Every day we rose at 4:45 for the 5 AM morning drive- I didn't go on all of these since the babies were not always ready to be left with a sitter for the morning. It started out a little brisk but as soon as the sun rose we were warm and ready for the summery day. After a three house safari, we came home to a full spread breakfast with a special each day that was delicious and an all you can eat policy. We spent the afternoon lounging around, getting massages, watching elephants bath in the watering hole, or going with the kiddos on a bumble. This bumble was a pint size safari ride, just 30 minutes in length and perfect for spotting the zebra or elephant. It was on one of these bumbles that the wild dog was first spotted. Only Daddy, Little Guy, Scott, and Judah were there, but they snapped a million pictures so we got to re-live it. After an afternoon of relaxing we would head out for our second game drive and return for dinner. We always enjoyed an extended cocktail hour before dinner which gave me plenty of time to get the kiddos down to bed and have a sitter come up to stay with them so I could enjoy dinner as well. After dinner we headed in because a) it was late and we had to get up early and b) there are wild animals all around so wondering in the dark is not a good idea.
The lodge had kids hour (Little Guy was just a little too young to stay focused the whole time) and a staff that made you smile every time you walked in. We were greeted by name and throughout our four nights there we were treated like family. The food was unreal, Daddy compared it to a cruise ship with the "all you can eat order both entrees" mentality. Little Guy loved watching the birds dive into the pool and he was always excited to spot a monkey trying to get into the lodge, he loved yelling "Get that monkey", just like Woody. The ramp down to watering hole gave me constant anxiety as it started 20 feet above the ground and had no side railing besides a little hand rail. Not only was I worried what a 20 foot fall would do, but the land below was outside of the electric fence, so between the wild animals and the electric fence he could encounter, I kept Wesley close to my side. Other highlights from our time at Tuningi included the family set of bathrobes to use after we indulged in our outdoor waterfall shower overlooking the elephant path, the fireside broma we enjoyed on our last night, complete with a singing performance from the wait staff, the guide Christo and his expectant wife Wilma (due in April), the sweetest ladies ever who not only served your food, cleaned your room, and offered spa treatments, but they also held your babies and played with them while you ate or simply took a moment to relax. We can we go back???
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