Summer Vacay - Day 8

Day 8

After another good night’s sleep its up at 8 a.m. eat a light breakfast, say our thank you's and goodbyes to Lynette (in the middle) and then head off to Phinda – our Safari trip.  

 Uncle Larry is so happy to pack up and get on the road with his new buddy!

 It took 3 cars to get us up there for the 4 days!!

 The trees they 'raise' for paper!

 First pit stop on the road to Phinda - a gas station - no, we didn't eat Wimpy's - :-(

Phinda is about a 3 hour drive from Durban.  David T is driving our car with the Nashes.  He fills us in on the area, the agriculture, and how it has changed in the past years since he moved away.  We enjoy the drive and witness a lot of countryside that reminds us of Hawaii!  This area is filled with sugar cane fields…the reason why the Indian people came from India…as servants/slaves to work the fields.

We arrive at Phinda about 2:00 p.m. and are totally impressed by our surroundings.  Beautiful open and airy main dining areas with shop and bar on the top of a mountain. We are seated for a lunch feast and then at around 3:30 we load up for our 1^st safari.  

 The indoor dining area for breakfast, lunch, snacks and 1 dinner.

 The 'kick it area'.

We have two jeeps and divide up with David, Vasi, and Nashes in one vehicle and David’s Aunti Rani, husband Larry (our new best friend), Aunt Lily, Aunt Jane, Tania and Ashley.  Our driver (ranger) is Sebu and tracker Menzy.  Sebu has been at Phinda for 21 years and Minzy is new at 6 months.  Both are Zulu and just great.  The first afternoon we see a lot!!! There are giraffes, zebra, wharthogs, enala, Kudo….lots of prey for lions, cheetahs and leopards.  Right out the shoot, we see lots of animals!!

buffalo 

giraffe

zebra

blurry giraffe

During our time here our goal is to see the ‘Big 5’ – lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinos.  During our afternoon we get to see lions eating on a warthog they just killed.  One male and two females. It was amazing and our truck was so close we could hear the crunching of the bones and blood on the lions mouths….probably within 10 feet! Amazing!

The lion had to wait his turn to eat - after the lioness -
meanwhile he stared at US - twitching his tail!!!
Yes, very freaky!!

Lioness taking her time.

His turn.

About halfway through our 1st trip out, as the sun was beginning to set, we stopped and setup our 'beverage table', the other half of our group arrived and we all enjoyed a 'happy hour' in the bush! I can already tell, this is going to be a rough trip!! hahah!!

Our gang

After our 1st time out - probably around 3 - 31/2 hour ride - we come back and check into our rooms.  These rooms offer plenty of privacy...and are deluxe...including our very own 'plunge pool'!


I think he likes it!!



Kind of dark, but you get the gist!




Truly beautiful and deluxe to the max. 


They warned us of these little guys - ready to come into our room!!

We unpack, get cleaned up and get ready for dinner..... it's in an area that reminds us of the tv show – Survivor – with tiki torches and flames all in the open air with a firepit and lots of stonework BBQ area…..I think he likes this too!! 

 Telling them EXACTLY how he wants it done!!

 Fire pit time!

David T. told them it was my birthday so they brought us a beautiful chocolate cake, singing the birthday song. Yea, I think I'll remember this 50th birthday for many years to come! I was pretty surprised!!

In the evening, a "man with a gun" walks us back to our 'cottage'.  We are not allowed to walk alone. As we open our door, another birthday surprise!!! About a dozen candles were lit, leading the way to our tub filled with a hot bubble bath waiting for us!!  I mean really….this place is over the top.  We enjoy the bubble bath and champagne before turning in.....and will continue to do so every night - yes, taking full advantage of our stay!! :-0

Really an unbelievable place….and an over the top 1^st day.  We’ll get a 6:00 a.m. wake up call for tomorrow’s early ride.