01. Bucket list birthday trip
Since I was a little girl I always watched the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. His love for animals made me want to travel and be with the animals. “Watch the Cheetah stock its prey!” Was my favorite line of Irwins. Ever since I was young girl I wanted to see Africa. I still have so much of Africa I want to see. The people are beautiful there. Some of the kindest souls I have ever met.
When my husband came to me in January and said I want to take you to Africa for your birthday, but need you to plan it because for years all I have done is research on all the places I would ideally like to see or experience. I had two other trips that canceled for reasons such as Ebola or me not wanting to leave our kids for a long period. So this timing was perfect. I was going to be 40 in October and we were FINALLY going and getting to take our kids, great ages 12 and 10 plus some of our really good friends decided to go too! We love you Parks. Even better with friends .
Where we stayed.
Day 1- flew in to Johansberg from Newark. We went direct from Phoenix to Newark then Newark to Johansberg. (15 hour flight)- we flew UNITED. We landed at night so stayed at the airport hotel Intercontinental. (Was a must for us since 9 hour time change) we did not want to be exhausted for the Safaris.
Day 2-10 am we flew directly into Londolozi on their airstrip. What an experience to fly on a small plane and watch animals below. Sometimes the lionesses are even on the airstrip.
Day 2-6 we stayed Londolozi TREE Camp and FOUNDERS Camp. First day we saw monkeys( I even was chased by one-haha) and when we were going to check in a herd of elephants was waiting for us. Completely felt like I was living in a dream.
The staff-Andrea camp manager, Dean the ranger and our tracker Ray became family.
The kids were always tracking, always writing in journals-no phones no wifi yippee! The staff was incredible.
We would receive wakeup calls 5:30 and spent most of our time on the vehicles. Dean our ranger, once he knew how adventurous our families were, put us right in the action. Kids loved having the back of the defender because they would be jumping in the sky over the bumps hanging on as we were in pursuit of the leopards or wild dogs! The giggles and smiles are lasting memories I will always have.
Every night we sat by a Boma( an enclosure, esp a palisade or fence of thorn bush, set up to protect a camp, herd of animals, etc.), where Nelson Mandela Journaled around a campfire. Londolozi was one of the first places he spent time at after jail. We ate dinner here most nights and heard stories near the campfire. I never wanted days to end!
Londolozi has my heart. The staff made this so memorable. We tracked leopards even saw a kill. We spent 2.5 hours with Wild dogs, waiting for the Alpha Female to wake up and hunt. Our patience worked because we were in hot pursuit and the Wild Dogs chased an Impala into a pond. The Impala knew it could not leave the pond because it was surrounded by the Wild Dogs. However, the Impala had no clue minutes later a huge crocodile would come snatch it. The sound and watching this was like National Geographic! We heard its rare to actually witness kills.
After we watched all this Dean our ranger was adamant we needed to get to a special place to watch sunset. We came over a hill to our very own Boma! They had candy and shakes set up for kids. Wine and appetizers for adults. We were in our own little spot in the wild. Lots of memories and laughs here.
Day 6-9-we spent time in Capetown and a beach escape called Birkenheadhouse in Hermanus. I highly recommend it. The managers and staff were lovely. The kids loved the beach and were able to sleep in. We all relaxed, whale watched before our next Safari.
Day 9-14 -we flew out from Capetown to And beyond property called Phinda Homestead. A 5 bedroom house complete, with staff, butler chef, manager. This place was very special as elephants, wart hogs, impalas, wildebeest & baboons would visit the backyard and pool. We felt so fortunate to spend time here. Was incredible. I bawled on airstrip. I was not ready for Africa to be over. Wade, Benny, William were amazing. We hope you loved learning how to play spoons!
South Africa you have my heart! I will be back soon-next adventure is Trekking with the gorillas.
