Day 8 - August 31, 2011

But, alas, vacation must end.

My last game drive this morning was fairly quiet. We saw the two male lions and the buffalo herd.

Basking in the morning sun.

I am so sad to be leaving. Gomo Gomo has been like a second home. The staff, like a second family. I am not ready for this to end. Phil and Ingrid arrive back at the lodge in two days. I wish I could afford to stay longer… to extend my visit by a few days and spend more time with the two of them and Iwan. But finances, nor time, allow me to do that, so I finish packing and prepare to leave.

Henry the Hippo poses for a few final pictures.

Tomsa makes me cheese and tomato sandwiches for my travels. Iwan and I leave at 12:30 for the airport. A big hug from my dear friend and a few tears and then I am sitting alone in this very small airport waiting for my flight to Joberg and back to reality.

It has been a vacation like no other. As I type this blog from my journals kept in South Africa, I find myself with tears in my eyes again and again. I am missing the peacefulness, the wildlife and my new friends. I have seen four of the Big 5, as they are called (the leopard being the missing one), yet my time has not been defined by just the animals. It has been so much more… incredibly more. Words cannot describe, it must be experienced.

I am planning a return visit with a group in August of 2012 and will send each of you the full itinerary. I hope that you will have the time and means to join me in this far off land. I promise you will never forget your trip.

9.9.11 - The itinerary for August 2012 is almost completed. Send me an email at jenbriggs10@gmail.com if you are interested. Please put South Africa as the subject.