Safari with Friends

I decided to get my eyes lasered 2 weeks before we went on holiday.  We were travelling with the Taylors, spending 4 days in Cape Town and 3 days at a safari park in Queen Elizabeth.  We have never visited Cape Town and I loved it.  We stayed at the famous Mount Nelson Hotel, just under Sugar Mountain.

Where it is a must to have high tea.  One day we just wanted a slice of cake and not the full monty, seriously you would have thought we were asking for the crown jewels, but we had come back late from a day out and tea itself was over, but the cakes were still out and we were ready for a cuppa!

We hired a driver and vehicle and toured the Wine Valley, we found a beautiful hotel somewhere out in the middle of nowhere and stopped for lunch.  We didn't particularly want a dinner just a snack and they very kindly accommodated us.  What I remember most is the bread and pudding ice cream that Shelia had, I went for Lemon Souffle and it was the best I have ever tasted in my life.

The scenery in South Africa is stunning, before we have only ever been to the Savannah's.  Cape Horn was so windy but it was worth seeing.

We were swept away by the winds and breathing at times was a little difficult, but I would not of missed this trip.

On another day we went to the Cheetah Rescue centre and for a little extra you were allowed to go in with the cubs then also get up close to a fully grown Cheetah.  Normally I don't think animals should be in cages, but here in South Africa the Cheetahs are dieing out and the whole idea of this centre is to get a birth project underway, as well as taking the cheetahs around to village schools to introduce the beauty of the animal.

Just as we settled for the photograph the Cheetah decided she had had enough and jumped up, it scared the hell out of Gary and I!  After a few moments she settled back down and we just got the one photo.  Believe me this lady could floor me with a paw.  I wonder if this is why I wanted our Bear!

We went from here to Shamwari Game Reserve.  The weather was even colder and worse, the lodge staff were on strike! 

We had organised a private jeep for us, knowing that with 4 as a group it would be easier, also the thought of getting up at 4.00 am to be on the game drives for 5.30 did not appeal to me at all.

On morning the phone rang at 4.00 am as our wake up call, we said we weren't going out till 7am, the operator apologised then rang Brian and said to him, please don't worry you don't need a wake up call.  We laughed so much because he was woken up to tell him he didn't need to wake up!

We weren't that lucky at watching as much game here as we were on previous trips further North, nevertheless we still saw the Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, and the greatest thing of all, in hubby's view, the hippo's.

Watching them play in the Water was Gary's most memorable moment.  It was our last game drive and well worth it.

Outside our lodge with our Ranger

The biggest of them all.  It was hard finding lions in Shamwari, we only saw them twice, much to my disappointment ... oh well there's always another time perhaps!

Our mugs of hot chocolate

We have always been use to Sundown out on safari, where they stop to watch the sunset and you usually have a drink and nibbles to toast another day.  Here it was so cold that we looked forward to our stops just so we could warm our hands on the mugs.