safari sistas

 Tonight we are settled into our log cabin atop a hill at Kragga Kamma Game
Reserve. After a busy day of packing up at Africa Beach B&B, short PE
city tour, and a grocery shopping expedition, we were glad to finally find
and make ourselves home here at Kragga Kamma. Our stress from the hectic day
and all the driving quickly turned to excitement when we were greeted by 4
giraffe serving as a welcoming committee, 2 each on either side of the road..
As we drove through the group, we stopped to take some pictures, and it was
amazing to see how tall they were so close up. It required some major
acrobatics on this photographer’s part to get the 5 meter tall animal in the
viewfinder, when only about 1 meter away – I only ended up with a head and
partial neck shot.
Our excitement grew as we passed a few warthogs on the windy, bumpy road up
to our cabin and when we saw our quaint home nestled among the tress above a
meadow full of impala (but barricaded on 3 sides against the rhino). Our
delight barely even dwindled when Kevin and I spotted a very large (that is,
fist-sized) spider while our guide was showing us around the cabin.
Fortunately, the guide swept the intruder out the door as she bid us
farewell, and we were once again happy as can be…
….for about two minutes.
That’s when we found another spider. Feeling rather bold after watching our
guide deal with the first spider, I got out the broom and tried to chase the
spider away. That’s when we saw another spider. Aaaand another spider…
Amidst Kevin and my shrieking, Jaimi called out from the bathroom: “should I
stay in here, then?”
Feeling rather outnumbered, I abandoned my attempts to chase the spiders out
and the 3 of us re-convened in the main area to consider our options. After
settling on the tactic of “we leave them alone, hopefully they leave us
alone” (realizing we had little other recourse), we went about our unpacking
and dinner preparations.
(continued now by Jaimi…) We ate out on the front porch – very pleasant –
and had the added enjoyment of dinner entertainment. Every time Jill walked
inside and scanned the walls and ceiling, she had a moment of stunned
motionlessness before continuing on her errand. The crowning moment came
when Jill suggested she wash the dishes while I clean away leftovers. Task
#2 dutifully accomplished, I walked into the cabin to hear, “I just can’t be
in here [the kitchen corner]. Harry is too close, Lucy’s diappeared, and
someone new is hanging down between the wall and cabinet. I just can’t do
it.”
So, after reassuring Kevin that there was nothing to be afraid of, we were
able to put him to bed and now we are sitting out on the porch, of course,
where we feel much safer despite our guide’s dire warnings not to venture
more than 2 meters from the cabin. In an attempt to get through the evening
and prepare ourselves for sleep, we’ve started our 2nd bottle of wine. But
be sure we will go to bed tonight with clothespins on our lips. (adds Jill)
Speaking of which, Jaimi just got back after checking on Kevin and says ”
it’s really hot in there…and his mouth was open!”
P.S. we’ve been out here discussing and maybe you can help settle
the debate: candy and chocolate coated biscuit bites…candy or biscuit?

This entry was posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2006 at 11:20 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.