Chasing giraffes

Finally had some time to relax over the last couple of days, which was bloody fantastic – I think half the secret of travelling for any length of time is knowing when to stop for a bit.  Not that there’s been any time for sleeping in, mind you – Africa certainly seems to be one of those places that you go to bed early and get up early.  Not a bad thing really, tho trying to convince my body of that fact is a different story at times.  Or maybe I’m just lazy and don’t like getting out of bed.  One or the other.

In any case, we were up again before 7 yesterday due to a theory about going bike riding before breakfast and seeing the animals (there’s only a fence separating the Marloth Park area from the Kruger, and a fair number of animals make their way under, over or through it in any case.)  Vic & Flippie were a bit later in rising so we didn’t actually get away until later in the morning, but riding alongside the Kruger Park fence near a river made for some great viewing – with a much more intimate feeling than you get in a car or 4WD.  And of course it’s all about being intimate with things that can kill you in a variety of interesting and inventive ways, right?

One of the highlights was coming across a giraffe in the middle of the road … which we weren’t chasing, of course.  Just happened to be going in the same direction as it.  Honest, officer.  It tolerated our presence for a while, until deciding (with a suitably disdainful look) that it really couldn’t be bothered anymore and heading off into the undergrowth (or is it overgrowth when you’re talking about giraffes?).  Had some chill time to read a book and catch up on this blog in the afternoon, then back down to the river for sundowners and lion watching – with my first experience of what I’m sure is the African equivalent of a stretch limo – a couple of chairs in the back of the ute.  There’s no laws that stop you doing it (or if there are, nobody cares round this part of the country) – much like having an open beer in the car.  Makes for some enjoyable journeys in any case.  More great food for dinner (we are really being totally spoiled here, and I’m going to come back from this trip with my own gravitational pull if I don’t stop eating soon…) then pretended to watch the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie through closed eyelids for a while before bed.

Had a fairly similar day today in most accounts – up early for bike riding before breakfast – though this time Flippie’s parents bought the ute, food and braai down to the river as well so yet another gastronomic delight was served up al fresco while watching the lions make a hash  of trying to kill an impala.  We also had the first precipitation of the trip – didn’t last long but still, it’d be fair to say that I saw the rain down in Africa.  Hmm, I feel a song coming on…

Having not ridden a bike for a while and then made a pretty decent effort the last couple of days, I now have sore bits where I didn’t even know I had bits … but I figure any exercise is very welcome when you’re putting away your own bodyweight in fantastic food every day.  And for all the folks out there who love their gardens, just be thankful that you don’t have to worry about zebras tearing up your backyard at home.  Spent the afternoon with a couple of good books, then we took the open-top jeep-type-thing through the local reserve for a couple of hours.  Obviously the ‘local reserve’ has a slightly different meaning here – back home there are signs about not littering and ensuring you pick up your dog poo, while here you get to sign a disclaimer denying any responsibility if you get eaten by any one of a number of hungry predators.  It’s the small things you notice…

Just for something different, another wonderful braii, another few beers and another early night (I’m typing this before 9pm and am the only one still awake – though I’m just about to change that).  We’re driving to Phinda tomorrow which will take about six hours or so, and I’m really looking forward to it.  Night all…

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