On to Thornybush Reserve

Sunday, September 15.
Breakfast at 5:00, off to the airport at 5:45 for our South African flight at 7:30 to Johannesburg.
We noticed that on the cup for the hot beverages, there was an Xhosa quote: "Traveling opens a window to the world" to which we would heartily agree.
Then there was the 45 minute flight to Hoedspruit in a turbo prop plane followed by a bumpy ride to the Thornybush game reserve and then to our lodge, N'Kaya. Just on the drive in, we saw a giraffe and white rhino mother and baby.
Our bungalow had a thatched roof, living room, two baths and a bed completely enveloped in netting. We were told to meet in ten minutes for "tea" and after that, our first game drive at 3.
Six of us, plus the ranger driving and the tracker on a seat at corner of the hood, set out in an open top Land Rover Defender to see what animals we could find.
And we saw the rhino mother and baby, wart hogs, water buffalo, impalas, wildebeest, water buck and a civet cat before stopping at 5:30 in an open area for gin & tonics, wine and snacks on a "table" at the front of the car.
As it got dark, the tracker swept a spotlight back and forth as we drove,looking for the gleam of eyes looking back at us.
By the time we headed back, we'd seen a female lion with her adolescent daughter and a young leopard finishing off an impala kill.
At 7:30 it was time for drinks before dinner, which we ate on an open air but thatched roof dining patio.
Each day we will have a morning drive beginning at 6 to look for the animals as they wake up rest or nap in the middle of the day, then go out again for a dusk and evening drive.