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Kruger





safari



The highlight of my lifetime travel experiences was a trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2019. Andy Leggett and his wife, Darlene invited me to join a group of child and youth care folks on a catered safari based in Letaba Rest Camp.


The local arrangements were made by the Michael Family. One member met through the Gatherings and conferences just happened to have two siblings who are honorary wardens of Kruger, a volunteer education and support group for the park. They had the inside scoop and were able to make all the reservations, plan dinner and breakfast breaks and events for the group. Their attention to detail was incredible right down to post dinner lattes!


The group made their way from various homes in Canada. The journey turned out to be a thrill in and off itself. I flew Emirates from Dubai to Johannesburg on a 380, the double decked jumbo jet. Seeing the crew arrive, some 40+ folks was stunning enough but then the plane they serve was something else. You are given a menu upon sitting and one hostess roved the cabin with an instant camera to snap images of the kids. You only see all the space, seats for as far as you can see never mind the individual pods on the floor above you. Amazingly, it lifts off like silk and flies like an ocean liner.


Johannesburg is a very up to the minute city nestled into many distinct neighbourhoods. We met and recovered at a motel right out of the 20's in a compound. Everyone lives in a compound in South Africa. Our convoy set out for the park.





It takes a village



Rest Camps are just that restful and safe. Guests stay in huts, tents and lodges. Deer, monkeys and birds wander the camp.



Group dining room



This is deep into the South African winter and yet we dined outdoors at a huge brae a few times.





Daily living



Moments of wonder after hours of scanning the horizon.



What do you do on Safari? You STAY in the car between Rest Camps. There was one mountain crest high enough to frustrate large animals and the middle of long bridges where you could get out of the car. Sightings which unlike Canadian Forests are often. They have a spiritual dimension as you ponder the size, scale, and specialized purpose of each exotic animal. You depart after breakfast, take lunch at a Rest Camp and make certain you are back at yours before 5 PM.



elephants just are!



Nothing prepares you for an elephant in the wild, especially pacing your car running parallel . So huge and yet lives on branches.



living the good life



Hippos roar and grunt along as they go about their lifestyle of feeding in the water and lounging on land. Lovely to look at, important to avoid. They have the jaws of death.





Wonderful way to go out





No one knew it at the time but the plan to return in two years was quashed by the international Covid-19 pandemic. The Airbus 380-800's almost literally fell out of the skies as 500+ flying in comfort is a thing of the past. Kruger endures as it always has with the Michael family tending to its stewardship. On behalf of the group thank you again for memories strong enough to beam through a pandemic.



The group



Thank you