On to Zebula!

On Thursday, August 4th, we packed up the luggage we had (Eric & Sadie's luggage was found but was being held at the Johannesburg airport) and piled into the charter plane that would take us back to civilization. We landed in Joburg, retrieved our lost luggage, rented a Mercedes Vito (think small bus) and followed Pete to their vacation home at Zebula, a private nature reserve, golf club, bush lodge, and spa.

Pete & Andree's home is in a quiet setting at the back of the reserve with lots of wide open vistas and plenty of game sightings. Lauren & Sarah (with some help from their parents) had many activities planned for us including horseback riding, a visit to a nearby reserve that specialized in breeding cheetahs, and a South African chocolate tasting! After just a few hours in Zebula, we all felt right at home. By the second day, we felt like we'd been there forever. We will never forget our time at Zebula and these days spent with Andree, Pete, Sarah & Lauren...

Saying goodbye to the Staff at Leopard Rock Lodge

Approaching the "Airport" at Madikwe Game Reserve

Our Mercedes Vito - we stopped to load up on provisions

Andree & Annie prepare dinner on our first night at Zebula

The happy bunch...

Sarah helps Pete light the lanterns at the boma

Lauren and Sarah taught us how to take "Fairy Wing" photos

Pete & Eric head off for an early-morning ride

 A colorful crowd on our walk to the clubhouse

We met the dads coming back from their ride

Josh was a powerhouse at the driving range

Lauren showed good form

Sadie having a go at it

Sarah was total concentration

Eric clowning around with Lauren's teeny club

Dorian was a natural

Lunch on the back patio 

On our 2-hour trail ride though the game reserve

Ari rode "Sandy" 

Posing with our Trail Guide & Ranger, Sunell.
Pete, Sarah, Josh, Sadie, Sunell, Dorian, Ari, Lauren, Annie
(Eric rode too but he was behind the camera)