AFRICA, beautiful Africa! (Chapter 1)

There's no way to show all of our incredible pictures on here, but I'm going to give it my best effort through several postings. You will need to come by the Mack home for a full display of photos and video!

We had the most unbelievable experiences in South Africa. Every morning at 5:30 AM we went on an open jeep game drive for three hours. In the middle of the game drive, our guide, JP, stopped for a quick cup of coffee and biscuits overlooking the Sabi river or the African bush. We'd return at 8:30 for a full made-to-order breakfast buffet at the lodge. The morning was ours to enjoy. Incredible lunches were served at leisure, and high tea with scones and other treats followed at 4.

We left again at 4:30 or 5 for another three hour game drive. We stopped half way through the evening drive for a "Sun downer." JP set up a table and table cloth with wine, beer, liquors, juices, dried mango, biltong (African beef jerky) and dried apricots. It was a fantastic way to watch the sun set in the African sky.

We were always greeted with the cheeriest "Good Evening" upon returning to the lodge as well as hot, lemon-scented towels to freshen up with. That was followed by an elaborate spread of native foods such as Ostrich, Impala, Chicken, vegetables, salads and more. The dining was probably the finest we've experienced... and never ending!!!

That's it for chapter one. Stay tuned for plenty more stories. It was an experience of a lifetime!!

Our bed draped with mosquito nets.


The fantastic outdoor shower that overlooked the bush and Sabi River. We watched elephants, a rhino and impala walk by our suite from here.



Before we even made it to the lodge on the first day, we had the most incredible white rhino sighting! He stayed and ate for a good 15 minutes before we drove off.


"Our Group." We spent every game drive, and a lot of our free time, with the Adams and Hermans. Kelly (the tall, blond man) was Mike's greatest audience!


Our "Sundowner" being set up by JP. South African beer and wine in the middle of the bush!


Our first elephant sighting. This was from the lodge when we were eating lunch the first day. Many more elephant photos to come!