Good bye to Makalali

Final Day at Makalali:  Wednesday 16 October

Lone Lion enjoying the morning sun

Our Final Photo Shoot at Makalali

I slept well waking to noisy baboons jumping on my roof and hollering to each other as they do.  I smile to myself, I won't miss the baboons but I will everything else!  I am ready before 6am, the sun has risen and the sky blue and clear.  I wonder if the German couple are close to Johannesburg yet.  Two of our group have decided to forgo this morning's safari and sleep in.  The three of us each have our own long seat to ourselves and I sit in the middle of my seat.  I hope I am safe from the scratchie branches and overhang which can surprise you un-expectantly when they smack you across the face or arm!  I relax and enjoy the jeep rising and dipping over the uneven landscape.  I am not expecting to find the elusive leopard.  I am just happy to have seen all the varied wildlife that Makalali has to offer.  We come across a sole male lion just sitting, in the bush enjoying the morning sun.  Lawrence said he is far from home and just having a rest.  We marvel at the white rhino, zebras, giraffes and impala.  A whole herd of impala are in front of us and they take off as we approach, running and jumping away. We spot a mongoose which insists on running for its life along the track with the jeep following slowly behind.  Finally it makes a decision to escape the track and head off into the bush. No leopard today.  We enjoy our morning coffee in a clearing while I take some last minute photos.  We return to camp and after our scrumptious breakfast
Francine the wife of the General Manager introduces herself and we sit and chat for a while.  They have only been in charge here for a couple of months but they have managed other safari reserves and are looking at maintaining all which is good at Makalali and improving it without taking away its rustic charm.  It is all too soon we are back on the road to Hoadspruit airport once again and headed for Johannesburg.


Italian Replica Arcade next to our hotel

Fortunately our hotel had our three separate rooms ready for us and there is no mix up this time.  A large casino is attached to the hotel but none of us are gamblers.  Instead we dine in the arcade and I enjoy a seafood plate, carafe of white wine and small dessert for the equivalent of $12 AUD.  The same meal would cost over $50 in Australia. Wages in South Africa are much smaller than Australia and therefore they have cheaper meal prices.  The arcade is a replica of Italy with a large statue of Michelangelo's David at one end.  The ceiling is painted to look like the sky and the lights are always dim.  One of the group says there is a similar arcade in Las Vegas. 
There are no baboons on my roof tonight.  I dream of my incredible adventures.  Tomorrow we spend all day returning home to Perth.