Capetown- The Waterfront and a Braai

         We arrived in Capetown on Friday (12/6) evening after QUITE the adventurous transfer...apparently Little Guy gets carsick and we didn't know this until we started our four hour transfer drive and he threw up everywhere...like all over his car seat, his shirt, the floor, his toys, his mama, his daddy, and everything in between.  He's never thrown up before so he had no idea what was happening and it was just a total sad disaster.  We ended up on the side of road changing clothes twice (and throwing them away which killed me!) and trying to clean as best we could with a roll of paper towels and a bar of soap (talk about the worst day to have run out of baby wipes) all the while trying to catch a domestic flight that was getting closer and closer to taking off.  Spoiler alert, we made the flight, but just barely and with a quick stop in the snack bar for some individual wine bottles for some our in flight enjoyment.
         When we landed in Capetown we had a little confusion with our transfer time so we had some time to kill in the airport...it was a long day, but by the time we made it to our most amazing Capetown villa, all was forgotten.  We arrived to a prepared lamb dinner complete with a stocked fridge and two resident dogs, Sophie and Ginger...Wesley was in heaven to be in a house with dogs!  We mustered enough energy to bath Little Guy (he had after all spent all day lingering in the scent of throw up) and then it was off to bed.
          We spent Saturday the 7th exploring the water front, complete with lunch at Cape Grace and plenty of market shopping to fill our suitcases.  Capetown is an amazing city that just feels welcoming- there is so much history and since Nelson Mendela had passed away just a few days earlier, there were so many touching memorials and notes of remembrance to see.  Later that night we had our friends the Thompsons over for a traditional braai.  I met Doug last time I was in South Africa and I was so excited for him and his family to meet my hubby, boys, and my mom.  We had the best time eating on the ivy covered veranda and watching the kids play in the garden.  We ended the night cheersing to a great vacation and the hope that we'll have a chance to show the Thompsons California on day soon!

Tuningi Reserve

          Our first safari lodge was Tuningi in Madikwae game reserve.  We spent Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning there (12-2 to 12-6), indulging in the spa services, a prime game viewing watering hole, infinity pool, and phenomenal guiding and game drives.
          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???
       

Our first game drive

We made it to the bush!  It was a long day, but we were handsomely rewarded when the second animal we saw on our first game drive was a wildebeest being killed by a pride of lions- yes, after feeling like we had hit the jackpot finding a pride of lions on our first drive, we heard the death cry ( I thought it was a lion roar) of the wildebeest and we went tearing through the bush to find the lion still finishing off its prey.  We had all the babes with us...Wesley remarked "All fall down" and Judah was a little hesitant at first to look at what was happening, but we explained the food chain and everyone seemed okay with it.  It was remarkable to watch these animals eat, and what a treat when the lion cubs came out to feast as well.  We have certainly set the bar for the rest of our safari!  Here are some photos from our first game drive- we saw elephant, zebra, lions, wildebeest (alive and dead), and enjoyed our first sun downer.

  

Our African Adventure 2013 has Begun

We have arrived!  After 24 plus hours in transit, we are on African soil.  The flight was manageable...the baby bassinet was a life saver, however it was me and the two babes together and my mom and hubby together 20 rows back.  They were lucky enough to have emergency row seating but their TVs were broken.  After arriving in Jo'berg, we were greeted at the gate and taken to our hotel, where our room was not ready.  We couldn't believe it was only nine in the morning, it felt like midnight and we all wanted to sleep.  When we finally got into our rooms we took a three hour power nap (we all could have slept more but wanted to try to get on their time schedule), then headed to dinner with the rest of our group!  Tomorrow we head out to Madikwe via a four hour drive, let's hope Mr. Wyatt Bear is in the mood for a car ride!  Photo recap-  A group shot before we left for the airport.  Our family of four...are we ready for 24 hours of flying or what?  Smiling Mr. Wyatt Bear in the Jo'berg airport.  Little Guy helping Daddy spot our luggage.  Little Guy checking out the holiday decor in our hotel.  Our first group dinner in the Jo'berg hotel.  Our family enjoying the fresh air and stretching our legs after our trans-Atlantic flight.