Toddler on Safari

-Part 2 of the catch up entries...We have finished Zambia and are at our apartment in Cape Town for the week. We will try to get a Zambia/Cape Town entry out soon.

  Sorry, for the delay in journal entries.  We arrived in Greater Krueger Park late Monday night to find out we do not have internet; a blessing and an inconvenience at the same time.  Our drive into the park was full of anticipation.  Luckily, we did not see any animals while driving the 30 minute trek down a dirt path in our luxurious Kia circus car.

  We rested most of the next day and our adventure began that night.  We decided to take Anabel on the 3.5 hour safari drive just to see how she did.  Surprising the animals and Pooh Bear kept her attention.  She fell asleep on Josh about 2 hours in and that was it.  YAY!  Safari with a toddler…check.  Josh and I decided to stay an extra night at this amazing resort, so we were there 5 days and 4 nights.  The resort offers two safari tours per day (6am and 4pm).  As a family we have gone to all the afternoon/evening tours.  Josh and I would take turns on the morning drives.  Together we have seen the following animals, some very close and personal: African Lion (walked right by car)-Anabel said “come here kitty cat”, African Elephant, Wildebeest, White Rhinoceros, Chacma Baboon, Greater Kudu (Anabel thinks it is Bambi), Impala (also Bambi), Nile Crocodile, Southern Giraffe, Baboons, Warthog, Porcupine, Giant Eagle Owl and a very personal night spotting of a leopard as we got between it and its prey mid-hunt. We even had a tree squirrel sipping on my spilled hot chocolate this morning. Overall, Krueger Park has been an amazing experience for all of us.  We love South Africa. Tomorrow, we drive back to Johannesburg to spend the night and then head to Zambia. Our goal is to microlight over Victoria Falls.

View from the front of our chalet, the fence is for elephants, but didn't stop lions the last night there

Anabel on her first game drive, a bit nervous, looking for what might be chasing the giraffe

Anabel takes her cue from the lions and settles in for a nap

Mom and dad took the last morning off and gave Anabel to a sitter...it netted some free time with this guy

And now some animals:

Maybe they won't notice us behind these bushes

The tracker is very comfortable with the lions, of course he doesn't have much choice

Now tired from spending the morning rolling in elephant dung

The lionesses don't seem bothered by us either

Michaele gives being a tracker a try

Anabel can now:

Count to 10.

Use the potty (for number 2).

Identify 30 animals.

Sleep while a lion is 10 feet away from her.

Oh yeah, fun fact about Turkey: dinner for two with drinks and dessert, $5…freshly squeezed orange juice, $0.55.

Anabel giggling at the idea that she is Cinderella on her carriage ride through Izmir

Much love.  Bye for now, JAM