Top 10

 It’s been just over 10 months since we’ve started this journey and thought a top ten list would be appropriate.  Lisa will have her own list. In no particular ranking:

1.  Kalahari - Dangerous, exciting, challenging, dead quiet apart from the lion huffing and hyena howls. The silence is perfect which makes leaving so difficult.  No room for modesty here.

2.  Ronciglione - a quaint city in Italy with a historical slant but mostly devoid of tourists.  After a day you know the names of the butcher, the person at the fruit stall, the doctor and more.  Subsequent days you are met like a long lost cousin.  Lisa has introduced us to her friends here and we’ve been met with open arms.  It’s genuine.

3.  The thorn tree - while in Kruger we were on the road to the next camp where we encountered a tree felled by elephants and blocking the road.  Confidently, after removing a tree in the Kalahari, I attached a tow strap and pulled it to the side of the road.  My mate, Nic, decided it needed to be further removed and we should pull the strap.  With one mighty pull the tree rolled and entrapped Nic.  Now, this is no friendly tree as the thorns are two sided with one being razor sharp and the other side being barbed in one direction.  Bloody and entangled in the tree with lions and other predators on the prowl we tried to remove as many thorns possible before being lunch.  The girls were not amused.

4.  Franschhoek - The home of our great friends Nic and Gill.  They’ve made our stays in Africa special every time.  I cry when I leave.

5.  Kruger - we spent over two months in Kruger with great experiences.  It’s difficult to explain but it is really a special place especially when an elephant charges Lisa.

6.  Jock Lodge/Fitzpatrick’s- An amazing stay there and joined by my daughter and her husband along with Nic and Gill.  Jani our guide was spectacular and we had great fun.

7.  Travels with Ron and Valerie - although it was a brief time in Portugal it was fun.  Ron is always entertaining in some sort of traumatic way.  Why doesn’t he ever get hurt on the golf course?

8.  Marakele NP - A complete surprise as all the sites said Marakele had minimal wildlife.  We saw young lions stalking a rhino calf, lions mating every ten minutes for 2-3 hours.  Felt a little inadequate until I thought the 12 second encounter could be bested.

9.  Driving - 30,000kms over southern Africa is a challenge but there’s so much out there.  Hours without another car, deep sand that could leave you stuck for days, setting up camp and having a home.  

10.  Getting married - Of course I needed to include this for no other purpose than personal benefits to come. :-). We had a spectacular wedding hosted by our new friends Jan and Reena and co-ordinated with Gill.  A beautiful wedding followed by golf through the orchards and finished with a braii and good wine.

Epilogue - None of this wouldn’t have been possible without my supportive partner and wife. It’s been difficult, items have been tossed about and words exchanged, almost always 95% by me.  We carried on, survived, enjoyed, and planned the next adventure.  It’s been a great adventure and, hopefully, more in the future.