After settling in at the Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge located in Pilanesberg National Park, the crew of PBPL 85 adventurers embarked on the first of two safari game drives out into the game reserve. Accompanied by our guide, Alistair, and a reserve ranger, Bonolo, we set out with a giddy energy, sharing with each other our hopes and expectations for what we would see. Pilanesberg boasts a diverse microcosm of African fauna and is noted as a "Big Five" reserve. The Big Five refers to a group of animals notorious for their elusiveness and the danger they pose to would-be hunters, and includes the lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant, and African buffalo.
Our eagerness was rewarded with some early sightings of greater kudus, a type of woodland antelope found in Southern Africa, followed soon after by a glimpse of an elephant and several giraffes in the distance (just a taste of what was to come). As we continued along the drive, we had our first sighting of a white rhino. Our ranger explained how its horn had been shaved down as a preemptive measure to discourage poaching.
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The South African Greater Kudu seen here with an oxpecker perched on its back, keeping its fur clean of ticks and other parasites.
The first game drive wrapped up in an exciting fashion as the ranger sped our vehicle along the trail to catch a pack of lions before the sun went down. While Drew Thompson reneged on his deal to race one of the big cats on foot, we were too in awe of the furry felines to make a fuss. After watching the lions for nearly half an hour, we drove off for a Bush Braai, a South African barbeque, hungry after the exhilarating 3-hour drive.
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The lions exhibited low energy. We asked if they were sleepy, but Bonolo replied, "No, they're just lazy."
We arose bright and early for our second game drive the next day at 5:30am. While we initially struggled to fight off the drowsiness, an early sighting of some rhinos and a herd of zebra and wildebeest chased the sleepiness away. We all struggled to get the best shot possible with our phones, zooming in and trying for different angles, but all the students would be shown up when Professor Wheelan later shared his camera roll from the drives, revealing himself to be a skilled photographer.
We finally returned to Johannesburg in the early afternoon today, content with our excursion, if not a little sleep deprived. The Springbok van's engine has seen better days, but its herculean effort of carrying us up the final stretch to our hotel at the breakneck speed of about 10 mph is to be lauded. In the van, we received some good news in the form of a British Airways call informing a certain correspondent in need of clothes that their lost luggage had been located at last and should be on its way to Johannesburg. The PBPL 85 gang is ready to dive back into the whirlwind of South African policy as we look ahead to some exciting meetings this week. Enjoy more of Professor Wheelan's photos that allow a glimpse into the wonders of South Africa.
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A younger lion cub prowls forward, curious about the cars and commotion.
