Day 1: Shimungwe Lodge: Thornybush

After two and a half days of flights, we arrived in beloved South Africa. I'm with my colleagues Jerry and Peggy, and also Candy who is an artist friend of Peggy's. We are spending all of our time out in the bush. Thornybush is as marvelous as ever. We arrived at Shimungwe Lodge and were out for our first game drive at 3:30 PM. We have Lucan as our ranger whom we met last year. He is one of the most knowledgable rangers we've ever had. His brother Daniel is the tracker. Here is a photo of them tracking Lions.

Our first game drive was amazing. We came upon a very chill giraffe and sat with it for about 15 minutes. It was really close to our vehicle--the closest I've ever been to a giraffe.

Lucan then found us a white rhino that was also very relaxed, munching on grass. We sat with it for a long while--and this was also the closest I've ever been to a rhino.

A first for me was seeing this banded mongoose. They move so fast it was amazing that I got a photo.

Even though they are all over the place, I absolutely love these yellow-billed hornbills.

As it grew dark, the moon came out and it was a blue moon. What a welcome back to South Africa!!!

Lucan said he knew a place where a leopard had made a kill and night time was the best time to see it (if it was still near the impala it had taken up into a tree). On our way back to the lodge, Lucan found the leopard and Daniel shined a spot light on it. All I can say is wow!!

This was a perfect ending to our first game drive. Bright and early (6 AM) we were out for the morning drive. We came across a small herd of elephants--always a treat to see.

This youngster came really close to the vehicle. What fun!!!

I know this doesn't look like much--it's a common duiker--one of the many, many antelope in the bush. They are usually running fast and I've never been able to get a photo before. Yay!!

We also came across a small herd of zebra--lovely.

It took a lot of the morning, but Lucan and other rangers were tracking a pride of lions. They were finally found. I think there were about 12 in the pride, but this guy will "represent" for today.

What remarkable first day. I love being out in the bush with these amazing creatures.