Jeeps we scored the reserve for animals. And what a collection we got. First up we sighted a huge lone Hippo and we got quite close to him. In fact so close that I thought he would charge us. Then  I managed to click a lovely cape glossy Starling with beautiful purple body. 

Kudu, Springboks, Red Hartebeest,  Blue Wildebeest,  Black Wildebeest or white tailed Gnu, water buck,  Impalas, Gazelles, Zebras, and the lovely Giraffe were all on fine display. 

But the star of the show was undoubtedly another male lion (I suspect it was the same one as last evening). Here he was sitting majestically on a hill slope behind thick bushes not wanting to be disturbed. On this occasion, I remember our driver got the vehicle very close indeed.  A thought flashed through my mind, if the lion sprang from where he was, we would have all been history. But I pushed that thought out and began clicking gleefully again. 

About fifteen minutes of “Darshan” of the Lion King  and we were headed back to camp for Lunch.

Post lunch was a visit to the rehab centre where we treated to guided tour of the all the animals that were being cared for at the centre. Royal Bengal Tigers, Abandoned and old male lions, baby tigers, White Lion & lioness, Cheetahs were all there in full view examining us with interest. 

Hearing the guides tales I couldn’t but marvel and admire the spirit of Kwantu Game Reserve’s efforts  at caring for and preserving wild animals. Not to mention that I got some great pictures as well. Thus ended our day and trip at Kwantu. Without any hesitation, I’d say that it had been the best two days of my life till date. I had got up close & personal with the Lion King and had seen an abundance of wild life here to really enjoy and cherish for life.

The next day we were scheduled to depart Kwantu for Port Elizabeth enroute to Knysna Lagoon. But that is another wonderful story... again.