FIRST DAY OF R & R : by Neil Hamilton
Friday May 1st, 2009
We left today for some R & R at Lake Malawi. It’s a 3 ½ hr. ride. After about an hour, we stopped at the “Hippo Lodge”, where we had prearranged a boat ride and lunch on the Shire River. We ordered lunch and then went on a 2 hr boat trip. We all went in a pontoon boat with our guide and captain, Maxton. He was friendly and very knowledgeable about plant life, the environment and animal life in the area.
We came across 3 separate families of hippos. For me, as a collector of hippo memorabilia, it was a real thrill to see them in their natural habitat.
We saw 15 – 20 in total, they would all submerge if we got too close. When they surfaced, occasionally, a bird would perch on the hippo’s head, just like the pictures we have all seen. As we moved along, Maxton described the varieties of birds, mostly water and shore birds we were not familiar with.
Then we moved into a marshy area where we saw a bull elephant feeding. He was huge and we were less than 100 feet from him. Then several females and a baby came into view, all feeding and totally oblivious to our presence.
We returned to the lodge, had lunch and continued on our way to Lake Malawi. The trip was uneventful, however, the last 18 kms. into the lodge could be described as an adventure at best, gave us the opportunity to see a pick up truck far beyond its capacity, reminding us of an Indiana Jones movie.
This proves Sandy from Dignitas was right. The capacity of an African vehicle is always “just one more”.
8 comments:
Wow...you certainly lucked out. I am thrilled that you got to see all those hippos. It looks beautiful. Miss you both. Can't wait to hear all the stories and see, what I can imagine is pictures in the thousands.
I am sure I will have a story or two from this end as well.
Love you both,
Vanessa
What an experience!! The only wildlife I've seen in Brantford is robins, blackbirds and doves bathing in the birdbath. We wish you fulfilling experiences admidst the sweat.
Love from afar
Sandi
Dear Neil - YOU GOT TO SEE LIVE HIPPOS!!!!!!!! From one hippo lover to another - I am so happy for you! But tell Smith, we ought NOT to pat the live ones on the head.
Lots of love and prayers,
nephew
And here I thought all the wild life would be in the discos of Zomba. Neil... Bev... check your email, Tammy (Capetown) is trying to contact you.
Hi guys! So glad you got to experience the hippos live! Hope you are drinking in every moment. I will want lots of details as right now i am living vicariously through you. We don't even have leaves on our trees here in Saskatchewan, let alone any interesting wildlife!!
Love and kisses from afar!
Mandy Sean Brookie and Rosie
Hi there,
It is an experience to read about yours...being from Africa it always makes me look at the wildlife that i am used to, like and elephant or hippo, in a new light when someone who doesn't normally see them ( such as yourselves)describes them...
hope the trip is going well and we can see each other in Cape Town..
Tammy
Glad to see you are not part of the wild life. What an experience. Proud of what you are doing. Can hardly wait to hear the stories and all that you accomplished.
Be glad to be coming back to some reasonable spring weather.
All my love,
Dorothy
How exciting! Hippos and elephants! Sounds like you're having the time of your life!
I was at Michele's yesterday and there was a brilliant red cardinal sitting in a tree that was full of white blossoms. The stark contrast of colours was breathtaking and we marvelled at the sight!
Little did we realize that you and Ruth-Lynn have been experiencing something far more exotic and exciting, but I suppose all of God's creations can give us a sense of awe and wonder.
Enjoy every sight, sound, smell, thrill and emotion, and be prepared to experience it all again when you return and tell us all about it! :)
Blessings! Sue G.
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