Out of Africa

We're still in Simbambali waiting for the late game drive to muster. To bring you up-to-date,
after I wrote my farewell to you and returned to Lodge 1, you wouldn't believe what I saw.
Annabelle was leaning over this rustic rail of our terrace talking to a large bull elephant that
was munching on the shrubbery not more than 20 feet away.
Then after lunch, when we returned, a rather large baboon was on the porch rail inspecting
the area. It's hard to believe that these animals are able to roam free in these surroundigs
without interference but poaching is a problem and there are very stiff penalties; some
people take the chance since various parts of various animals bring high prices. An elephant
tusk could mean a comfortable retirement for a person. Better than a 401k or a short term
gain in the stock market.

Grandma Annabelle is taking the safari seriously. She sits next to Charles, the driver-guide, and picks his brain about all the fauna and flora we pass on the drive. On our late drive yesterday we saw our first hippo and when he yawned we could see those big molars. He can remain submerged for up to 8 minutes. On the way back to the lodge we had to by-pass a resting hyena who chose to stop in the center of the road and give us a warning sneer.

Last night while having dinner served by Reiner, our waiter, a hippo was grazing within sight
of the open dining area. Dinner consisted of lamb curry and roasted stuffed quail plus
all kinds of fruits and vegetables. The fruits are great here especially the mangos and papaya
like Hawaii.

There were only 4 of us on this mornings game drive (Feb. 22). Service (his real name)
the tracker. Charlie, our driver guide, and moi. It was like a private safari and Annabelle
was in her best form, checking out everything along the way and she had the complete
attention of Charlie, who, fortunately was able to provide all the answers. These fellows
know the region intimately.
Service, began tracking a large lion print but it crossed over to another lodge territory where
we had to stop the search. Kruger is a very large park and is divided into a number of
sections, each under the jurisdiction of a lodge. The animals are free to roam and hunt
without constraint over the entire area but a lodge must keep in its own territory so if an
animal is tracked up to the border of another lodge, it can't violate that territory. We'll just
have to wait and see if that lion crosses back. Although we have seen a female pride, we have
yet to spot a male.

Between game drives, I have been working on a movie script that I plan to produce, direct and
star in. It's an adventure film to be graded "O" for old people, no violence, no sex, no anything.
It's a tale of two people in their eighties, Henry Bogart and Annabelle Hepburn who trek
through darkest Africa in search of an African Costco, home to the elusive Hebrew National
Hot Dog. Unfortunately, they get lost but after sending out a text message they are rescued by 2 handsome Zulus who burst out of the jungle. There is a happy ending when the Zulus lead them to safety and their long voyage back home on the QM2. Please send me a title for this momentous epic because the "African Queen" is already took.

As you can see my brain is being jolted loose along with my teeth by the incessant rattle of
the safari wagon. TOTSIENS, or goodbye in Africaans.