Sunshine, Safari, & Tree Top Canopy

Safari Sunrise (c) Me!
Garden Route Game Lodge | South Africa

I got the opportunity to go on a three-day safari trip in South Africa as one of the field programs I signed up for with SAS. We flew from Cape Town to a city called Port Elizabeth the day after we docked. It was nice to travel via plane again; a small break from all the sailing!

Waiting to board at the Cape Town airport!

Our safari adventure itinerary was as follows:

3 NTS ELEPHANT BACK SAFARI & TREETOP CANOPY OVERLAND

Day 1:	Sunday, 27 October 2013
07h30 – 08h00	Depart the quayside and transfer to Cape Town International Airport
08h00 – 09h00	Check in for your flight to Port Elizabeth and board the aircraft
09h00 – 10h30	Fly from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth on SA 1805 (including a light snack)
11h00 – 12h30	Transfer from Port Elizabeth towards Addo by coach
12h30 – 14h30	Enjoy lunch on arrival at the Orange Elephant Backpackers Lodge followed by check-in formalities and time to freshen up
14h30 – 14h45	Transfer to Addo Elephant National Park for an afternoon game drive
14h45 – 15h00	Board the safari vehicles
15h00 – 17h00	Game drive within the Addo Elephant National Park
17h00 – 19h00	Transfer back to the lodge and enjoy some leisure time before dinner
19h00	Enjoy dinner at the lodge
	OVERNIGHT ORANGE ADDO BACKPACKERS
Day 2:	Monday, 28 October 2013
07h00 – 07h30	Early breakfast at the backpackers lodge
07h30 – 08h00	Gather belongings and complete check-out  formalities
+/- 08h00 – 12h30	Transfer by road from Addo to Plettenberg Bay including a restroom stop
12h30 – 13h30	Arrive at The Elephant Sanctuary. Bathroom break followed by lunch
+/- 13h30 – 14h45	Embark on a full Elephant Experience at The Elephant Sanctuary: Guided tour by a trained elephant Guide; Full Elephant Introduction in Forest; Touching and interacting with Elephants; Walking hand-in-trunk with Elephants; Feeding (Elephant Food included) & Elephant Back Riding
14h45 – 15h30	Travel to your overnight establishment located in Tsitsikamma
15h30 – 16h00	Arrive Tsitsikamma Lodge and check-in
16h00 – 18h00	Optional (strictly time permitting) visit to Storms River Mouth
19h00	Enjoy dinner at the lodge
	OVERNIGHT TSITSIKAMMA LODGE

Day 3:	Tuesday, 29 October 2013
07h00 – 07h45	Enjoy breakfast
07h45 – 12h00	Check-out and make your way to the starting point for your Canopy Treetop Adventure. After a detailed safety briefing and “kitting up” session, begin your adventure through the Tsitsikamma Forest. Enjoy a light lunch afterwards.
12h00 – 15h30	Travel from the Tsitsikamma Forest to Garden Route Game Lodge
15h30 – 16h30	Check in at the lodge and freshen up prior to your game drive
16h30 – 18h30	Embark on a late afternoon game drive in open 4x4 safari vehicles
18h30	After arriving back at the reserve, freshen up and enjoy dinner at the lodge
	OVERNIGHT GARDEN ROUTE GAME LODGE

Day 4:	Wednesday, 30 October
07h15 – 09h00	Enjoy an early morning game drive
09h00 – 10h00	Return to the lodge for breakfast
10h00 – 10h30	Join a guided tour of the reserve’s Reptile Centre
10h30 – 11h00	Gather your belongings and complete check-out formalities
11h00 – 16h00	Travel back to Cape Town, including a refreshment stop en route (picnic lunch box included provided by the lodge)

The moment I read our schedule, I knew I was in for an adventure! And the fact that we were going to experience all that in exotic Africa made it even more aca-awesome!

GAME DRIVES
I was really looking forward to these safari game drives when I first found out about it. I'm honestly not an animal lover, but I was excited to ride safari jeeps and see cool animals out in the wild. I was especially wanting to spot Africa's "Big Five"-- lion, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros, and the African elephant. These are the top five animals in Africa that are the most difficult to hunt on foot, making them prized games once they do get hunted down. Thus, the name Big Five. The most exciting drive we went on was the one at the Garden Route Game Lodge. Our safari 4x4 was on its way up a hilly landscape to get a closer look at the lions on the mountain when it started to pour rain! Not only that, but at one point, it began to hail! We got beaten down with bits of ice chunks from the sky while on a safari.. in Africa! If you think Africa is all just sun and heat--think again.

It's hailing men

Our last game drive at Garden Route Game Lodge

By the end of our safari trip, we were able to see 4 out of the 5 Big Five animals, with the leopard successfully managing to hide itself from us. We weren't allowed to step off our safari jeeps, because the animals might attack due to the unfamiliarity we were tempting them with. The animals recognize the safari jeeps, but once you distance yourself away from the vehicle, they will sense it and see you as potential threat so they will come get you. And eat you!!! Ok probably not but you never know.

Simba!

King of the Jungle

Ostrich!

Rhinos!!

Water buffalos

Zebra

Giraffe

CANOPY TREE TOP 
Zip lining through the forests of Tsitsikamma was super cool. Not only did we get to see the greener side of Africa, but we also got to experience it via 10 different zip lines connected by the tall trees scattered around the forest. The air was refreshingly cool, and the thrill of zipping through cable lines high above the ground was exhilarating!

They told me to stop towards the end so they can take a photo and I'm  just there dangling

Look back and smile!

Wuhoo!

BONDING WITH ELEPHANTS
As I've said, I'm not an animal lover, so I don't really have a favorite animal. However, after a day spent with African elephants, I can say that they're probably one of the cutest and most adorable animals ever! I got to walk with one elephant named Marula, leading its trunk with my hand. Yes, we were holding hands!!! Sweet. We fed them, too, right before we got to hop on their backs for an elephant ride! It felt like riding a horse, only a much wider horse! It was a bit wobbly, and I had to actually put my arms around our guide's waist so I can keep my balance. Yes, close na close kami nung guide! May pa embrace embrace na agad! Hahaha. Towards the end of our afternoon interacting with the elephants, the people working at the elephant sanctuary (or the "elephant whisperers" as I'd like to call them) shared a few facts and bits of knowledge about elephants. We learned about their anatomy, what differs them from Asian elephants, their lifespan, and interesting stuff like that.

Elephants are just so chill and adorable.

Elephant back ride!

Walking Marula :)

Elephants 101

Those were just the highlights of the trip, but the other little things in between all these activities had bits of adventure in them as well-- from our lodging, to the food we ate, to the long bus ride on the way home. I might have just left my heart in South Africa!

<3