The Bush House

Oops.  I fell behind again.  Here is a post about a trip we took over a month ago to the Madikwe Game Reserve.  It is the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa and is only accessible to people staying in one of its 30 lodges.  It is regarded as one of the best conservation areas in Africa and offers the Big 5.  As an added bonus it is malaria-free!

The land where Madikwe now stands was previously farm land.  The poor soil meant that farming was mostly unsuccesful so the SA government decided that it would be best used as a national park to help economically uplift the disadvantaged area.  In 1991 the area was declared a reserve and 10,000 animals were relocated from other National Parks.

We highly recommend the reserve and hope to return soon.  Here are the photos from our trip...

But first you must see a few photos of our week before we went!  Gio often has friends come home with him on the school bus for some afternoon fun. 

Evening snuggles with Bruno.

We had guide puppy Isaac spend the night.

Jagger was thrilled to have a buddy sleep over!

Sleep overs are exhausting! 

Maria singing while at the vet.

At horse back riding Jagger encountered their resident bull calf.

I always know where to find Jagger-
he loves to sleep on my shoes!

Jagger getting some love at Maria's preschool.

Puppy class is not ALL work!

One of the fun activities at puppy class is "Pass the Puppy" where we get a chance to hold each puppy (to help them get used to handling, grooming, etc).  Jagger clearly loves all of the attention!

Jagger on the obstacle course.

While Jagger were at puppy class Bruno got to have a play date with Lucy.

Jagger was quite thrilled to fall in a mud puddle.

On our way to Madikwe (about 3.5 hours from Pretoria).

We arrived at our lodge in time for dinner.  Then to bed early for our 5AM wake up.

The first thing we saw the next morning was these two male kudu fighting.

Heading into the park to search for more critters.  Our guide Ashleigh was fantastic (and so patient with Gio's 1000s of questions!).

"Effelents!!!"

Our time between game drives was mostly spent collecting millipeeds.

Back on the trails.

Just as we were heading back to the lodge for dinner we found this fellow.

ROAR!

Morning game drive, day 2.

Cheetah brothers.

And what was Jagger doing while we were in Madikwe?  Hanging out with his best girl buddy Daisy.

The big excitement in our part of the reserve this morning was a lion kill of a zebra overnight.

A female lion had made the kill and was busy with her 3 adolescent cubs feasting upon it.

Maria was asleep during this part of the drive and Gio was fascinated!

I cannot get enough of the giraffe sightings.  I just love them!

A view from our lodge's hide onto their watering hole.

Oh, those baby elephants.  

Day #3 and some great rhino sightings.

Back to check on the zebra feast.

Driving back to Pretoria.  Gio cried hard when we left Madikwe.  Looks like we will have to go back as soon as possible.