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Hippo Safari #250222 05/25/18 06:25 PM
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Ngaire Online OP
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On Wednesday we are leaving for the first Hippo Group. We will as always post pictures during the safari.

I did want you all to know that we had a cancellation for the Group Two Safari on Tuesday of this week. An impossible task to fill within days of departure. Clay and I always try to never be out at the same time - only happened twice in the last six years. A safari and Frolic.

However, this situation ended up with Clay, Brooke and his son Connor joining us on the Hippo Group Two safari. Of course I am really looking forward to having that time with my family but it is a stress on the office. So we will both be out from June 7 to June 24.

So if you need anything that can wait until Clay gets back on June 24th we would really appreciate you contacting us after he returns. I will be back on June 26th. If you need to book a cruise or your cruise is within the next six months and something has to be done then email our regular emails and our office will be checking and sharing the responsibility to handle urgent manners.

Sorry about this - we do like to have one of us here to assist you at all times this just happened out of the blue!

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250224 05/25/18 10:23 PM
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Alice and I are leaving tonight. We arrive at LAX at 10 pm and will stay overnight in the Hyatt. Tomorrow we fly to Johannesburg, connecting through Dubai. We will be spending time at Tswalu before meeting up with the rest of Group 1. Tswalu is in the "Green" Kalahari area with open savannas. There we will see different animals --- meerkats, ardvarks, pangolin (if we're lucky), etc. We are so excited to be heading back to South Africa! We're looking forward to meeting new friends and getting back together with "old" friends!

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: seadog] #250225 05/25/18 11:00 PM
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Bon Voyage HIPPOPOTAMI!

Can't wait until we can return to Africa, too!



Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250226 05/26/18 12:04 AM
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Kim - you and Alice will love Tswalu. We were there last year and what an amazing experience it was. Just so different from our usual safaris.

Something that may interest you - 6 of us went on an all day safari, had lunch out. It was fantastic, one of those memorable days. We all still talk about it.

Have a wonderful time, we follow on from you so still another 10 days or so before we leave. Can’t wait.


Sheila and Ken
Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250227 05/26/18 01:10 AM
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Safe travels to my fellow Hippos! We don’t leave until Wednesday and will do Tsawlu at the back end. Maybe we will meet Clay? See you soon Kim and Alice!
—————————-
Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250228 05/26/18 04:21 AM
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Thanks for that info, Sheila. That sounds awesome! Almost unbelievable to think about an experience like that.

Can’t wait to see you Helen! Wish we could have done Tswalu on the back end too, but saving a vacation day by going over Memorial Day.

Flight to LA is delayed . Probably be arriving at midnight. Ugh. But we can sleep in.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250232 05/26/18 02:31 PM
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Ngaire Online OP
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You will be with Paul and Susan and David and Cindy. You will have ball together! Say hello to my wonderful meerkats!

If there is a female ranger ask her if her name is MARALIZE we really enjoyed her. So she will remember us she drove so fast to get to see the new tiny cheetah cubs - something I had wanted to see for 15 years. We spent about 45 minutes with them the only vehicle there. We were there in 2016 a group of about 10 or 12 and all coming back next year with a full camp when they open up in June, 2019 after the refurbishment.

Other rangers, Nelson a black guy had an incredible sense of humor, and Kyle the prankster. All different all great. We have been there twice now and always had great rangers.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250234 05/26/18 03:17 PM
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Oh great!!! We thought no one else from group 1 was doing tswalu on the front end. This is so awesome!!! We are even more excited now!

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250235 05/26/18 05:21 PM
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Testing new way to post photos:
UBBcode

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250236 05/26/18 05:25 PM
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Yay!! Posting on iPhone not the easiest thing. But I found a website called imgbb.com that you can upload photos to and get the BB code for posting in forums.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250237 05/26/18 07:33 PM
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Kim that is great. You need to show me that when we see each other in JNB. Looking for meerkat or wild dog pictures - first picture of Hippo - any animals.

If there was a contest for the BEST acronym it would have to be HIPPO. Hoping Its Prime Predator Observation. I loved it! Simple and that is exactly what we are all hoping for. KIM'S BRILLIANCE.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250251 05/28/18 05:34 AM
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Good morning from Johannesburg!! We are relaxing in the Intercontinental Hotel at the airport. Our flight from Dubai landed on time and we were met by a lovely young woman who escorted us through immigration and to the hotel. It was a long long way from LA to Dubai (16 hrs) to Jo’burg (8 hrs) , but everything went so smoothly, we’re happy travelers!

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250252 05/28/18 12:20 PM
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Ah I am so excited for you as you leave for Tswalu today. Let the adventure begin!

Tswalu we have had SUCH a good time on both of our stays, Ken and I are sitting here kicking ourselves for not also doing Tswalu on this trip. Do not forget to say hello to Marileze female ranger for me if she is there. Really enjoyed her drives and company.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250253 05/28/18 08:48 PM
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I agree. Tswalu was the best . One day I got to go out by myself with Marileze. She is a gem. I got to spend as long as I wanted watching Cheetah cubs and their mother. Tswalu is so different from the other camps. This camp is all about preserving the animals but also making the lives of those who work for them and live around them better. Enjoy. The animal sightings from our patio were also great.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250254 05/30/18 11:00 AM
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What a lovely place we are at! Tswalu is living up to everyone’s accolades.

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Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250255 05/30/18 01:05 PM
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Great photos! It sure looks pretty. Even the small plane is adorable.


Marcie

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250256 05/30/18 01:26 PM
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Oh boy! Is that a meerkat ho-down going on? We leave this afternoon on BA via LHR. We arrive Johannesburg 7 am on Friday. . So excited to see the Kalahari lions and of course those dancing meerkats😀.
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Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250257 05/30/18 05:17 PM
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Looks like a great safari so far. Two male lions -they may be the same to that were "getting it on" never seen that with lions before. Cheetah and Meerkats. Now wild dogs and a pangolin.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250258 05/30/18 08:22 PM
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We had a great wild dog experience this afternoon! We waited, waited, waited for the Wild
Dogs to get active. Once they did, we followed them for quite awhile through the bush. They tried to go after some springbok but seemed very confused. Eventually, after a long time thrashing around in the bushes, a heard of springbok was pronging like crazy all over the place. The dogs had split up and at one point a couple of them took off . It was pretty dark by now and I had trouble seeing. But our ranger was chasing after them exclaiming his shock that the dogs were actually running, chasing a cheetah. Well, the cheetah had managed to get up a tree for a second, long enough to evade the dogs. Then jumped down and took off , well, like a cheetah. What had happened was, the cheetah had made a kill of a springboard, the dogs had come upon it. They chased the cheetah off. Then all dogs made a meal of the springbok in about 10 minutes.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250259 05/30/18 08:32 PM
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Hi [Linked Image]
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Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250260 05/30/18 10:15 PM
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I want to be there. DOGGIES cannot get better than that. Loving your pictures. We are about to board with big SMILES on our faces. Bet you six are having a blast.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250263 05/31/18 02:48 AM
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So envious! I would love to see all of those animals in the wild, but I have to say that meerkats are my favorite. Have a wonderful time!!!


Kristin

Paul Gauguin's Tere Moana-12/14
Voyager-10/08, 11/10
Navigator-05/07, 5/09, 10/11
Paul Gauguin-6/06, 12/07
Silver Shadow-12/06
Silver Whisper-11/05, 12/04
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Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250264 05/31/18 02:49 AM
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We are at the BA lounge in LAX waiting to begin. (They have a taco cart in here!? Is that British?)
Can’t wait to meet up with the other Hippos.
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Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250265 05/31/18 02:50 PM
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What a great start. Your picture make me even more anxious for the week to pass so we are there. People think we are crazy for going back every year but those of you who have been there understand. No two days are alike. Enjoy your days at a special place

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250266 05/31/18 02:55 PM
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We are in Doha. Left DFW at 5.00 pm. Watched a movie, dinner and got sleepy at 8.30 pm slept like a log until 5.30 am. 9 hours sleep!!! Never stirred not even for the bathroom. Now that’s a great flight.

Now in Doha here overnight at the airport in the gate area and going to my favorite restaurant in the airport for a chicken dish I love. Then a day flight to JNB. Then off to Oceans Basket for dinner it is located in the JNB airport. One more night and then MALA MALA.

Life is definitely good.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250273 05/31/18 05:07 PM
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Lucky! We had a cabin full of over tired screaming toddlers. Seems like lots of people have decided 2 tix in Biz class is better than 3 seats in coach, so the rest of us have to tolerate little ones who DONT WANT to sit on moms lap for 10 hours.
In LHR waiting for our flight which is delayed a bit. Scheduled to arrive Johannesburg at 730 am. See you all soon. Probably not in the lobby bar at that hour though?
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Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250274 05/31/18 08:11 PM
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Our charter flight departs Tswalu at 10:20AM and arrives at the Fireblade terminal at 11:50AM. Then it’s about a15 minute drive to the Intercontinental Hotel. See you soon!!! The restaurant and bar are open 24 hours!!

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250275 06/01/18 12:37 PM
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It is Friday afternoon and the Tswalu pre-Safari group is back in Johannesburg. We had a spectacular time at Tswalu. On the charter flight back to Johannesburg, the Chairman of Tswalu and the project manager for the renovation were seated behind Alice and me. They were very interested to hear from us about our impressions and what we thought should be done as part of the renovation. It help time pass quickly. However it was difficult to think of anything to say that could be improved upon!

Yesterday’s sightings were so fun! We finally saw an aardvark, although it was at a distance. And we skipped the sundowner in order to go where a pangolin had been spotted. We arrived after dark, and it was laying down. But mission accomplished!!

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Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250276 06/01/18 01:34 PM
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We met up with Richard and Lori on our flight from LHR which was much quieter than our flight from LA! We are now ensconced in the Intercontinental at the airport. Taking a nap and a shower before we head to the lobby bar to see who we find.
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Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250277 06/01/18 05:53 PM
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[Linked Image]

So we go to the newly renovated Oceans Basket that had just opened again for dinner tonight. Much more extensive menu. We ordered and lady pictured came over and was really engaging. We told her how much we liked oceans basket and come every year. She told us how it started in a shack with a tiny investment under $100.

We asked if she was the Manager she said actually she was CEO of the entire group. We all just hit it off. So first she said we need Bubbly to celebrate. We said “ no not necessary” but no stopping her. She comes out with two bottles one white one rose. We drank the white and we said that was enough but she had the foil off the Rose but we stopped her from popping the cork. So she said she would give it to the cooks. Now she said, “you all need something sweet”. We were all full and said no but she brings over the menu and was highlighting the desserts. She would not take no for an answer. So most got desserts.

She wanted to do a video to send to the man who started Oceans Basket. So I talked and Richard talked.

I love this restaurant, the food is so good and very reasonably priced. It is always a highlight of our trip. Basically become a ritual for us. South Africans are just genuinely wonderful people and I have found this year after year.

The timing was perfect to be there for the opening which in turn was probably why the CEO was present. It was a very special night we were joined by Kim, Alice, Helen, Jerry, Lori and Richard. The dinner was made remarkable by the warmth and hospitality of the lovely, charming woman pictured above. Her name was Grace and that was a perfect name she was full of grace. As we left we also met the owner of this location.

Coming back to the hotel we found David and Cindy at the bar. So nice to see everyone I cannot wait to arrive at Mala Mala tomorrow


Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250278 06/01/18 06:11 PM
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Fun dinner at Ocean Basket in JNB with me,Jerry, Ngaire, Ken, Richard , Lori and Kim and Alice.
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Helen

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250280 06/01/18 06:33 PM
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Very jealous of the dog/cheetah/springbok sighting, Kim. I know you all will have a wonderful time. Wish we were there, but we leave for a family Alaska cruise in 1 1/2 weeks.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250281 06/02/18 11:23 AM
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We are here at Mala Mala. Bruce, Daniel and Fritz are all here and one new guy Liam. The new Managers seem very nice. Waiting for lunch now and then off on our first game drive for 2018.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250283 06/02/18 01:16 PM
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Happy the gang all arrived safe and sound and now you're back at Mala Mala....LOVE that camp ! Cheers to lots of fun and good sightings.


Marcie

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250287 06/02/18 06:30 PM
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Didn’t know they have new managers. Glad you are breaking them in before we get there. Anything else different? Really doesn’t matter just so sightings are good. Send a weather report with temperatures please.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250290 06/02/18 08:25 PM
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We were on our vehicle with two people that have never been on safari before. That is always fun. Very quickly we saw a leopard. In thick grass it was not a great sighting but we stayed a while hoping she might get up. Then we left and saw some pretty good wildebeest that were not skittish. Pretty calm game drive and it was starting to get late. Then we found a pair of mating lions. Pride consists of four males and six females. They moved around but no action took place. Big male very black mane but a scarred up face.

We left the mating pair and went to see the rest of the pride. The lions walked down slowly to the river. Male coming up the rear. They crossed the river right in front of us and did a walk by. (Where they walk really closely to the vehicle). We lost them as they went into an area we could not go. But we circled around and found them again. It was dark now so we followed them with the lights. I always love following cats you never know what will happen. Then it got exciting. The lions started running. How these guys drive in the dark, hold the light, miss the trees and potholes and keep up with the lions is beyond me. The concern was that they were heading straight towards the leopard we saw earlier. Then a lot of growling. And one lioness came and sat right in front of our vehicle with a leg in its mouth. It was not a fresh kill so the ranger thought it was a kill from the leopard. The male arrived and he charged the female with the leg. The noise they make when charge let’s you know how powerful these lions are. He was right next to our vehicle. Time for dinner so we left and saw another leopard on the way out.

Great first day, quiet at first but then finishing with great excitement. Kens pictures will follow later. Other vehicles saw rhino, elephants and Cape Buffalo.

Great afternoon. Light wind very comfortable. Water in the river but not a lot like we have seen before but not a drought either.

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250291 06/03/18 12:33 PM
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Some fun at MalaMala:

A stack of kudu, young male elephants practicing fighting,

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Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250293 06/03/18 07:09 PM
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First full day at Mala Mala and what a great day it was! On the morning drive which we took with Ngaire and Ken, elephants digging thru the sandy river bed to get water. The little baby was losing more than he was getting into his mouth and his mother would smack him upside the head each time he dribbled water everywhere! A young leopard just kind of enjoying the sunshine while ignoring us. After breakfast we took a ride to the main camp and had a tour of the refurbished rooms there. Then the highlight of the day: on the pm drive with Richard and Lori, we saw giraffes “necking”. This behavior involves 2 giraffes battering each other with their heads and necks. This was something Jerry has always wanted to see so he was very happy. It’s a pretty impressive display. After we left the giraffes we saw more baby elephants and a hippo and were then treated to a graphic demonstration of lion-love by the resident couple of mating lions. Also pretty impressive! On our way back to camp, the trees were full of maribou storks. A pretty good day in the bush!
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Helen

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WOW, a good day indeed. So happy that you're having such good sightings. Thanks Kim for posting your photos...I love living vicariously though the postings and photos. clap


Marcie

Re: Hippo Safari [Re: Ngaire] #250295 06/04/18 08:47 AM
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Enjoying our time so much here at Mala Mala. Hard to even remember what we saw this morning. Highlight for us was a mother and baby elephant in the river bed where they had dug down to water. Mum was doing great, hardly dropping a drip. Junior on the other hand got the water but could quite master getting it all in his mouth. He gave us a few shakes of the head, trunk up. I love young elephants.

We were looking for a female leopard with cubs in the afternoon could not find her. We did see rhino and mating lions at the end of the day. Other vehicles saw a large herd of buffalo, necking giraffes, a big male leopard and good elephant.

Food seems to be better than ever. Eating too much I have to cut back.

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