Senegal and Kruger Park, South Africa

Senegal, one week felt like a lifetime, Especially every conversation because I do not speak French or Wolof. Trying to get anything done was a fiasco. But that is what makes for interesting travel experiences and running into situations that I would not normally encounter. I completely had to trust people to know what I wanted and if not then I just had to to go with the flo. And that is the key, to roll with it.

After a night in Dakar the capital, I went to the town of St. Louis, an amazing town with decaying french architecture; a little piece of land (island) set between the Senegal River and the the Ocean. It is located to the north of Senegal on the border with Mauritania. The bus ride there was never ending not to mention the time waiting to sell each and every last crevice until we left. $8 and 8 hours later I was at my destination. Believe me I did not have the slightest clue where I was going. There just happened to be a guy on the transport from Cuba who lived in St. Louis. He had a boat there where he did who knows what? I got to see the this thing, by far the biggest and boat around. After thanking him for showing me a couple of things I ended up staying in a thatched hut on the beach for $5 with a mattress in the sand. No shower or toilet so after two days I went to $10 a night place with running water so I could clean up. I ended up staying a couple of nights at this little place along the beach and I was the only one there. It made for a personal experience. The dude on duty fixed mint tea and took me to the local restaurants to sample the local cuisine. Not a bad gig. The beach side of St. Louis is a fishing village and they use these wooden pirogues to head out into the ocean to fish 7-10 days at a time. It is unimaginable, the cold, sleep, food; how can they survive out in the ocean for that period of time with way less than the basic necessities. The town has amazing culture and the people are fairly friendly as long as you do not walk around with a camera. The photographic opportunities were endless but caution had to be taken as this many people do not want their picture taken especially from some white boy.

After St. Louis I went back to Dakar and flew from there to Johannesburg. From Jo-burg I flew to Hoedspruit to where I rented a car and had made reservations to stay at Kwa- Mbili Game Lodge for 2 nights then onto Kruger Park for 3 days on my own. The game drive on the second day at the lodge was a once in a lifetime experience. We started off seeing a female cheetah game kill of a male antelope and all of her cubs were feeding ( only and hour or two fresh). When I say this was a thing of beauty it was, but very gruesome. Then a group of 8 or 9 Rhino, then a pack of elephant, a solitary male water bufalo, a male Lion and 4 females, a couple of hippos and then for me a special sighting, a Leopard crusing at sunset marking its territory. We were able to follow it for 5 minutes or so which was breath taking. The lodge itself was exactly what I was looking for, maybe a little too plush for what I need, but I who can complain about a great atmosphere with great food.

The self drive through Kruger was just as amazing. I can not get into all of the details but I will tell you about this most incredible sighting. Here is the story. A female rhino and her baby calf go down to the water to drink. Big bad crocodile preys on baby rhino and mother rhino proceeds in after the baby calf to try and save it and proceeds to drown. The park services pull the mother rhino out to take the horn off (fear of poachers) and so the dead carcus will not potentially contaminate the water as it will be impossible to be devoured in the water. The baby calf will be more than too much for the crocs as it is. So here is the scene when I arrive. The croc is feeding on the baby rhino on one side of the lagoon and on the other side this huge rhino has been pulled out of the lagoon with a pride of lions feeding on the rhino with all of their cubs. Not to mention the lighting was phenomenal which made for great photographs (hopefully). Sorry no photos till I get back.

I am now in Capetown and starting the 45 day road trip in a couple of days. Until next time.
Chao ( I typed up quick so disregard grammar and spelling. Thanks)