Our three days at Kapama Game Preserve......

Well, I thought that would get your attention.  This is a photo from our first morning game drive.  Gory details to follow but first a bit of back story.

Tony shepherded us to the airport this morning.  Our group is the first to scatter.  To a person, I believe we have all been sick in one form or another.  Even last night, Tony announced Well, you took down Johnny!

So this morning we have a new bus driver, poor innocent lamb.  I feel like warning him... It's not too late to escape. Actually, I feel we are all so saturated with antibiotics that we are no longer contagious. No problems at the airport.  There were hugs and some goodbye smooches with Tony.

We have a three hour flight on a turbo prop South African airline plane.  Since it is a domestic flight there is none of the dreaded bug bomb today.  We wait forever on the tarmac for catering before we can leave.  One interesting feature was the lavatory, so small it was like stepping into a grandfather clock.

We fly over a ridge of mountains and drop down into the low veldt.  Carryons were dragged across the tarmac into the terminal, which is about the size of a small ranch style home.

Here we meet Louise, who will be our ranger at the reserve.  She is in her mid-twenties from Johannesburg, five hours away by car.  Both her parents were safari enthusiasts and she accompanied them throughout her childhood, choosing this as a career path.

A tractor tows our luggage out front and with all pieces accounted for, we pile into a van for the trip to the lodge, nestled in the heart of the Kapama Private Game Reserve.

Seems there was a bit of misleading advertising going on at Odyssey.  We all felt we would base out of Kruger National Park, but that is not true.  Our private reserve is outside of the park.  When I see the lodge, all will be forgiven.

Kapama is 38,000 acres of reserve that house five camps.  We are headed to the Southern Camp today and the ride is about 20 minutes from Hoedspruit Airport, the former Eastgate Airport for the military.

Entering the compound, we are floored by the beauty of the camp, all grey concrete and stacked stone, nestled into the landscape.  Ringed with brick walkways and subtle but bright lighting, it is a serene setting.

The library with interiors

The Bar

The front entry

We are led to the bar, an open air lounge with comfortable seating, to receive our keys and wifi instructions.  There are none, no password required, just log in.  How nice!

Trailing our carryons, we head down the brick path to bungalow #4.  It is an a-framed structure with a horn for the door knob. A pressure doormat lights up the door at night. Our greeters were two impalas, snacking in our large front yard.

Welcoming committee

The door opens to a beautiful suite with marble floors, grey concrete walls, some stuccoed white into which are pressed bits of straw.  The rush ceiling is supported by wooden beams where the glass of the a-frame looks up to the blue sky.  Sheer drapes run the length of the suite with cowhide rugs scattered here and there.  The decor is spare with a basket or two and slim, elegant wooden figures on the walls of the fireplace and bathroom.

The bathroom has stacked stone walls, deep vessel sinks and futuristic faucets.  A soaking tub and terry hassock look inviting. A frosted glass pocket door offers some privacy.

The walk in rain shower also communicates to the outdoor shower adjacent to the back patio and pool area.  Well furnished for either sunning or lounging, the chairs overlook the four foot pool, which may attract animal guests.  All toiletries and bath salts are by Charlotte Rhys, the Jo Malone of South Africa.

We don't have too much time to get organized before we  meet in the bar for high tea before our first game drive at 4:30.  We'll be gone around three hours.  There is a tasty assortment of sandwiches, tarts and cakes accompanied by iced tea and iced coffee and juices.

 I can't resist having about four ounces of wonderful iced coffee.  I am not sure about the schedule for stops.

Ricky, our tracker

Our group of twelve is divided into two diesel jeeps of six. Made by Toyota, they are the most well designed for entry and exit that we have used to date.  We will be driving without a topper, but blankets and macs are in each seat back pocket.

Soon we are out in the beautiful landscape of red roads and wide open spaces alternating with little gorge trails and water holes, all filled to the brim from yesterday's heavy rains that moved in from the Indian Ocean.  That system has now moved on to Joburg.

Our first siting were some giraffes.  Trust me, the only way to get a good giraffe picture is if they are emptying their bladders or munching on something very delicious. Otherwise, they generally give you their backside and move away.

In just a few turns down the road, we find ourselves surrounded by elephants.  Two young males are fighting and keep at it.  This being a matriarchal society, they may find themselves banished for a while if they keep it up.

Ricky, our tracker, was quite jostled by the experience...may have to stop using that banana lotion on his legs!

This little guy kept rubbing against my leg.  We were warned, No Touching!  He didn't get the memo!

We had a very unusual siting of white rhino this afternoon, followed by our Sundowner, or cocktail hour at sunset.

We are home in the dark where a lovely dinner awaits in the Boma Center, an open air dining room build around a roaring fire pit. Wonderful singers dance out with champagne and glasses for an anniversary couple setting near to us.  Great music!

The grill master works the entrees and starters and dessert are served buffet in the mini pavilion.  Neither of us are very hungry so we pick a little and head to the hot showers.  Wakeup call is 4:30.....but tomorrow is all about lions!