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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Day 5: Kruger National Park

Please note: the photos in this post are a bit fuzzy because of the program I used to upload my blog post from my iPad. You can click on each photo for a clearer view. 


I left Johannesburg today with a group from International Quilt Convention - Africa, headed for Kruger National Park.


With fabulous art quilter Dena Crain of the U.S. and Kenya, waiting for the airport shuttle.


Agnes, the quilter I met earlier in class, was loading up a truckload of batting outside.


The Johannesburg airport is very modern and spacious.


After a short flight (about 55 minutes), we landed in Nelspruit. Here are photos of the airport.




















We were picked up and transported into Kruger. Here are some photos from along the way.

















We crossed Crocodile Bridge. See that tiny speck on the sandbar? Yep, that's a crocodile!


Once inside the park, we found it teeming with wildlife, like these wildebeest:


Elephant:


African Cape Buffalo (the white birds eat the ticks from their skin):


Needless to say, we arrived at Camp Shisangeni very excited. It serves as the base camp for several lodges.


We were greeted by a beautiful cocktail of orange and blood orange juice.


Jennifer Keltner, executive editor of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine, enjoys her drink:


A warthog grazed nearby:








Our driver came to transfer us to Shonga Lodge:


On the way, we spotted a rhino:


Henry greeted us with another refreshment at Shonga Camp:

















This is the electric fence that stands between us and the beasties:





On the way to our rooms:


Oh, they were so amazing!











After lunch, we went out on our first safari, and we're incredibly lucky to see a leopard up in a tree:





Jodi Barrows, her husband and son, in their vehicle:



Vervet Monkey:


Hornbill:


Long-tailed shrike:


African Cape Buffalo:














We head down toward the river, where we could see the enormous body of a dead hippo.











And at dusk, we came upon a group of lions, including these two cubs:








After an elegant dinner on the deck of the main building, it was off to bed. We will be up early for another safari.



2 comments:

  1. Oh Susan these are such lovely photos. Truly the kind that makes me wanna say "Wish I was there too!"

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am traveling backwards in your posts...no matter which way it is just all around fantastic!

    Thanks again for taking the time to share these fabulous photos!
    oxo

    ReplyDelete

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