The South Africa Adventure - Cape to Addo Day 3

Monday, July 30th, 2018

On our way to Outshoorn this morning, we stop at this beautiful lookout. Everybody climbs over the wall and scrambles along a goat track. Everyone except me, of course.

Looking down and seeing the railing down there, I can't believe this would be the only way down, so I go in search of an easier way.

Sure enough, there are perfectly good steps a bit farther back.

Down there is the bridge of the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Train which stopped running because the sandstone mountain sides were becoming too dangerous. Who knows, perhaps one day it will be revived.

Our next stop is the Cango Wildlife Ranch where we are given a fabulous guided tour.

One of the first animals we see is this cute Blue Duiker, the smallest antilope.

Von der Decken Hornbill - Tockus deckeni

Fruit bats - flying foxes - just like the ones we used to have in our orchard

Grey-winged trumpeter

African Bush Pig

Cape griffon vultures

The lovely legs of a Marabou Stork

More lovely legs: Greater Flamingo

Egyptian Goose with goslings

Ring tailed Lemur

Mrs Pygmy Hippopotamus

Mr Pygmy Hippopotamus who has to be kept separate because they squabble

Spotted-necked Otter

The Marabou Stork is apparently quite unpredictable and dangerous

Mr Marabou giving us the evil eye

Nile crocodiles

Leopard tortoises

I much prefer tortoises to crocs

After this tour, we went onto the cat walk, so called because that's where you get to see the big pussies.

Meet Mabhuti, the Serval

Next we see the Southern African Cheetah

These lovely 'little' pussy cats.

The Leopard takes a bit of finding, and there she is, up the tree, looking down her nose at us.

Mr and Mrs Lion - Panthera Leo - these two are white lions

Here are the two white tigers

They are kept apart but get to swap enclosures daily.

The most exciting moment arrives when we can choose which animal we want to have a close encounter with.

I choose the juvenile cheetahs. There are three of them in the enclosure and I get to pat everyone of them.

Naturally, I am not alone in the enclosure. There is the guide/animal carer, a bodyguard and a photographer who takes photos with my camera.

I'm down on my knee for the first baby, but it feels a bit torturous on the old knee.

These big cats purr just like any cat, only louder.

Just as my knee gives in and I move on to the next pussycat, my camera battery goes flat and the next photos all have to be taken with the mobile phone.

The cheeky fellow behind me thinks he could have a belly rub, but the carer quickly turns him back on his side.

I'm sure I could accommodate a little cat like that at home, but the carer tells me I'd have to take him as well. Too much trouble as I would then need the bodyguard too.

After this wonderful experience, we go on to the Ostrich Farm for some more close encounters.

Reluctantly, I go in to give this ostrich lady a hug. But I must admit, I am a bit apprehensive.

It is only because the guide keeps her busy with food that I am happy enough to do this.

It's easy to tell why they get turned into feather boas and feather dusters. They feel incredibly soft and silky.

Oh no. Don't stop feeding her!

Mr Ostrich. You wouldn't want to meet him without barriers.

These are young ones.

 I get talked into this little stunt for a bit of fun, but I'm gad when it's over.

That's how tough these eggs are. They carry the two Claudes easily.

After the visit, the two of us share this platter. Yes, I actually eat some of the animals I have just visited. I do feel a bit terrible about it, but it is actually very nice.

After lunch, we drive on to the  Cango Caves

All these photos are still taken with just the mobile phone.

These caves seem quite strange to me as they are completely dry. No water at all anywhere, no drips working on forming more stalactites and stalagmites. 

Walking around in the caves, in the semi dark and with lots of other people feels a little unsafe for me, but one of my kind fellow travelers is always there to help. 

Coming down the mountains, we stop at this lookout to take in the scenery.

The sun still shines down there, but up here in the hills the light is fading fast.

We arrive in Sedgefield at our accommodation which is a guesthouse in the middle of town.

We walk down the road to a pizzeria for dinner.

Here we all are. In the foreground, Machiel our driver and guide and Claudine the Canadian girl.

In the back, the three Indian doctors Ganeshmurthi, Ujjwal and Praveen and of course myself, being the grandma of the group by a distance of at least 30 years - smile.