I just arrived back in Plett after spending the weekend a few hours east of here at a National Park/game reserve. The place was called Addo Elephant National Park, but it was HUGE and have way more than elephants. I stayed in a hostel just a few miles from the park. There was only one other girl staying at the whole place! But it worked out great because we seemed to have similar interests and got along really well. Her name is Sara, she is from Texas, and she is backpacking through South Africa for the next few weeks.
On Saturday morning we went on a game drive through the park in big, open, safari-looking trucks. We saw lions from VERY far away, and a ton of elephants, right up close! We also so meercats, wart hogs, antelope, turtles, ostrich, foxes... and I'm sure there was more but I can't remeber everything at the moment. We spent the afternoon hanging out at the hostel which also had a pub, restaurant, a farm, and fun dogs to play with! In the evening we returned to the park for the sunset game drive. This time we saw the lions up close! One was just lying in the middle of the road! We had to drive around it because they could care less that we need to get by. We go within 8 feet of him! Later on in the tour, we stopped in an open area and had snacks and drinks. There's nothing like drinking wine while standing in the same field as an elephant and some antelope!
When we returned to the hostel, the pub was packed with locals watching rugby. It was an intense game... I felt like I was at a Superbowl party of something. Most of the locals are not original locals, but people who came to Addo to do research and volunteer. It was fun being the only out-of-towners in a tiny little local pub :)
The next morning I went on the sunrise game drive without Sara. It was awesome! I didn't see any new animals, but we got to see 2 male lions fighting! The younger of the 2 was in the other's territory and he was trying to chase him out. I got some awesome video, and you can even hear them growling! I'll try to upload it on facebook, but it might take forever.
We spent the afternoon at a raptor/reptile center which was across the street from the hostel (the ONLY other thing in this tiny town). We held a variety of snakes and hawks - very cool. The whole weekend was SO cheap. I spent $120 USD which covered 3 nights accommodation, meals, 3 game drives, internet use, AND drinks!
I had to get up at 4:30 this morning to catch the shuttle to catch the bus bas here so I am not working today. It's awesome being a volunteer... you don't have to work if you don't want to. Tomorrow Tracey and I are either going to go diving or fishing :) Can't hate it!
On Saturday morning we went on a game drive through the park in big, open, safari-looking trucks. We saw lions from VERY far away, and a ton of elephants, right up close! We also so meercats, wart hogs, antelope, turtles, ostrich, foxes... and I'm sure there was more but I can't remeber everything at the moment. We spent the afternoon hanging out at the hostel which also had a pub, restaurant, a farm, and fun dogs to play with! In the evening we returned to the park for the sunset game drive. This time we saw the lions up close! One was just lying in the middle of the road! We had to drive around it because they could care less that we need to get by. We go within 8 feet of him! Later on in the tour, we stopped in an open area and had snacks and drinks. There's nothing like drinking wine while standing in the same field as an elephant and some antelope!
When we returned to the hostel, the pub was packed with locals watching rugby. It was an intense game... I felt like I was at a Superbowl party of something. Most of the locals are not original locals, but people who came to Addo to do research and volunteer. It was fun being the only out-of-towners in a tiny little local pub :)
The next morning I went on the sunrise game drive without Sara. It was awesome! I didn't see any new animals, but we got to see 2 male lions fighting! The younger of the 2 was in the other's territory and he was trying to chase him out. I got some awesome video, and you can even hear them growling! I'll try to upload it on facebook, but it might take forever.
We spent the afternoon at a raptor/reptile center which was across the street from the hostel (the ONLY other thing in this tiny town). We held a variety of snakes and hawks - very cool. The whole weekend was SO cheap. I spent $120 USD which covered 3 nights accommodation, meals, 3 game drives, internet use, AND drinks!
I had to get up at 4:30 this morning to catch the shuttle to catch the bus bas here so I am not working today. It's awesome being a volunteer... you don't have to work if you don't want to. Tomorrow Tracey and I are either going to go diving or fishing :) Can't hate it!
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