Hey! How is everyone?What is going on in the rest of the world?I watched about an hour of TV today, the first since I left the US, and CNN Asia news kept telling me that there was terror all over the world basically.Not fun.

So today we woke up at 6:30 for a freezing cold 7am game drive.Last night we heard a lot of hippo commotion that I originally thought was just the typical argument over territory…turns out that a male and female lion were hunting in the area.Abraham found tracks this morning.So we went looking for lions.We found a black backed jackal!They usually follow lions to steal some of their food.He looked like a cross between a fox and a dog.We also saw lots of hyena foot prints…they also follow lions to steal food.Unfortunately, we never found the lions. :(Instead we found four different herds of buffalo.Lions usually follow buffalo, but we couldn't find them.These herds of buffalo were huge, but after finding the fourth herd, they're not very exciting.They just stare at you.LolO well.It was still cool to see the lion footprints.

Along our drive, Abraham also pointed out the main trees in the area like teak, bob bob, and combretum (the tree the school was named after).He also pointed out the different types of sand.LolSome of the sand is like the Kalahari, just light brown, and the rest is bright red.

After our drive, we went back and ate our last breakfast at Imbabala with Abraham and Damesh.Again, their food is amazing.We then packed up and headed out.For some reason, Wild Horizons (who booked everything for us) kept thinking that we were on the South African flight even though we told them a million times we were traveling on British Airways.Because of this mix up, they were not there to pick us up!Fortunately, there was another couple there that needed to go to Victoria Falls, so their driver took us.But we had to drop them off first, and then pick up another couple to go to the airport.I was getting a bit panicky because we were quickly running out of time.

The airport was basically a catastrophe today.We got there and didn't know where to go and then when someone showed us they told me that my giraffes would have to be packed with the cargo.They would not stay in one piece with the weight of all of the cargo so he suggested I get them wrapped by his friend for $5 US dollars.So I did that and as soon as they were returned to me he said he spoke to security and they were going to allow me to take it on the plane after all.I think it was basically a way for his friend to get a quick $5.Everything in Zim is expensive!They don't have money, but they don't really understand the US dollar so they try overcharging a lot.And if you pay in Euro they give you change in US without understanding the exchange between the two so you loose money.Anyway, BA does not allow more than one suitcase…this has not been a problem with any other flight we've taken in Africa.So we had to pay $4 per kilo for all of our excess baggage.We were only allowed 23 kilo per person and we had 77 total.We ended up having to pay about $100 extra, but we only had $70 and again there are no banks.Fortunately, they accepted the rest in South African Rand.When we finally got past check-in, we found Maria and Ester, whom we met in Imbabala.Our plane ended up being over an hour late.The plane was coming from Jo'burg and there was some sort of radar problem this morning, so all of their flights were an hour to an hour and a half late.Fortunately we didn't have a connecting flight, but Ester and Maria had to cancel their tour of Jo'burg.After the delay they didn't have enough time.It was very nice talking to them this weekend and in the airport today.I hope that we will keep in touch.

The flight itself was uneventful and we arrived in Jo'burg about 5.They have really heightened security since we were last there.They had a thermal camera to take our temperatures upon arriving at the airport.They do this in the US as well as an eye scan, but they didn't do it in South Africa last time.I was glad I passed because I was worried about all my mosquito bites that I got yesterday in Zim.Additionally, they had security guards walking around with beagles.They were trained to sniff everyone's luggage to check for illegal substances as well as food.They took an apple from Ester.It might be starting in prep for the World Cup.I need to remember to stop at the store before I leave.

We are currently back at the game lodge…in a much warmer room than last time.:)Tomorrow morning we will go to the radio station in Pretoria to meet with Bob Bartz.We fly out at 6 tomorrow night.Home so soon!I'm glad to be going home, but I will definitely miss Africa so so so much!!! Next time, I will have to stay longer.:)

See everyone soon!Miss you and love you,

<3 Shannon