A day in the life in Southern Africa

[DrWilly]

Since Mendy has one and Stumpy has one, perhaps it’s my turn. A lot of the stuff that happens is not worthy of an entire thread but interesting nonetheless. And if you don’t find it interesting that’s also ok.

Today we (Drs Willy and family) visited a private game reserve to enjoy a game drive. A game drive is driving around to spot wildlife as opposed to a safari which is an entire trip in Africa where the main purpose is to spot wildlife, and consists of several game drives or walks. In fact Safari is Swahili for journey, but these days means treks to seek out and spot or photograph game animals. Anyway, I digress, as this wasn’t a safari today, just a day trip with a game drive. They use modified trucks for game drive vehicles.



Sometimes they use a swazall to just lop the cab off a truck.



An hour out of town, the roads are pretty miserable and you’ll be glad you drive a 4WD.



This game reserve is around 400 hectares is size, holding 70 species of animal and 300 birds. We spotted three of the big five; elephant, buffalo, and lion. (But no rhino or leopards).





for obvious reasons they keep this pride of lions locked away. So we always knew we’d spot the lions today. They other animals are more hit and miss.

[DrWilly]

Spotted some giraffe, and a few herds of animals. I learned that the wildebeest are considered one of the five ugliest animals.

[Reg Dingle]

That looks fukkin Amazing, you Kunta kinta

[Stumpy]

Great Idea DW. Look forward to the pics and travel commentary

[Joe 90]

Dr Livingston I presume.

Great threads!

[david44]

Billy Bwana have a banana

[DrWilly]

Security.

It’s relatively safe, but phone and bag snatching is pretty common. I can think of at least half a dozen occasions when friends or colleagues had a phone stolen over the past twelve months. But this is nearly always in the evening walking along the road. So don’t walk. And yes, houses have tall fences, with razor wire and electric fences. Flood lights, security guards and armed response team add to the picture.

Here’s a pic of the full hunters moon with the fencing wire in full relief.

[Mendip]

In Namibia I visited several private game reserves and they're a great way to guarantee seeing certain animals which can be a bit hit and miss on safari out in the bush.

In Namibia it soon became apparent that many of these private game reserves supplemented income by allowing big game 'hunters' to come along and shoot an animal on their list. Elephant, rhino, lion, leopard etc. Anything was on offer.

Their argument is that this was the only way to finance the operation, that ensured the ongoing survival of rare species, especially with the ever expanding cattle ranches eating up the available land for wild animals, not to mention poaching. So, older animals in a herd, pride, etc were sacrificed to ensure the survival of the majority.

I'm not sure how I feel about it, to be honest. It's a complicated issue and certainly not black and white, and if this really is the only way to finance conservation then it's a sorry state of affairs. I do unequivocally condemn the type of person who would pay to shoot an elderly, semi-captive animal just to take a trophy back home. I just cannot see how anyone could take any pleasure whatsoever from that kind of 'hunting'.

[DrWilly]

Agreed, the safaris are all expensive enough as it is, most charge per person per night deals somewhere between $190-$450 which for a single bloke is not too bad, but add a family of four or five and your paying upwards of $2,000 per night for a glorified glamping hut.

So if allowing Hans from Hamburg to shoot an old lion or buffalo relives that pressure…

Conservation money has to come from somewhere. Expensive safaris, hunting licences. Other than more free aid money from NGOs or overseas that’s how they need to do it.

[Switch]

I funded a trip to Kenya with a tax rebate after my last job in the military. Three weeks all inclusive based in Mombasa with a safari/trip each week included.
We we’re supposed to drive up to the Masai Mara reserve, but roads were washed out the nightbefore. Substituted by an ancient rickety turbo prop up to governors camp for 3 nights. The plane rattled a lot and seating was dining chairs nailed to the floor. Chickens with no seat belts had the run of the place.

Governors Camp was early Glamping with showers and 4 posters under canvas, right next to a roaring river. Centralized dining and an armed escort to and from the tent. The guard kept wildlife away too during the night.
Over the 3 days we saw the big five except for no leopards.

One of the best holidays ever.

[DrWilly]

Yesterday was rather exciting. Went to the local supermarket to stock up, this included beer. Got to the beer section and they’d run out of Wild Dog (the only craft beer available), bugger. Running out of favourite food or beverage items is a fact of life here. For six months I was easily able to purchase tons of smoked oysters (don’t judge, I love them) but haven’t seen them for months, when I saw mushie peas I bought the whole shelf. Haven’t been able to buy fresh jalapeños for months. Sometimes the supermarket wont even have potatoes.

But then I realized, they have a new offering. A new, never been seen before craft beer. So I bought a couple of each.

I started with the lager. It poured out smooth and creamy.



As it turned out, this was my favourite.

next the pilsner.



it was quite ok, but I’d been spoiled by the first drink being so good.

Finally the dark ale, I was expecting a lot, and it was … ok. But it was no Guinness.



Rocking and rolling on a Saturday night. The point being a new craft beer is 100% exciting after having had little choice prior. A couple more were drunk, then the braai was lit.

[cyrille]

Great Idea DW.

The totally derivative title isn't a good start.

Maybe he typed it next to his pool, sinking leningrad llamas from his 'copper style' cups and watching NFL?

In short, this has got weird.

[Switch]

The totally derivative title isn't a good start.

Maybe he typed it next to his pool, sinking leningrad llamas from his 'copper style' cups and watching NFL?

In short, this has got weird.

Weird? Only for a curmudgeon.

[cyrille]

Anyone using that word this century has to be one, surely?

Oh well, at least he's not drinking your favourite morning beverage.

[DrWilly]

Did somebody say Bloody Mary?

[DrWilly]

Here’s a common enough sight around these parts: termite and ant hills.

[MarilynMonroe]

Cool pics, love the animals!
Africa the only continent I have yet to explore

A safari could be fun to do, but expensive from what I have read and see you guys note.
I almost made it to Africa when I lived in Kuwait. I went to Turkey instead which I don't regret.

[malmomike77]

And yes, houses have tall fences, with razor wire and electric fences. Flood lights, security guards and armed response team add to the picture.

do watch nightly re-runs of the great escape

[DrWilly]

Just came back from a safari. Pics to follow, but it was HOT and dusty!

[malmomike77]

Just came back from a safari. Pics to follow, but it was HOT and dusty!

not a fan of the new HilLux, a lot of plastic on the outside which will crack and fall off.

[DrWilly]

not a fan of the new HilLux, a lot of plastic on the outside which will crack and fall off.

Fair enough. I’m a bigger fan of comfort inside, as opposed to those old, very utilitarian styles 4WD. So far the holiday has done the job, but it’s also relatively new at 2 years old and 30k in. We’ll see how it goes. No complaints so fa, and it got a fair workout this week. Although to be fair with the road quality here it pretty much gets a work out everyday.

[Stumpy]

Look forward to the pics. It does look hot as hell. Is it ever really windy in those parts where that dust is kicked up?

[david44]

Im currently

me too, is your topic dining in Bangkok, gnoshing in Patters or just generally slyamese slurping?
Somtam's these tails from the feast becum boast Sellars.

Sadly my bust sellers

Lulu thru the looking grass

Squirrel in the Wrral a bindippers dictionary

Fear and porridging in Las Queansland

The 11 O'cock Moose does Manitoba and

Down and sprout in Paris and London outta print.

Down and Out in Paris and London - Wikipedia

Wettest Wang in Walvis Bay coming soon once up the Zambezi without addle done!

P.S. I highly commend Sally Sibilants "Propa spellink" for aspiring authors in Africa app free on the fappstore

[DrWilly]

me too

Id be intrigued to read your work. But assume that for similar reasons of anonymity you won’t be sharing the actual titles.

P.S. I highly commend Sally Sibilants "Propa spellink" for aspiring authors in Africa app free on the fappstore

A best seller, no doubt. Not sure it would help me much anyway.

[DrWilly]

Look forward to the pics. It does look hot as hell. Is it ever really windy in those parts where that dust is kicked up?

Oh yes. We saw a couple of ‘dust devils’ or mini tornados last week. Master Willy was particularly impressed. But it tends to blow for a few hours and then drop off again.