Before leaving the coast and cutting up to Robertson, we stopped at The Garden Route Private Reserve for a game drive. It was a totally different experience than the couple days we spent in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi (north of Durban). They had considerably less land so the animals weren't as "wild," but on the other hand it did ensure that you would see them. We also got to drink beer. Which come to think of it we probably could have done on our other game drives because it's not that there are no rules in South Africa, it's that nobody follows them.
I was anxious to see lions so we drove straight away to their 100-hectare designated area. We found them (two females, one male) lounging in the sun like house cats. It was incredible! They were so huge and scary yet so cuddly. They didn't seem to mind that we were there but our guide told us that at the end of the day they grow tired of spectators and will sometimes chase the 4x4s out. Can you imagine?
On the rest of the drive we spotted zebras, rhinos, wildebeests, elephants, a ton of springbok and impalas, and one giraffe that peed for a good five minutes while our guide gave us giraffe facts: they fight by swinging their heads and bashing the opponent, and newborns can walk within 20 minutes of birth to escape predators.
Really sorry about the lack of photos, the computer/Internet situation has not been very easy over here. Will post a slew when we get home.
