Michael is an excellent dentist who attended school at VCU Dental School in Richmond, VA and has now opened a practice there. They have bought a home and really seem to love the area. When they came for a visit, we took them up to Pilanesburg on a Friday and a Saturday so they could see the animals. We saw quite a few different animals and were actually chased by the most famous elephant in South Africa, Amarula. He is identifiable because he has no tail and the rangers counsel you to stay away from him since he loves to play with cars and sit on them. Obviously when a large elephant sits on you car, it is never quite the same. A large dump truck full of gravel on top of your car has about the same effect.
After Pilanesburg, we took them with us to church out in the village of Etwatwa and they got to meet the people we have grown to know and love. We took pictures of the dental clinic in Etwatwa and some of the Surgery centers as well. One day, I was also able to run them out to Lion and Safari Park, where they got to do a guided safari out to see some of the animals. Then they got to walk with the lions, then interact with a couple sets of lion cubs, and some full grown cheetahs. Then I took them over to Lesedi Village where they got to learn about the various tribal cultures and Micahel got to eat one of the roasted caterpillers. While they were visiting the two locations, I sat in the car and did my office work remotely, reviewing five contracts and leases. Technology is amazing.
They saw lots of white rhinos. Many up close and personal.
They saw quite a few Burchell's Zebras.
Often near the zebras you will find some wildebeests.
A majestic Kudu buck with the incredible spiral horn.
A rare herd of Elands.
Michael and Anne at the Bakubung Restaurant where we had lunch, and they saw
a family of warthogs, and
some Vervet Monkeys.
Sometimes you just have to wait for the rhino and his hitchhiking friend to clear the road because he could easily poke a hole in the car, or puncture a tire, or if really upset, he could possibly tip it over.
We saw a car parked and looking across the valley with binoculars. We asked what they were looking at and they said there was a lion about a kilometer away on the other hill. Anne said she could see it so she used the telephoto camera and took this picture. When we blew it up there was indeed a male lion there. To the naked eye it looked like a tiny speck of dust.
As we rounded a corner we saw this elephant almost hidden between two large bushes. It was his tusks that were so large that gave him away. He was busy eating. While Michael and Anne were busy taking pictures, I said there is one elephant we are supposed to avoid and that is one with no tail.
Michael said, "I don't think this one has a tail."
He backed up, so we backed up, and sure enough he had no tail, only a stump. Suddenly we realized this was the second largest bull elephant in Pilanesburg, the most famous elephant in South Africa, and also the one you needed to be careful and avoid.
He started to come after us so I started to drive away. I watched him in the rearview mirror so I could stay a comfortable distance ahead of him. He picked up his pace and Michael and Anne said I think you ought to get a little farther head of him. It was only later that it dawned on me that when it looked like he was thirty feet behind us, he was really more like 15' behind us. No wonder Michael and Anne's hearts were beating a little fast.
Finally, he got tired of chasing us and trumpeted at us in disgust since we would not stay and "play", and he went off to get some more to eat.
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