Friday September 5th, 2014- Port Elizabeth, South Africa Ukhozi lodge day 2

We started out today on the hunt for buffalo. We started at the lodge with coffee and greeting our friends, then headed out towards the mountains with the promise of buffalo. It was a freezing cold morning as the wind hit our face. I was already bundled up in a blanket and jacket as I was bumped along the way. We went in search for the buffalo, and after several hours, we found them hiding in a herd of wildebeest. After such a long journey, it was nice to see them. We turned around, and found an open area to stop off for some coffee, and snacks while we warmed up in the morning sun. Afterwards we headed back to the lodge. On the way back our ranger offered us the opportunity to go canoeing. I happily agreed and so did our friends. We were given about 30 minutes to change into the appropriate gear, store our electronics, and head back. We drove to a neighboring reserve where we were walked down to the private river. That’s where the fiasco starts.

Brad had assured me that he had a lot of experience with canoeing as a boy scout growing up. While we were getting prepared, I looked over to see a elephant on the banks of the river foraging. I was so excited to get in, and see it closer. We grab the canoe and guide it into the water as our friends drifted slowly away down the river. Imogene helps Brad into the boat, by placing it next to the dock, Brad puts one foot in, then the other. As he’s trying to sit, he nearly sits on Imogene’s head. Unfortunately, he loses balance and in slow motion I see him go “TIMBER” into the river. The boat tipped, and Brad fell face first into the river. I screamed if he was okay, as he pops his head up… “It’s okay, I had my mouth closed.” I couldn’t help but laugh, it was quite a scene. I asked if Brad was okay, and he assured me he was fine however I see his hat floating down the river. Brad looks at it, looks at me and says ” can you get my hat?” In my mind I thought, “uh, okay… sure.” I carefully place one foot in front of the other on the highest part of the banks that I could and instantly felt the problem.. I could feel myself sinking in. One flip flop got caught in the mud, which I extracted and threw on the dock. Then moved slowly to the hat which was further in, and in some reeds. I got closer to the hat, and finally extracted it, but not before going knee deep into the dirt. Brad threw me a paddle and pulled me out, and in a second attempt I got my shoe from the mud. I made my way carefully to the dock, where I placed both flip flops on and cleaned up. The good news is, with that much water on me, I was instantly cooled down from the hot summer day. Imogene and I attend to the flipped canoe, by taking it up the beach and dumped out the water. Brad entered the canoe for a second time by getting on in the shore, and Imogene pushed him out where I got on. I got in quickly and smoothly. Imogene pushes us out, and we’re no more than a few inches from the dock when I suddenly notice the boat tipping. I leaned on my right (it was leaning to the left) and within milliseconds we’re tipped to the left. Brad’s laughing, I’m laughing, but we’re both okay. Imogene helps us pick the boat back up, drag it to shore. Where it took the two of us to lift it and to empty out the water. We were both soaked, but laughing/ blaming each other. We tried without success to have her settle the argument of whose fault it was. Brad looked down and saw that he was bleeding, and examined myself to see that I was too. We washed it off with some bottled water, and disinfected it with medications where we bandaged it up. Imogene offered to go again with us but I refused because I didn’t want to prove Brad right or wrong. Another group came along just as our friends were coming back to shore. We were curious if it was just the boat or if it was us. Our friends came back laughing because they could hear Imogene and I laughing all the way down the river. I guess that also scared off the elephant as well. We all packed up, and headed back to the lodge.

At the lodge Brad took his turn in the shower first, while he was cleaning up I sat on the Balcony where I heard some rustling from the trees outside. It was my friend Digler, the giraffe! He came by our cabin, where he relieved himself outside our neighbors cabin, then hung around snacking on a neighboring tree, and drinking from the pool. I kept yelling to brad to come out and check it out, but to no avail. Finally it was my turn in the bathroom where I cleaned up, disinfected my foot again, and bandaged it up.

We met with everyone again where we had a quick lunch, followed by a nap at the room (for me)… omg, canoeing the way we did sure takes some of the steam out of you. Then off again for an evening drive, this time to find some female lions. We all loaded up in the vehicle where we set off to the mountain side again! It was quite fun. We drove for about an hour, everyone searching their sides of the vehicle hoping to see the tan shapes in the grass and trees. We finally get word that they females were on the move down the mountainside and one group actually is reversing down the mountains so they won’t interfere. We show up where brad spots them on the other side of the mountain (further down the road). After waiting patiently, there they were… right in front of us! We followed them for a while, watching their muscular physique as they walked for a while, stopped and sniffed then relaxed. Their tan coats, had the same color as Toby, but about 4′ tall… and BUILT! The youngest female would stop often, usually in shade and it looked like they hadn’t eaten recently. While admiring them from a distance behind, we saw the older female go into the bushes, and a moment or two later, up the road, some warthogs went running like a bat out of hell down the road. We thought the younger lion would chase after them, but she only stood up and alerted the others. They walked into the bushes where we lost them. We then turned around where we drove for about 10 minutes or so to a clearing (far away from the lions) where we grabbed some drinks and watched the sun set over the tree line. It was very beautiful. After drinks we jumped back into the land cruiser where we “Indiana Jonesed” back to the lodge. It was a lot of fun. We were greeted with hot towels, and a drink which tasted like sprite soda.

For dinner we all dropped our gear off at the cabin, and headed back to the lodge where I dined on chicken schnitzel. It was my first time having it, and it was quite delicious. It was Tony’s 50th birthday so it was no longer a family style dinner. For dessert the staff serenaded him with their rendition of happy birthday, where he shared his cake. SO GOOD!

We hung out for a while, talking, laughing, and swapping stories before heading back to the room where we packed up and slept.