Hi everybody,

Sorry for the time between postcards, we have been very busy and who would have known that theres no internet cafes in a safari park!?

We have been very busy since the last update and are both very tired but still enthuiastic little backpackers.

Thursday 

After a 14 hour journey around the suburbs, airports and various Total garages (Douglas and "Tons of Fun" are now our two least favourite tour guides), we finally arrived at the Safari Lodge camp to be welcomed by the owner and dubiously drunk brummie barkeep. We ate food, had a swim and drank various concoctions until the wee hours. We then retired to our shockingly gorgous chalet (see the photos) - this is TRUE backpacking

Friday

Waking up at 5am (thats right, there are two 5 oclocks) we had breakfast and drove to kruger national park. On route, we stopped at a cheetah reserve for poorly cats. We were given a tour around the reserve in Jurassic Park style jeeps and saw cheetahs, tigers, sheep, vultures (always, always circling), baby cheetahs and a chatty african gray bird. Next stop was into Kruger Park, a reserve the size of Denmark containing many species of animals living in their natural habitats but with roads for people to drive round and watch them. We went on a game drive where we saw giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, elephants, impalas (by the thousands) and lots of eagles. We then went and set up camp in a site within Kruger. Upon arrival we found a friendly elephant just outside the perimeter of the camp. After some snacks we went on a night drive. This involved driving round in an open sided van and shining lights into the bushes in the hope of seeing some reflective animal eyes. It was amazing seeing the sunset over kruger and driving around the park at night was very exciting. We did not see a huge number of animals but added bush babies, a leopard, desert cats and more impalas to our list. Back at the camp, we had shepards pie cooked over a camp fire for tea, with toasted marshmallows and sparkly wine for afters. Although camping was fun, we were tempted by the cheap upgrade to spend the next night back in the chalet. This decision was helped by the fact that our lovely new group of friends wanted to do the same. These were James and Gemma, a lovely couple from Manchester who were on a month's diving holiday, Aaron, a crazy Australian pharmasist with more pills on him than a street corner pusher (but in the nicest possible way) and Johnny and Regina, a lovely couple from Malaysia who promised they would take us out for tea in Singapore (we write this here as proof - we know where you live!). Also, Aaron promised us an action packed weekend in Brisbane - the same applies to you!

Saturday

Woke up at 5am on a chilly morning by our good friend Douglas (words cannot describe our feelings about you this morning). All of saturday was spent on game drives around the reserve, stopping for brunch at 10 at a nice site where we were treated to bacon and egg sandwiches and a stop for a swim at a pool around 1, all in Kruger park. At 6pm we left for the lodges. All 7 of our new group of pals were taken back in an open sided wagon as the sun went down. Beer in hand, this was one of the nicest experiences of the trip so far, that will be hard to beat! We spotted a rhino having a dip in a watering hole on the way back and got to stop and get close for photographs. Back at the Chalets, we were treated to a 3 course meal of steak, chicken and pap (African maize based mash potato thingie), followed by dancing from the local tribe's children. This was amazing and individually, all of the men in our group were made to get up and imitate the children's dancing (unfortunately, we dont have a pic of Alec but this is to follow!). All of the girls then got up and danced with the children and Debbie managed to somehow "twist" her way through it! After this, with warning that we were up at 4am for a morning walk, we decided to stay up drinking until 12:30, singing many take that classics and bringing the night to a close with a very relevant rendition of hakuna matata.

Sunday

Woke at 4am (Just) to be taken back into Kruger for a morning walk with two animal trackers. This was the best animal based experience of the trip and a surprisingly effective hangover cure! We followed our guides silently through the park, picking up dung and print trails of lions and elephants. We found the deserted kill of a leopard bleeding freshly from a tree and got within metres of a family of giraffes. Though we did not catch up with the pride of lions, it was very exciting knowing that they were near, especially when the tracker said that he would rather shoot us than one of his lion "brothers" (love that guy). After the morning walk, it was time to move on so we reluctantly left the chalets and jumped in the bus for Neilspruit where we are now.

More updates to follow, weve gotta eat and then get the Bus to Swaziland next!

We hope that you are all well and love you lots

Debbie and Alec