09 Sep : Shamwari Game Reserve

I know this is the bit that everyone is eager to see - THE ANIMALS!

Just a couple of quick facts about game reserves :

• It is NOT a zoo. It is a huge piece of enclosed land (which means the animals can't roam on the streets) where the animals are left to roam as they please.
• It is NOT free. Price is dependant on the game reserve you select.
• Animal sighting is based on 2 things - weather and shit loads of luck! They can either go into hiding or have gone gallavanting in the opposite direction from where you are.
• The animals hunt for their own food, NOT fed by humans.
• The animals are wild, so don't be deceived by their innocent looks. Don't try to be gungho and try to be friends with them.

Most renown game reserve / Biggest game reserve in SA - Kruger National Park

Shamwari Games Reserve- Private establishment; place where Tiger Woods proposed to his wife, Elin.

Just FYI, it costed ZAR2,000.00 per person = approx. SGD500.00/USD300.00 per person, per night. Price includes meals, drinks and 2 game drives. We stayed at the Riverdene Lodge and va-va-voom.... quite an experience! I am, right now, gloating end to end reminiscing that luxury.

Enough said.... let the photos tell the story!

[ On the way to Shamwari ]

[ SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE ]

Riverdene Lodge
*****

::: the surroundings :::






::: pool area :::


Enjoying yourselves ladies?


::: the lounge :::






::: THE bedroom !!! :::






::: day 1 - early evening game drive :::

OOoooohhhh... before I forget AGAIN!

The "Big 5" Animals of South Africa :

1. Buffalo - Hard to track;
2. Cheetah - Hardest to track. Cheetah is now one of the endangered species in the animal kingdom. I can't remember the exact figure but I know there's only a couple of hundred left in the world.
3. Elephant
4. Lion
5. Rhinoceros

It is VERY VERY VERY rare that one is able to track all the Big 5 animals in ONE game drive. It is so rare that should anyone accomplish that, certain games reserves will issue a certificate of acknowledgement.

Thousands of apologies... no monetary rewards.

Everyone's raring to go!

SPOT THE LIONESS
Can't remember if this was the Northern or Southern Pride lions. Vaguely remember it as the Southern Pride. I lost my checklist so trying to recall from memory. BAD IDEA. There will be alot of "I think" coming up.


I THINK this is called the "White-Mouthed Rhino". I think I think....

Mr Giraffe strutting his stuff. Giraffes are one of the most graceful and elegant animals in the animal kingdom. Watching them trot slowly across the field brought a sense of peace. Slowly, slowly, no hurry... admire the spots.... Absolutely no sense of urgency. Nice.




In case you don't know, I have this thing about taking photos of animal asses. The other thing as well, it seems like animals love showing me their asses so it is not a matter of choice either. Haha.


Need I say more about elephants?

Darrrrliinnggssss... the Osama look is soooo passe. Move on!



Cheers everyone and enjoy the sunset.....

Watching the egg yolk fall (usually takes only a couple of minutes)

Personal favourite - Sun Set Shot

The first day game drive was a tad bit disappointing. It started out real slllooowwwwww. We were so dry on luck during first half hour or so that everyone started to feel like we were not going to see any animals that evening. Then we spotted sleeping lioness (they are bloody lazy creatures. The male lion had gone off gallavanting to find more mistresses for his harem), and slowly but surely, we started to see a couple more animals.

Overall, it wasn't that bad a drive considering that we did manage to see a few animals. Guess the best part was enjoying the drinks whilst watching the sun set.... but not all hope was lost. Day 2's game drive yet to come!

::: the evening :::

Feasting with our personal game ranger, Anri (lady at the top end of the table)

Bonfire to thaw the tropical dwellers (they were FREEZING!)

Who ever said that only marshmellows can be roasted during bonfires?




::: day 2 - early morning game drive :::

The old foggies decided that the was "too cold" for them so they gave the second game drive a miss. I reckon they were wanted to sleep in late so it was down to Ms Dreamer and myself.

KUDU
The pedigree of a Kudu is determined by the number of spirals on the antler.... ideally should have 3 spirals but that is quite rare.

ZEBRA (again)
Interesting note: By some miracle of nature, no one zebra has the same stripes! Imagine if us, humans, have stripes to mark our individualities... ha.

Some breed of antelope... (Can anyone tell the difference between the antelope and deer family? I can't, that's for sure!)

RING BUCK
Still love that ass...

BAT-EARRED FOX
I decided to be a smart-ass and crop this picture resulting in this overblown distorted shot. *sigh* Idiot at her best.

Mummy & Baby Rhino (boy) enjoying a cuddly moment

IMPALA
Caution! Impalas crossing road
The impala is another graceful breed of animal. Love the way the move. Swift and classy

The sweet impala alone on the field. See those thorny things at the left hand corner of the photos? The thorn looks like a toothpick. It is some kind of plant that is eaten by some animals (note the I forgot and I forgot).


i went camera-clicking mad here....

Peek-a-boo Baby Elephant!


now see the next 3 sequence of shots... ha-ha-funny!

Elephant picks grass up from ground.....

Elephant puts grass in mouth....

And elephant lets out his GOLDEN POO!!! Can you see his sizeable crap?

Just in case you couldn't spot the legendary poo....

Baby elephant is cute, eh?

Nearly forgot my famous ass shot


watch the king of the jungle strut his stuff

Swaggering from afar

He makes his presence known

Ok Mr Casanova, we get the idea.... you're THE MAN. (If I didn't wrongly, he's from the Northern Pride)

And off Mr C goes to find his hump of the day


and at some spot somewhere far far away....

Concussed Lioness from the Southern Pride
My conclusion: Either Mr Casanova has insatiable 'appetite' OR the lioness is so damn lazy that Mr C has to frequently outsource.


remember this face?

THE WARTHOG
Remember Pumbaa from the Lion King? Doesn't look too un-cute un-animated huh?


and last one for the drive....

Some antelope crossing the road... again (no worries guys, no traffic cops around. This is your domain. Leap as you wish.)

This brings a close to this chapter on the Shamwari Game Reserve. The second game drive was definitely more exciting than the first. The scenary was quite stunning as well. The morning drives are more highly recommended than the evening drives as the chances of seeing the animals are suppose to be greater.

However, if one is a game drive fanatic and knows a heck lot about animal tracking (i.e. recognising the sounds of the animals, identifying paw prints - including the age of the print; recognising the animals' crap etc etc. It is worthwhile to go with an experienced game ranger who will do the tracking for you.

I'm actually having fun posting these photos up as it is such great memories of the Riverdene Lodge and the game drive. Oh! We did see the hippo as well on the second game drive but it was submerged in water which didn't make it possible to take a nice shot of it.

Shamwari Game Reserve may not be as internationally recognised as Kruger National Park but I would certainly highly recommend this place as its luxurious set-up is quite extraodinary. A great place for a weekend getaway and self-indulgence.

Comments... anyone?

Sometimes... I really feel like senility has hit prematurely.
Feels like I'm doing a "Dear Chooey, Love Chooey thing".
How fascinating.
Yahoo.