Elephants part one
As a doctor, I have the fantastic opportunity to take CME vacations. CME is continuing medical education and included, with the price of tuition, with the trip itself. Proof of credits for CME is required to keep an active medical license all over Canada. This is usually a cruise, but it can also be a resort or other arrangement. Our particular CME cruise was to South Africa. After boarding the ship we travelled the coast from Mozambique on the Indian ocean to the east around the tip of South Africa to Namibia on the Atlantic coast to the west. The cruise ship visited about six ports along the way, each with her own particular points of interest. Our medical courses were usually presented during our “days at sea”. After breakfast we would show up at a location on the ship serving as a lecture hall. We would sign in, and out, throughout the course. They were very strict about attendance. I didn’t mind since the course topics were so interesting and important to keep me up-to-date. recent medical breakthroughs, and up-to-date treatments or just in-depth refresher courses. Our spouses were free to enjoy the ship and all its amenities when we were in class.
This particular trip began with an overnight flight from Toronto to Munich Germany. We had a full day to spend in Munich before leaving that evening for an overnight flight to Johannesburg South Africa.
To us, this was a trip of a lifetime. I am was ,and I am a great fan of Tarzan, and wanted so very much to see Africa.
We slept very well on the plane, and woke up refreshed for our day in Munich. We hired our own taxi driver guide who showed us as much as he could in our eight hour window. First stop was the infamous World War II concentration camp “Dachau”.
What a gruesome but enlightening experience that was. We also visited the site of the Munich Olympics, where some of the Israeli athletes were kidnapped and then killed by the Palestinian “Black September” members. We toured some of the markets, then ended up at the “Hofbrauhaus” founded in 1589. There we enjoyed great German meal and their own Oompapa band. Munich was declared the “Capital of the Nazi Movement.” It was heavily bomb during World War II, but has since been wonderfully restored and thought to be one of the most desirable cities in the world in which to live.
There are many sources of memorabilia for me here, but on with the story.
After flying overnight we awoke to the vistas of Africa beneath our windows… My imagination soared! We soon landed in Johannesburg and we’re taking to a beautiful hotel in the city center. We did some brief touring, but the exciting part came the next morning. Now back to the airport, we boarded another plane to take us to “Kruger national Park” in the north eastern South Africa region. It is one of Africa’s largest game reserves with a high density of the big five: lions, leopards, rhino, elephants and buffalo among hundreds of other mammals.
It is nearly 2,000,000 ha or 7576 mi.² of unrivalled diversity of life forms. This is real Africa.
After arriving safely, we drove our bus to one of the many entrances into the park. The whole park is fenced, well patrolled, and extremely well protected… not only to keep the animals in (and protected} , but to keep the poachers out.
Our entrance had a large guard tower with swinging gates. I remember seeing a significant amount of barbedwire there. The guards were well armed but very friendly to us and we passed through easily. Our destination was the very lovely “Lion Sands Safari Lodge”. This offered the ultimate combination of luxury and first class service in the heart of untamed African bushveld in South Africa.
After entering the park and driving to the lodge, we saw plenty of animals off of the distance. We arrived at, and were blown away by, the magnificent lodge. We signed in and were shown to our rooms. The walkways from the lodge for our rooms were on elevated boardwalks… “To avoid the snakes” we were told. We were not permitted to use these at night without a guard who had a gun, because the animals were free to wander anywhere and could come right up to you. We did see hippos one evening off our back deck in the evening. We were taken for a very fancy lunch and a description of what would happen to us over the next few days. We were outside, near the edge of a river. Suddenly one of the staff pointed out a pair of lions on a bluff on the other side of the river. They stared at us and then they rambled off.
Thus it begins!
The animals are usually best seen first thing in the morning but we were given the opportunity for our first Safari that very afternoon.
The Safari vehicle, had a driver who is armed and gave us a running commentary. Upon above the left front bumper was a seat perched in that area. This belonged to our scout/tracker who could spot game long before we could.
Behind the driver were three rows of double seats, each higher than the other as you proceeded towards the rear. There were usually two people on each of the seats. They were also completely open. We were advised to keep our appendages in the vehicle at all times and we did our best to obey. We were also advised never to stand up as that could alarm the animals we came across. Over the next two hours we saw water buffalo, a beautiful leopard lying in a branch of a tree, crocodiles hippos and antelopes by the score. What a thrill that was .Back to the lodge we went… discussed our stories at the bar with the other guests and all of the guides.
It was to be an early night to catch the 6 AM safari the next morning.
After supper we were escorted back to our living quarters, where we settled in for some much-needed rest. My wife and I did sit out on the back patio, but we’re somewhat nervous, as well as being very excited for the next days adventures. END: part one