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.