Thornybush Game Reserve

After a long, hard summer in deepest, darkest Africa, it was necessary to take it upon oneself to visit the African bush, the low-veld, for a few days. Strenuous business included waking up, writing pieces of an evaluation, visualizing a sermon, and scotch. It's a tough life, but someone has to do it. We did not stay at Thornybush Lodge, but it's amenities are comparable and can be viewed at http://www.thornybush.co.za/

This fellow made it inside our gated off area and just nibbled at the plants. He ate out of Chris's hand at one point.


This cutie decided to threaten our vehicle, so Ranger Joe clapped at him and he backed off.

Momma didn't so much like Joe's clapping, so we hurried backwards, emphatically.


The accommodations included this giant house, overlooking a watering hole.


At night we lounged in these chairs around a fire and had deep theological conversation with our supervisors. It was too chilly to get in the pool.


Our watering hole and resident hippos: one bull, two cows, two calves. We have much to learn from nature.


The wildest of all animals! Leah Marchinkowski! RRRARRRRR!!!


Nice kitty. I was offered R10,000 per pulled whisker.


Buffalo checking us out.


Elephants moving the buffalo.


The matriarch of the herd moving us... quickly. Sasch: Joe, they're still coming, they're speeding up! Steven: It's just momentum down the hill. Sascha: That's what I'm afraid of!
Ears up = aggression


Three kitties, with Sascha to provide a little perspective on how close this was.


Elephants eat a lot, as much as 23 hours a day, so they value nap time in a way 3 year olds should.


L to R: Steven, Chris, George/Leah, Sascha/Zoey, Steven in front of our flashy ride for our sundowner (that's where we stop and have a beer in the middle of our evening drive- in an open area so as not to invite unexpected animal friends)


Our hippos carving out a space at the watering hole in the midst of a buffalo incursion.


Ranger Joe swears the flash doesn't bother them... he was ornery later, but seemed okay at the time. Perhaps his mood was caused by something else!


Steven (not me) trying to feed the hornbill some Doritos.


White Rhinos, including the one who wanted to make sure we knew they had the right-of-way.