Monkeys can open doors

Yes, that's right, but that will have to wait for a moment.
First, for those of you with whom we haven't talked in awhile, Carol and I are in Southern Africa for 5 weeks, a trip that will cover South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
We got a "travel agent deal" that we couldn't pass up. Basically getting a $25,000 trip for $6,000. It's a longer story than can be told here, but we're staying at some very high-end safari lodges for a pittance, and we're living large with the big dogs, certainly a different method
of traveling than our usual jaunts.

We're in South Africa now and arrived on Thursday after a VERY long flight from Washington D.C. Upon departing the airport in our VW Chico, a car which resembles a VW beetle upon which an elephant has sat smashing it's hood flat. No guts, no glory, but it chugs along.
The speed limit here is 120 Kilometers an hour, or about 75 mph. That's the legal limit, but like home, nobody really pays attention to it. 140 km, or 87 mph is the going average, and don't get in the way of those who kick it to 160 km, or 100 mph even. That was fine on the four lane roads, but when it narrowed down to two lanes the limit stayed the same, as did the average speed of the driving. It got really dicey after dark with all the bobbing and weaving. Signs all along the way proclaimed: "Don'tbe fooled, speed really does kill." We got up close and personal with that when we passed a horrible multiple crash where maybe a dozen emergency vehicles were attending to as many casualties lying in the center divide. That managed to slow everybody down for about fiveminutes, and then it was business as normal.
We managed to arrive safely at our first night b&b safe and relieved, ready to start our grand adventure of big game viewing. Next day we drove to our first destination, Sabi Sabi game lodge.
You can check it out at : www.sabisabi.com
We're staying at the bush lodge.
Driving here we passed coffee plantations, banana plantations, lots of avocado orchards and various and sundry agricultural industries. All the way, passing the Kapok trees in full bloom dropping their pink blossoms at the base making a blanket of color like a wedding party tossing rose petals at the feet of the bride and groom. We stopped at a gas station and I asked the Afrikanner in the car behind me how I said "Thank you," to the Zulu attendant, and he said he didn't know. I asked how to say "good morning," and again he didn't know. Very depressing to me, but it's way to early in the journey to start making snap judgments about the situation. We have seen disturbing trends though, and I'll write more about that when I have a better handle on things.
We've been here at Sabi Sabi near Kruger National park for about 24 hours and have already had three game drives, bringing a whole host of different animals into viewing. Last night on our afternoon/evening drive, the highlight was when the tracker found a leopard which had killed an impala and was eating it. We were within 15 feet of the magnificent beast, but with a full belly, he had no interest in us, thankfully. I don't know how in the dark, off the track, and with little, to me anyway, indications of the fact, they were able to find it.
This morning we went back, and the leopard had killed another in the same spot, and this time was joined by a female leopard and a hyena, nature's scavenger, finishing off the leftovers. Got some great shots, photographic of course, and it was very exhilarating just to see the leopard at all, not to mention twice. It is usually the one animal that people miss seeing. We saw elephants, waterbucks, kudus, impalas, white rhinos, warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, baboons, and giraffes. All in the space of a three-hour drive last night, and a three-hour early this morning. We ride in safari land-rovers, four wheel-drive monsters with three viewing levels so that everybody has a good view. In our vehicle there are seven of us, along with the ranger, a tracker, and a very big gun with very big bullets. There's comfort in that, what with all the tales they tell when giving instructions about the do's and don'ts of the drive.
This morning the seven of us who are travel agents/family went to see one of the other Sabi lodges, and the highlight was a herd of ten elephants which came to the water hole to drink. There were two VERY little elephants in the herd, looking soooooo dwarfed by the adults. It
was a beautiful moment.
Well, before we get too far afield here, we've got to explain how we know that monkeys can open doors. After we got back from our plant walk this morning, we were advised to wash out our pants because of the ticks we could have picked up on the pant legs. We did so, went to
lunch, and when we came back there was a monkey party outside our room. We hadn't locked the back door to our suite, and they had come into our room, taken the dried apricots out of Carol's back pack, removed the goodie bags of dried fruits and nuts that they had provided for us, and a bag with two apples and bananas in Carol's suitcase. They were busily eating them in the tree outside our room. Monkey paw prints are evident around the room. So from now on we have to watch out for the thieves. Just like home, these are very cunning, inventive, and will take whatever they want. We've been told not to leave our shoes outside because the baboons will eat the leather. Yummy indeed!! Well, I've got to finish here, our second afternoon drive is coming up.
We tracked a lioness this morning, a single animal so they figured she had cubs stashed somewhere. We‚re going back to see if we can find her this afternoon, and also some hippos and crocodiles. Please excuse any typos, grammar mistakes and other writing pecadillios. I've been writing under the influence of the flask of sherry that they provide in the room. I keep trying to empty it, but every time I leave the room, they come in and fill it back up. Happily the monkeys didn't know the medicinal value of sherry. Who said they were smart. Our drive this afternoon will be enhanced by a stop at sunset where multiple gin and tonics, champagne or whatever your choice is, will be provided. This is such a tough life to live.
For now know that Jim and Carol are living large,
Love to all,
J and C