Well, I’ve landed in Africa with a bang!!

Met up with my mate “Peca” at the Johannesburg airport yesterday morning after a long flight from Heathrow & was glad to finally get there. Still had about another three hour wait for our flight on to Vic Falls though, but at least I could stretch the legs a little as I had been stuck on a widow seat & only got up once in 12 hours. By the time I got to bed last night at “Dimbangombe”, the HMI ranch we are staying at, I had been awake for most of the previous 42 hours and I don’t think a wild hungry lion could have woken me!

We did not have to wait long to get our first African experience, with the first encounter of “The Big Five” happening before dinner soon after we got settled. The farm has all sorts of wildlife roaming through as there are absolutely no fences at all, and they also have there own ‘pet’ elephant. She is a beautiful 9 year old baby that was rescued after her mum was trapped by poachers & was well trained by her constant companion & he was more than willing to give us both a ride. Biggest horse I’ve ever been on that’s for sure. Extraordinarily intelligent animals & it was amazing the tricks she had been taught.

To back track a little…

I had a long stay at the Heathrow airport after landing there at about eight in the morning & not having to catch the connector till 7 that night. Luckily they let me into the British Airways lounge as I’m a member of the Qantas Club, but not after first saying ‘no’ and letting me walk away. It must have been my ‘hung dog’ sad expression as I walked away that changed their minds as they called me back & said “Yes we’re sorry, but you are eligible to enter”. Well I wasn’t sorry…. As inside they had comfortable lounges, free food, free drink & free internet access which was one hell of a lot better than was on offer outside.

It was a long day & being tired I thought I may be able to get a quiet corner to sleep but my body clock wasn’t in that idea & refused to let me. It was great internet access & I made a stack of calls on Skype to fill in a lot of the time & sent off a few emails as well.

One pity was that I found out a bit late that two of my Nuffield mates were in the airport as well. Craige & Simon were over in another part of the airport, which is like a city itself, & if I had have known earlier I could have made it across there to catch up with them…. Still, I talked to Craige on Skype with a link up to another Nuffielder Jason who was still in West Australia… at the same time. That Skype setup is really good if you are traveling overseas.

Also, it was great to hear (once we got phone connection in Jo-Burg) that Cathy had arrived home safe and sound. Actually Cathy had the best flight she has had yet, as she got upgraded to Premium & was pampered all the way home… Wish I could say that I’d organized that as a treat but I didn’t!. Biggest thrill for Cathy though was to come at the airport in Brisbane when she was let straight through security (Cathy has usually always been double checked, much to her annoyance!), and then she was almost ‘teary’ to see Rebecca there to meet her as a big surprise. So a big thankyou for that Bruce & Rebecca as another six weeks apart is going to be tough, and I’m really pleased that people are helping out…

Back to Africa….

Peca & I have been treated like kings at the ranch & today we have been taken to town (37klms) away to see the majestic & world famous “Victoria Falls” which were fantastic, & also to a crocodile farm & now to lunch (& internet access) at a great location overlooking a waterhole frequented by an array of animals.

Also, at the crocodile farm we saw the second of the Big Five…a magnificent huge lion!!

Its all about the farming…….

I have no phone access for some reason, & only internet in town so I’m not sure when I’ll be back on line….The farm manager is home tomorrow & we expect to be very busy over the next few days….with farming stuff!.

So till next time….