Hi, people!
Early tomorrow morning we begin our venture to the "Dark Continent" and are anxious to do so.
Hopefully we will be able to keep everyone informed of our travels and sightings, so stay tuned, one and all. We will get as much stuff out as we can as well as encourage our safari companions to do the same. The two of us are more into photography than blogs, but we will try to support both modes.
There has been a question circiling among we participants for months, "Have we left yet?!" Well, here we go!
TopBroomrider and Pillman64
(Otherwise known as Ed and Linda Bean)
We are anxiously awaiting our departure on 05 May. Although we're not looking forward to the long flight, we can't wait to touch down in Africa. It is simply amazing to even think about it!
Many thanks to Lisa, Mary, and all at NG for helping to make our adventure even more fun and exciting (is that possible?).
We'll certainly try to keep in contact with all the pondies while we're on safari. The warm good wishes of all the pondies and NG staff meant a great deal to us.
Are we there yet?
Cheers!
Randall & Pat Schneider
Only two and one-half hours until the car picks us up for the airport. We're flying out of JFK and that's always a zoo.
We can't wait to get to Joburg and finally meet the pondies we've been exchanging emails with for months.
My heart is in my throat (has been for a few weeks now) and I only slept about two hours last night. I'm keeping the bottle of pepto bismol close for the thousands of butterflies I'm feeling.
Are we there yet??
Randall & Pat
I'd like to thank everyone for their best wishes and for the great bon voyage party. This safari will be the trip of our lives. We wish all the pondies were coming along, but we're sure you'l be there with us in spirit.
Have we left yet?
I am packing and off early in the morning tomorrow, arriving Joburg in the afternoon on Monday. I too want to thank all pondies for such a tremendous send-off. We are going to have a smashing time in Mashatu and Djuma and I know that each one of us lucky participants will have each one of you in our hearts and minds while we are there. I hope you all have a chance to check in from time to time.
I haven't left yet, certainly not there yet, but OMG, I will be soon!
Leaving Sunday morning, I can't believe it, a dream come true. Wish you all could go with us, we willl be thinking of you. Thanks to everyone for the great send-off party
Monday, May 7:Fatty, Mamasafari, Julie, Pat & Randall, Ed & Broomie have arrived and spent an evening in the pub. We are old friends already. Fatty leads the welcome for all new arrivals. He was very excited to see and hear hadedas in the hotel grounds. Mamasafari and Julie had a lovely long brunch with Mama's Africammer friends Afke (Cairn), Brian, Kath, Jacks and Essie, Rob and Wendy. The rest of the Safaripondies are arriving soon..keep tuned for update!
Okay, Julie has you up to date as of 2:44 AM (SUT) somewhere in the USA time zone. Since then Martin has arrived and been duly welcomed by most of us. Two more to go, Karen and Carol, and they will arrive early this afternoon. It is 12:03 as I write this.
Early tomorrow morning ,we shall be off to Mashatu, although we are not looking forward to the five and a half hour overland trek to get there.
Here we go, Limpopo!
TopBroomrider
Hello Pondies!
I am not asked to do an update on this blog, but I thought you might like to know that everyone arrived safely and we all had a lovely diner at the hotel together last night. As friends of Marian (Brian from Africam/Africhat and Afke who recently moved to South Africa), we were kindly invited to join and it was great to meet this wonderful group of people.
As I write this, it's just past 8 o'clock in the morning in South Africa. It's a bit chilly as they say here, but the sun is shining and the sky is bright blue. That means it will be nice and warm again today. They must be on their way and have left the big and busy city of Johannesburg by now. And I KNOW they are enjoying what they see! This is a beautiful country and for a lot of them, this is their first visit to (South) Africa. I envy them all their "firsts", because that is sooooo special.
Let's keep our fingers crossed the Limpopo river won't be full of water... if so, they have to cross the river, which is also the border between South Africa and Botswana, in those little metal boxes they call cable cars!
In my mind, I travel with them. And I know all of you pondies are doing the same.
Have fun Traveling-Pondies!
Afke
Thanks so much for the update. We love to hear about their journey. If you hear more, please let us know!
Take care,
Mary
To Pat and Randy and eveyone on the Safari
Have a wonderful time. Wish I was there also. I'm looking forward to all the updates of your adventures. I signed in so am I a pondie now or just a groupie.
Keep in touch when you can.
Love, Mary Ann
IT ALL SOUNDS WONDERFUL. I WISH I COULD BE ALONG ON THIS TRIP
Hello from Canada !!
I was reading about the itinerary and was thinking that a "kick line" or "can can line" like in a broadway show is in order from the Travelling Pondies at The Pond Barbeque !! queitly though...Fatty Lurks...
;)
Marian et al - please ensure that the barbecue at the Pond doesn't mean that George & Gracie are the entree!! Give them 'honks' from all of us and a distant hello to Fatty (will Fatty be meeting the stuffed replica of himself?). We are all there with you in spirit (makes for a very crowded jeep!). Remember, take a deep breath of the wonderful African air for me, Marian.
Your arrival and everything so far sounds just about perfect.
KC Mary and I are on the phone right now and we wish you with all our hearts an absolutely fantastic trip.
Marian, wishing I was there with you and hope you are having a thrilling time! Give Fatty a pat on the head for us - we miss you and and can't wait to see you all waving at us from your safari jeep.
Sorry I missed the sendoff. Sounds like everything is going fine so far. To a safe, exciting, wonderful adventure. Like all the others I am with you in spirit.
See you at the Pond!! Cheers!!!
Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers in the field...but especially to Julie, as she is the only mother on the trip who happens to be mine! Hope you are all having a very fine time.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the traveling Moms with a very special shout-out to my Mom, Pat!! I hope everyone is having the time of their lives and I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Looking forward to your return to JBurg Wednesday and hearing all the details...it has been awfully uiet in the Bush!
Hope all is going well 'in the bush'. Am I on the right site for the 'trip blog and field updates'? I can't seem to find anything about their adventures except about their arrival in Jburg. can anyone help me locate their blogs? Thanks.
To Sue in Vancourver:
The Pondies are scheduled to arrive back in Johannesburg today (Wednesday) and I suspect that communications from Mashatu have been impossible. So far as I understand, this is the site where any blogs will be posted...stay tuned. I know that if Julie has a chance she will give us an update as soon as possible.
WE REALLY EXIST!!!
We have not had internet access, sorry, we were bush-bound!
We are having a fantastic time together. It is just so much more than we dreamed. The pictures say it all.
Forget the Big 5, it's the Big 100 and more! We have been awakened at 5:30 am, quick dress for cold (52*) turning to hot.
A quick cup of coffee and a couple of rusks, some fruit and cereal. Then it's climb into the open cruisers,(butt-busters)
and off to find the animals. The terrain is diverse...open scrub, to dense trees, down into dry riverbeds and
up to the tops of hills. Beautiful, giant old Mashatu trees, venerable old leadwoods. The acacias and mopanes are kept short
and small by the ellies. There are giant termite mounds built around the base of the trees.
Back to camp about 10am, a big brunch about 30 mins later and then it's showers, naps, sit by the pool or sit in the hide.
Regroup for tea and snacks at 3:30 and back in the Cruisers, dressed for hot turning to cold. Evening game drives are capped by
sundowners as the sun sets. Back to camp for cocktail hour and always a delicious dinner in the outdoor Boma
with a campfire and overlooking the hide. Heaven!! In bed by 10-10:30.
Game drives can be replaced by an Elephant drive with Jeanetta, a predator drive with Villiers (Phil)
or a bushwalk with Paul.
On Sunday, the 13th, we had a stop at the shop in MainCamp...seriously depleting their stock! Then the highlight...
an evening at THE POND. From about 4pm to 9:30. Yes, we were really there!!!!!
Now back in Joburg..10:15pm. Off to Djuma/Sabi Sands tomorrow and we should have internet there to really fill you in. Now going to try to post some pix.