BEWARE: LONG POST. READ AT OWN RISK!
Headed home somewhere over the Atlantic. From Dakar to Atlanta I heard those magic words, “Mr. Staples, your new seat assignment is 2B.” An upgrade to business class on an 8 ½ hour flight REALLY makes a difference. The seats almost lay flat. I slept for awhile.
I ended up with about 3 hours in Cape Town Tuesday morning after my press interview and before I needed to leave for the airport. So I took a trip to Table Mountain. A beautiful mountain that overlooks the city. You get to the top on a cable car. One interesting experience…(shows how jaded the world can make us). I had the same cab driver on the way back to the hotel that I had on my way to Table Mountain. All of a sudden, he is taking me the long way, stopping at multiple locations to let me take pictures. All the time while the meter is running. So now my 70 rand (about $9) cab ride is approaching 200 rand. I don’t have that much money. My thought was, “this guy is taking advantage of my running up the meter.” So I tell him that I don’t have that much money with me. His comment is, “That’s not a problem. It’s not about the money. I just wanted you to see my country. To be able to show the pictures to your family.” Wow! Made me feel bad for my initial thoughts.
So working backwards a bit, on Monday August 18th I gave my presentation at the Symposium. We had a good crowd. I would guess about 125. It was on a big stage in a large sloped auditorium at the convention center. I presented for an hour. I thought it went well. Earlier in the day we had done two other media interviews and worked the booth.
So now to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (note that I will have a link posted by the end of this weekend to see the pictures. Not all 517 of them, so don't get alarmed). I got picked up at noon by a driver who drove me from the Monte Casino Hotel to the gate of the game reserve. It is a three hour drive. My driver’s name was Max, a big black guy with a laugh that seemed to go on forever. We talked a bunch on the way there. He “loves Jesus.” He hadn’t ever heard of the LDS church. Max then drops me off at the reserve gate as private cars can’t drive on the reserve. Leon, the lodge manager, picks me up on the Land Rover and we drive for about 20 minutes to the lodge. When I arrive all the staff is lined up in front to great me and shake my hand. A quick bite to eat, ditch my luggage, get a tour, and I talk Leon into going out on a late afternoon drive. Leon and his with Arina manage the lodge. They are young – 27 years old. She is really sweet and he knows everything about the bush, the animals, the birds – everything! On this drive we see Impala, Kudu, and a Brown Snake Eagle. On the drive with us are a local couple Dave and Gail – very nice. We stop for some snacks and water and watch the sunset over the bush.
When we get back, one other couple has checked in. Also local from South Africa. We have an incredible dinner then off to bed. You have to be escorted to your room after dark (so you don’t get eatenJ). You also are given a radio in case there is a problem during the night. The rooms are amazing. Very, very nice. Far from roughing it. Wake up call is 6 am to leave by 6:30 am.
Saturday morning and off we go. I’m up front. It’s kind of cold since it is winter. These Land Rovers are completely open, but the animals see it as a single item so they thing we are big! The first thing we find are fresh elephant tracks. We track him and the broken branches, dung, and fresh urine for about 20 minutes, but no success. Amazingly, the elephants climb the mountains and are hard to spot.
We then spot Rhinos. We are able to get very close and to get some great pictures. Rhino is what I wanted to see the most, so this was incredible. They look so prehistoric. We watch one of the baby rhinos charge a male who gets too close to the baby’s mother. The rest of the morning is filled with kudu, impala, zebra, wildebeest, wart hog, and clip springer. It was awesome. We also went looking for a lion that Leon had seen a couple days earlier, but no luck. Back to the lodge as the animals don’t move during the day.
Our lodge – Kudu Clearwater is one of 52 lodges, mostly private, on this 39000 hectare reserve. It only houses 10 guests at a time. It is owned by a woman who owns a winery. Lunch is great. We then head out about 3:45 in the afternoon. Leon is determined to find a Lion for me. Radios connect the different guides out on the reserve. Leon hears that there is a lion sighting. It is far, but we have time to get there. We hurry down the red dirt roads. It takes about an hour to get there, but we find them. Right when they are starting to move. A mom and three young lions. We follow them and watch them play with each other. Very cool. We’re with them for about 20-25 minutes.
I ended up with about 3 hours in Cape Town Tuesday morning after my press interview and before I needed to leave for the airport. So I took a trip to Table Mountain. A beautiful mountain that overlooks the city. You get to the top on a cable car. One interesting experience…(shows how jaded the world can make us). I had the same cab driver on the way back to the hotel that I had on my way to Table Mountain. All of a sudden, he is taking me the long way, stopping at multiple locations to let me take pictures. All the time while the meter is running. So now my 70 rand (about $9) cab ride is approaching 200 rand. I don’t have that much money. My thought was, “this guy is taking advantage of my running up the meter.” So I tell him that I don’t have that much money with me. His comment is, “That’s not a problem. It’s not about the money. I just wanted you to see my country. To be able to show the pictures to your family.” Wow! Made me feel bad for my initial thoughts.
So working backwards a bit, on Monday August 18th I gave my presentation at the Symposium. We had a good crowd. I would guess about 125. It was on a big stage in a large sloped auditorium at the convention center. I presented for an hour. I thought it went well. Earlier in the day we had done two other media interviews and worked the booth.
So now to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (note that I will have a link posted by the end of this weekend to see the pictures. Not all 517 of them, so don't get alarmed). I got picked up at noon by a driver who drove me from the Monte Casino Hotel to the gate of the game reserve. It is a three hour drive. My driver’s name was Max, a big black guy with a laugh that seemed to go on forever. We talked a bunch on the way there. He “loves Jesus.” He hadn’t ever heard of the LDS church. Max then drops me off at the reserve gate as private cars can’t drive on the reserve. Leon, the lodge manager, picks me up on the Land Rover and we drive for about 20 minutes to the lodge. When I arrive all the staff is lined up in front to great me and shake my hand. A quick bite to eat, ditch my luggage, get a tour, and I talk Leon into going out on a late afternoon drive. Leon and his with Arina manage the lodge. They are young – 27 years old. She is really sweet and he knows everything about the bush, the animals, the birds – everything! On this drive we see Impala, Kudu, and a Brown Snake Eagle. On the drive with us are a local couple Dave and Gail – very nice. We stop for some snacks and water and watch the sunset over the bush.
When we get back, one other couple has checked in. Also local from South Africa. We have an incredible dinner then off to bed. You have to be escorted to your room after dark (so you don’t get eatenJ). You also are given a radio in case there is a problem during the night. The rooms are amazing. Very, very nice. Far from roughing it. Wake up call is 6 am to leave by 6:30 am.
Saturday morning and off we go. I’m up front. It’s kind of cold since it is winter. These Land Rovers are completely open, but the animals see it as a single item so they thing we are big! The first thing we find are fresh elephant tracks. We track him and the broken branches, dung, and fresh urine for about 20 minutes, but no success. Amazingly, the elephants climb the mountains and are hard to spot.
We then spot Rhinos. We are able to get very close and to get some great pictures. Rhino is what I wanted to see the most, so this was incredible. They look so prehistoric. We watch one of the baby rhinos charge a male who gets too close to the baby’s mother. The rest of the morning is filled with kudu, impala, zebra, wildebeest, wart hog, and clip springer. It was awesome. We also went looking for a lion that Leon had seen a couple days earlier, but no luck. Back to the lodge as the animals don’t move during the day.
Our lodge – Kudu Clearwater is one of 52 lodges, mostly private, on this 39000 hectare reserve. It only houses 10 guests at a time. It is owned by a woman who owns a winery. Lunch is great. We then head out about 3:45 in the afternoon. Leon is determined to find a Lion for me. Radios connect the different guides out on the reserve. Leon hears that there is a lion sighting. It is far, but we have time to get there. We hurry down the red dirt roads. It takes about an hour to get there, but we find them. Right when they are starting to move. A mom and three young lions. We follow them and watch them play with each other. Very cool. We’re with them for about 20-25 minutes.
It is getting late and so we start to head back. Then just before dusk we make a turn and in the middle of the dirt road is the big back side of a bull elephant. We stop and watch. He turns and begins watching us. We are about 25 yards from him not sure what he is going to do. They frequently charge vehicles, so Leon is ready to put it in reverse. Instead he goes off the trail and begins to climb the mountain. Amazing to watch this 5 ton animal climb. Wow. My elephant pictures aren’t very good because of the lack of light, but it was amazing to see. 
We then drive the rest of the way home in the dark.
Dinner Saturday night is outside around a large fire. The five guests all become pretty good friends. Then off to bed.
Sunday morning I get up. No hot water as a water line had burst, but it gets fixed by 8 am. I get ready, have some cereal and it’s time to leave. Zebra and Wildebeest graze just outside the back of the lodge. I was sad to go. What an amazing experience seeing Heavenly Father’s creations. This is something I never thought I would get to do. I quickly developed a friendship with Leon. I invited him and Arina to come to America and stay with us. We drove slowly back. He shows me the tracks of an elephant who had come into camp the night before to drink. Leon and I talk about religion, family, and just about everything else. At the gate the car doesn’t arrive. I call and they have the pickup scheduled for 11 instead of 10. Leon waits with me until the driver comes. It’s Max again. We listen to African gospel music all the way to the airport. On a plane and off to Cape Town.
Overall, this was a great trip. One of the highlights of the adventure-filled life that I’ve lived. By nature I have a STRONG curiosity gene (always want to know what's behind door number three) and this kind of stuff fits that well. I’m very appreciative to have had the opportunity. I hope to return with my family sometime in the future. All that said, I’m really excited to get home!
We then drive the rest of the way home in the dark.Dinner Saturday night is outside around a large fire. The five guests all become pretty good friends. Then off to bed.
Sunday morning I get up. No hot water as a water line had burst, but it gets fixed by 8 am. I get ready, have some cereal and it’s time to leave. Zebra and Wildebeest graze just outside the back of the lodge. I was sad to go. What an amazing experience seeing Heavenly Father’s creations. This is something I never thought I would get to do. I quickly developed a friendship with Leon. I invited him and Arina to come to America and stay with us. We drove slowly back. He shows me the tracks of an elephant who had come into camp the night before to drink. Leon and I talk about religion, family, and just about everything else. At the gate the car doesn’t arrive. I call and they have the pickup scheduled for 11 instead of 10. Leon waits with me until the driver comes. It’s Max again. We listen to African gospel music all the way to the airport. On a plane and off to Cape Town.
Overall, this was a great trip. One of the highlights of the adventure-filled life that I’ve lived. By nature I have a STRONG curiosity gene (always want to know what's behind door number three) and this kind of stuff fits that well. I’m very appreciative to have had the opportunity. I hope to return with my family sometime in the future. All that said, I’m really excited to get home!
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