Villa Stenkulla

Our last day in South Africa. The alarm went on at 04.45 and I saw the sun rise from the deck, overlooking the plain below with all it’s animals waking to a new day. It was wonderful ! At 06.00 we once more climbed into the Jeeps. This morning took us out on the river where we saw (and heard) birds….many birds, and among the many a family of African Fish Eagles. Truly mighty birds.On the way back from the river we encountered a group of Very inquisitive Buffalos. A young male looked like he wanted to play a little game of “toss the jeep” which spooked Ioan enough to decide to move us a little further away from the group. We stopped at another waterhole to spot three rather private Hippos…..we more felt them than saw them as they lurked under the grassy banks on the opposite side…..but we ticked off the Hippo on our spotting chart never the less.At 09.00 we were back at the “camp” for a delicious brunch. I’m not much for hot, cooked breakfasts but today it was good to get a hearty meal.After that it was just to pack up and get ready to leave for the airport in P.E. Sad….I surely could have stayed a few more days at this enchanting place!!!!The flight from PE to Johannesburg was the bumpiest flight I have ever experienced. There were truly moments there where I didn’t think we were going to make it. But the flight went alright and we took off from Johannesburg as expected at 22.00. On the flight home a saw Farwell Bafana, about Nelson Mandela’s years in prison and on the airport I had picked up a copy of his “Long walk to freedom”. This trip has definitely inspired me to learn more about the SA history and important characters ! But as with most trips, it was good to get home. I had missed my little family and it was good to fall a sleep in my own bed after 12 days on the move.