Lions, & Tigers, & Bears... OH MY!

While Sarah & I were stopped over in Port Elizabeth we went to an elephant park & a separate game reserve. Originally we were a little disappointed about the weather because it was a bit chilly & rainy. Later, we discovered it was advantageous for us because the animals were way more sedated & we got more appearances by animals that generally stay hidden the whole day. The reason why they were so sedated is because they would find good shelter from the colder wetter weather & generally stay in one place.

The reserves are fenced in & lightly monitored. The employees do not interact or feed the animals ever. So the animals are definitely still wild, but they are accustomed to the car flow & what not.

The other very valuable lesson that I learned is I have absolutely no interest in going on a safari. We rode around alllllll day long in their open air buckeyes. I am so thankful for the experience that Sarah & I had. Even though it was a bit expensive, I did learn a valuable lesson. It is booooooooooring riding around in those buckeyes. And I have absolutely no desire doing an even longer safari where all you do is ride around looking at animals just laying around chillen. We were so lucky to see all the animals we did, but I consider myself far more lucky to not have settled in for a long intense safari filled with a lot of riding around.

PUMBA

was easily was one of the biggest highlights of our safari. The mamas run with such a distinctive hopping strut with their tale up so the kiddos can follow. It is beyond captivating.

The male ostrich have the darker feathers.

A dung beetle doing what it does best.

Beef- Its what for dinner.

There were very few areas where we could get out of the truck, but this was obviously one of them. It was a neat wooded area with two stories for viewing the elephants.

The only down side of the cooler weather is we did not get to see the elephants play and splash in the water like they normally do. It was still a joy to see them interact in their herd.

We got to see an elephant that was so newly born they did not even know it existed. We only got a few glimpses of it because the herd was so protective of it. We could even see its umbilical cord dragging!

Another baby nursing

EVEN MONKEEEEYSSS!!!

I like this picture because it shows the path that the trucks drive on so clearly.

Hippos are the most dangerous animals in Africa merely because they are so protective of their offspring. They actually are vegetarians. I love this picture because it captured the hippos jaw springing open.

No pictures will ever do justice to the giraffes galloping at full speed.

Pure graceful bobbing back & forth

And Back & forth.

Whatchu looking at?

I love the lioness facial expressions.

The lion on the other hand could hardly be bothered to look our direction. His lady friend was in heat so he had other priorities.

Over all the game reserve experience was wonderful. I just do not know if I will ever seek one out again. But, seeing the giraffes gallop at full speed was easily one of the most surreal moments of my life.

Ain't No Birder

In one day Sarah and I got to crawl through one of the best caves I have ever been to and visit an ostrich farm. The Cave system was extremely well lit & it was a bit like a jungle play land the way we got to crawl around. 

The Ostrich Farm:

I think the Ostrich farm is what really made me miss teaching. We did a huge egg unit back at Eanes kinderland & this was like teacher heaven. There was so much good information. Did you know that Ostrich meat is the leanest meet in the World? Sarah & I had Ostrich steak the night before. It was delish!!! An ostrich egg also can feed up to 16 people for scrambled eggs. 

Most Ostrich are not friendly. Betsy was lame and maybe that caused her to be friendly? The farm only had one other that has ever been people safe. 

Sarah riding an Ostrich. The jockeys can ride them much more gracefully than us. They pull on the necks to direct it. An Ostrich can go up to about 25 miles per hour. 

At the end of our tour we got to see actual Ostriches being born. It was beyond exciting. They had them in an incubator & were able to take them out to show us. Typically it takes an ostrich 4-10 hours to be born. Unfortunately the camera died during these moments. So you guys will just have to go to South Africa to experience it. I'm going back who is coming with me this time?

Penguin Picnic

Sarah & I packed a picnic and hopped onto a train to Simons Town to go check out the African penguins. This day was easily one of my favorite days in Cape Town, if not my whole trip. The train ride was gorgeous, and Simons Town reminded me a lot of Wimbledon in England. It was just this lovely quaint town. 

I wish more than anything My footage could be uploaded to this site. But no dice.... I do have video of the  penguins hopping up & down the stairs & running around with all the children like they were playing hide & go seek. (Not to mention all the footage I have of my kiddos singing & dancing in the lollies of Coffee Bay! But we will just have to save that for another day....)

Look out Ace Ventura here comes Sarah Siegel.

Watch out glamour shots, here I come. 

Sarah & I decided we are going to have our HOLIDAY HOMES here at the penguin park. (Don't worry we have all our friends houses picked out here too!)

Everybody loves basking in the sun. 

Are you to good for your hole?

Everybody also loves a cuddle buddy!

WINOS

Sarah & I started our all day wino fest by going to a cheetah reserve. Random right? Nothing like cheese, chocolate, A LOT OF WINE & wild cats. 

The more wineries I go to the more I see what a process it really is. It is incredible how much they have learned to tinker with the process to speed it a long. They have machines for everything these days. It used to require a person turning bottles for months to get the alcohol & wine to settle right. Now they have machines to do everything which has drastically sped up the process.  

Sarah & the others educated me on the PROPER way to smell wine. Gotta get that nose down in there!

 Now that is more like it...

We went to a total of 5 wineries where we had PLENTY of tastings at each. Sarah could not even finish the last tasting, I of course powered through. This was definitely the most in depth wine tasting I had ever been too. We got the most information, tons of wine, a delicious lunch, plus the countryside was gorgeous.

See what I mean?

P.S.- Watch out guys because I have unfortunately left Coffee Bay, and I am back in the blogging game!

Dahab

Even though it is outdated, I wanted to share the last bit of Sarah & my journey. I have plenty of Coffee Bay photos coming your way so stay tuned. It is bittersweet that I only have 1 more week here in paradise, but I am pretty confident this is where I will move after Christmas! And I do look forward to the upcoming adventure that Helen and I will share.

Dahab is a gorgeous city situated on the red sea. It is cheap, has some of the best diving in the world, and a lot of other fun activities to offer. While I was there we had a great game of volleyball, got to go scuba diving, and another highlight was 4-wheeling all over town.

Sarah Looking Ice-Cold

We had some traditional tea in a village. I also love this picture because you can see how much dirt we really did stirr up.

We got to play cards and watch a cool show with traditional dancing at our hotel.

HOME

I originally arrived to Coffee Bay with Sarah a month ago. One of the first things we did is hike up this cliff overlooking the beach to watch the sunset. The next thing I know we were doing cartwheels. It was at that moment that I was hooked. We spent 4 days there, & then we left to go to Durban to send Sarah back home to the states :( I knew I had to get back & I was hoping to volunteer at one of the local schools.)

Now I have been back in Coffee Bay for 3 weeks and I have about 2 months to go. I have been so blessed in so many ways. I feel like everything in my life is coming together in front of my eyes and I am really hoping that I may move here... (But first I will come back home- don't worry mom!)

I am living at a B&B. I am helping out with the preschool at an amazing Christian orphanage called Khaya Lhetu. The people who have started the program have totally taken me in. They are guardian angels of sorts... And now, the whole village is beginning to welcome me & it is more than exciting. The native language is called XHOSA. (pronounced with a click at the beginning of the word.) The language is exciting & I am picking it up more & more with the children.

I am working on getting some pictures up, but until then you can check out my friend, Jeff's, website that will give you a better feel for the WILDCOAST or TRANSKEI. www.wildcoast.com

This place is magical to say the least. I have never been a part of a community where the animals (dogs, cows, cats, horses, goats, sheep, chickens, roosters, snakes, frogs, you name it) and people all live together so peacefully. In my spare time, I am also learning to surf, make a drum, and doing a ton of hiking.

I have so much more I want to say, but sometimes less is more. Life just makes sense here. I hope all is well back home. Check it out: http://www.wildcoast.com/