BootsnAll Travel Blogs

OK an update: i DID pass the Gmae Ranger course…in fact I got top marks with 83% (I think) WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!

The course was set in the Garonga reserve just outside Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province of RSA, they have 4 of the big 5 (no Buffalo). as previously noted, we had a GREAT sighting of 2 male cheetah which were firstly walking along the road as we approached them, then they walked into the bush at the side of the road and lay around for quite a while and then moved along further scent marking as they went.

We also saw a few lions – both male and female – including one which was following a group of 5 Giraffe as they passed just behind the farmhouse we stayed in. We also had nice views of ellies and a group (raft) of hippos which were sleeping in a river section…these were my first hippo -MAN theyre big!

We also got to see a group of 3 lions hunting a blue Wildebeest on the airstrip out the front of the farmhouse…it got away due to the complete stoopidness of the lions! We saw a couple of hyena with a jackal – which was a bit unusual (HEY! its all blinking unusual to a guy from South Shields!!!!)

We had a change of course leader on the 2nd week of the course: Johan’s wife Natalie appeared to go into labour which meant they had to leave pronto to get to Jo’burg (I think) for medical assistance, meantime Martin stood in for the rest of the course (and helped get the course back on track (sic) as we seemed to be doing less than we thought we should at that point)

warthogs!…they are all over Garonga – and sooo used to being around people that they come thru the eectric fence surrounding the house and graze on the lawn..which means we have to chase them out again (have you seen the size of the tusks on them things??!! )

The rifle shooting was a hoot too: I did well as did just about everyone, I think..particular mention must go to one of the ladies on the course who accidentally fired the weapon before she had it at her shoulder..gave her, Johann and the rest of us quite a shock (luckily it was pointing in the right direction) anyhoo, all praise to Pam for completing the shoot and then going back for more once her nerves had settled

I promise I’ll get photos asap are…

Tags: ACE, chuggy, Travel

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 at 5:45 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.