You might have wondered if Kitty and The Germ are stuck in South Africa or how their Journey Around The World continued. Well, we are back home in Toronto for a long time already but we just didn’t get around posting the remaining stories and photos. Anyway, here we go… two more stunning blogs on South Africa and then one week in Rio de Jainero!

Enjoy,
Kitty and The Germ

PS: We are also adding photos to the locations in China where we were not allowed to access the Internet. Stay tuned.

Lions and tigers and cheetahs–oh my.

We didn’t see any bears, but tigers? Check. Cheetahs? Check. Lions? Check.

No Kidding

We drive to Ukutula Lion Park and are again surprised at how far telling people "it is our honeymoon" will get us. A private tour of the lions? A private lion walk? Marc has already suggested that we keep telling people it is our honeymoon for the rest of our lives.

We arrived and the place was quite full. We didn’t realize that we only have to play our honeymoon card…

We have a tour and meet the countless lions the reserve has. It is full of white lions with ice blue eyes who are not allowed to mate with each other because the probability is very high that they will produce an albino baby. They are stunning.

White Lion Mom

White Lion Teen

Older Boys

Teenager

Snooze

I am not happy that the females have flies all over their noses and in their eyes. Our guide explains that it is because of the meat they eat.

Flies

The Flies Are Bugging Them

Felix is the resident male who has fathered most of the off spring. He is a spectacular beast. I want to groom him. Marc says I am not allowed.

Big Boss with Family

The Ladies

Thinking Pose

This place has a tiger called Raj. He is gorgeous and a rescue. It is beyond amazing to see a lion and a tiger playing and living together.

Lion And Tiger

Rescued Tiger

We go and see the kids. They are too much. Some of them are bit snappy (Marc has learnt a few lessons from his leopard encounter) and no one gets bit. Phew. These lions are kids. There is a nice mix of white lions with the standard tan whose legs are really spotted before they reach maturity. None of them have manes yet. We both take our chances and pet a few. Heaven.

Don't Get Too Close

Hello, Who Are You?

First Petting

Respect

Pet, Pet

Give Me Five

We say good-bye and visit the nursery. They are so damn adorable. There are a few cheetahs living in the creche with the lions. They are all to adorable and are showing off their new trick–how to get over the fence. Of course one figured it out and showed everyone else. We couldn’t help but loving these antics.

Afternoon Nap

Little Guy

Cheetah Kid

Then we went on a lion walk. We weren’t too sure what this was, but we definitely wanted to do it and were thrilled when they accommodated us.

We meet Wilson. An older black man who has just started at the reserved. We don’t know what to expect. We go back to the pen where the kids are. He has a bucket with a lid on it. Wilson opens the door and calls out a few of the lions. Five of them to be exact. They start running, pouncing on each other, playing…they are having a marvellous time out of the pen running around with no leashes. We start walking. The lions are stalking each other. They are climbing trees. They are trying to learn how to roar (they haven’t mastered this yet) and are too gorgeous.

Four Lucky Fellows

Playful - Freedom

Posing

Isn't This Awesome?

In the covered bucket Wilson has a chicken leg with the foot intact. He has a hard time believing that in China, chicken feet are served for breakfast. Mmm…delicious.

Get Up There

He Almost Got Me

Water

Stunning

We hang out with these beasts for over an hour and then we walk back to their pen. They were tired from all the playing. We now literally know where the expression ‘herding cats’ comes from. They were too much. We love them.

Coming Back From the Greatest Fun

Back Home

The day isn’t over! We haven’t seen the lion babies. They have just been fed, so they don’t need a bottle yet. They are five weeks old and “adorable” just doesn’t sum it up. They are outside in a coral play pen. There are so many of them. They are smaller than a regular house cat. They don’t have teeth yet. We sit down and they hand us each a baby. We are so happy. We are both madly in love.

Baby Lions

Sooo Cute

Happy

On the Lap

Happier

Help, She Squeezes Me To Death

Double Team

Brother Love

My baby crawls away (we were sitting on the ground) and a little Jack Russell dog named Apple climbs into my lap. Really cute–but we are here to see the lions. The stupid volunteer thinks an effective way to get the dog out of my lap would be to put a baby lion in there as well (we heard the story about Apple biting one of the volunteers who tried to remove him from another guest’s lap).

Where Did the Dog Come From?

There was a carcuffle. I came out unscathed. I kicked out Apple and got a new baby who promptly peed on me. I didn’t care. A mother doesn’t mind those things. I start trying to plot with Marc on how we were going to get one out. Unfortunately they have the babies all counted. We come away walking on cloud nine and lionless.

Loving Parents

No Teeth, Yet

Ultimate Happiness

Going on safari, going to see a big one…

Dirty Road Again

Gate To Entabeni Reserve

First Wildlife After Two Minutes

Welcome Committee

We drive to Entabeni to go on a Safari. We are stoked and listening to African music the entire way. Entabeni is the same game park that Marc went on safari nine years ago with his parents. It was really exciting to find their names in the guest book.

Entabeni Reception

Marvelous View

Guestbook Entry From 2000

Entabeni has grown into a huge game reserve, resort, and golf course. The Legend Golf Course they are in the process of building has the longest par 3 in the world. You have to take a helicopter to the tee. Marc starts itching to play. Unfortunately we were a little too early.

World's Most Extreme Hole in Golf

Great Markings

Lions in the Afternoon Sun

Our room is stunning. It is a cabin to ourselves and we are knocked out with the view and the safari inspired decor.

Our Lodge

Kitty And The Germ

We have four safari rides booked. As with most safari rides, they take place early morning and at dusk. We load in and see zebras, foxes, groundhogs, warthogs, monkeys, giraffes, cheetahs, elephants, and lions over the course of the safaris.

Going On A Game Drive

A Bit Chilly

Impalas

Wild Cheetahs

Jackal

Just Born

Wildebeest

Warthog

It is one thing to see a lion in a zoo, but to see one in the wild, hear him roar, and witness behaviour that is identical to that of a domestic cat. Seeing a cheetah run full tilt is nothing short of freedom.

The King

Yawn

Roll Over

Old Man

Scary

On our first day we were waiting on our safari jeep to arrive in the main lodge where breakfast had just been served. Marc came to a sudden halt and pointed. The room was full of monkeys. Yep–monkeys. They were stealing sugar packages from the coffee table and jumping through the rafters. These monkeys were so clever they had figured out how to get in, where the sugar was kept, how to open the sugar and escape–unusually unnoticed. I of course think this is absolute genius. We are both so impressed with their party tricks that I decide to help with the cause and leave sugar packages around the trees of the lodge.

Monkeys

Stealing the Sugar

Entabeni made us a big BBQ and we dined outside under stars that have seen no equal. It was breathtaking. The sky was lit up and South Africa is considered one of the best places for star gazing in the world.

Dinner Time

Performance

Tagging Along

More safaris are definitely on the books and future to-do lists.

Final game drive to viewing point:

On Top of the World

Nature

Stones

More wildlife:

Exotic

Taking a Rest

Only the Fittest Survive

Zebras

All Have Different Stripes

Watching Us

Impala Dad

And His Family

Grazing

Hartebeest

Long-legged giraffes walk with the limbs on one side of the body lifted at the same time. This gait is called a pace and allows a longer stride which saves steps and energy.

Walk On One Side

Giraffes

South Africa:

Hot Dog, Anyone?

Countdown

We drive to Addo Elephant Park. Marc has been there before. It is a drive yourself sort of safari. We were handed a map of the park, but on the other side of the map, it has pictures, names and check boxes of the wild life they have there–everything from dung beetles to elephants.

Welcome To Addo!

What A Great Day

Lots To See

On entry we see a herd of elephants, having a drink. It is from a viewing station and everyone standing around, snapping their cameras as quickly as their shutters with allow. We climb back in the car and start to creep around the different paths. We see everything small–from various birds to mongoose. Wart hogs are everywhere. Zebras are everywhere. Where the hell are the elephants? We came for elephants. We want to see elephants!

Bird With Long Beak

Meerkat

Yellow Mongoose

Warthog

Ostrich On The Road

Our wildlife check boxes are quickly filling up, but still, no elephants. We are a little disheartened. We finally spot a small herd. Our view is a little obstructed, but we are happy as clams watching these wild, massive beasts roam and graze freely. It is a far cry from the other elephants we have seen so far. Don’t even get me started about India. India wins the award for officially being the worst country in regard to their treatment of elephants. They still use them for logging?

First Elephant Sighting

Turn Around, Please

Some cars stop, have a look, but are quick to drive on. Marc and I don’t move. We are in awe. We wait. We watch. Finally we decide to keep exploring the park and low and behold, a lone elephant comes out from the bush. We stop the car and can’t believe it. The elephant walks up the road, right toward us, gives up an unimpressed glance as he goes to meet up with his friends that we had just been admiring. A few meters in, this beast could no longer be seen. We were shocked–not to mention thrilled. Another one of my life’s great moments.

Here Comes Big Guy

Minding His Own Business

Checking Us Out

Hello Mister

Off He Goes

We continued driving and saw a group of cars stopped. We knew there was something good. What? How about a family of elephants having a drink and a bath at the waterhole. There is a baby. It is so fantastic. I am giddy. Once they have finished getting their drink on, they turn around, cross the road and head back into the plains. All but one young elephant. Surprise, surprise, the teenager didn’t go with them. He is officially not done.

Family At Water Hole

Baby Elephant...

...Leaving With Her Mom

The group of cars dispersed, but we were still basking in the afterglow and next thing we knew, another family, with another baby came out of the bush, into the clearing, to have a drink. The new mama kicked out the teenager (who rejoined his family) and proceeded to drink and bathe freely at the watering hole.

Here Comes The Next Family

Teenager Pushed Aside By Next Group

Elephants Go First

I don’t think happy begins to describe it.

Female Kudu

Male Kudu

More Kudus In The Wild

Black-backed Jackel