Out of Africa Days 3 & 4

Karongwe Private Game Reserve

The next two days had pretty much the same itinerary. We would be awakened by a 5:30 AM knock on our door. After getting ready for the morning, we met the rest of reserve guests near the restaurant for coffee/tea. The guides arrived shortly before 6:00, and we all headed out to our respective vehicles. Gilbert, our driver, has been doing this for 20 years. He told me that it was his dream as a child to be out in the bush, and he has been living his dream. His wife also works at the Shiduli Lodge in the restaurant. Their schedule is 21 days on (when they stay on-site) and 7 days off (when they go back home to their village). 

After an hour and a half or so Gilbert would pull over and set up a snack for us. It was coffee and tea and a little something to eat. Then we would return to the vehicle for another hour or so. Once back at the lodge we would have breakfast. We had free time until lunch, and then we all met again for tea at 2:30. At 3:00 all the vehicles took off for an additional three hour safari, again breaking halfway through for drinks and snacks.

Then there was a short amount of time to get cleaned up before dinner. Our group went to bed pretty early each night due to the early wake up call. I spent most of my off time going through photos and posting on Facebook. The Internet signal wasn't stellar at the lodge, but I was able to get the job done.

Everything was included at the lodge, with the exception of alcoholic beverages with meals or at the bar. They did have offer a small drink on return to the lodge after the afternoon safari, and each afternoon at our break you could have water, a soda, a glass of wine or a beer. I have nothing but good things to say about the Shiduli Private Game Lodge, and the Karongwe Private Game Reserve. During our time there we were able to see the Big Five - lion, leopard, black rhinoceros, African bush elephant and African buffalo. The lion was behind dense brush, and we could only see his tail swishing. We did hear him growl and roar, though, and that was magnificent!

safari animals