Snapshots from Africa, Page One

This is the first time I've been able to log into my blog since I arrived in Africa a few days ago, which I would specify if I knew what today was.

I am at a private animal reserve 2-1/2 hours north of Johannesburg in what is called "bushveld,"  trees and grasslands.  The lodge is Mabula Game Lodge.  We go on three hour safaris each morning at 5 am and each evening at 4:30, guided by a Zulu named Francis.

So, I'll be posting some photos here for now because I don't know how long this internet connection will work or when the megabytes I paid for will expire.  When I return to Alaska, I'll tell you more about my adventures (like being trapped in a stairwell in the Joh-burg hotel.   So fat today--and it's just 10 AM--I've had three adventures, not including the blue dung beetles.

White Rhino

Male Impala

Oryx

Oryx

Hippo

The most dangerous of the Big Five, the Cape Buffalo

A medium size porcupine quill, about 8 inches long.

BlueWildebeest

The elusive lioness

Chameleon

Red Hartebeest in the shade.

Add captionBaby Impala, maybe 2 weeks old, very unusual for this time of year.

Male and female lions

Kudu

Today's sunrise

Babboon on lodge grounds

Lioness watching nearby Impala

Hippo and baby

Lioness in trail