One of our favorite places...

Kruger Park: To most people, it is an article in National Geographic, a documentary on television, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. To us, it is next door - only an hour from our doorstep.

Most kids have childhood memories of family vacations - camping or trips to Grandma’s house. Our kids have memories of nights spent at camps inside Kruger Park, falling asleep to distant lion roars. How cool is that?

A few weeks ago, George, the kids, and I went away to Kruger for a couple days. We had never gone there just as a family, with the exception of a day trip or two. We wanted to take one last trip before furlough – and before it got too hot!

We stayed at the Satara Camp this time. We’ve found this to be Lion Country! Not to worry though, the camps are surrounded by high-voltage electric fences. They have nice little thatched roof chalets. We got a chalet that had an outdoor kitchen on the porch. There is nothing like having a braai (BBQ) inside of Kruger Park. To read more, visit their website at http://www.krugerpark.co.za/ .

It was one of the best trips we’ve ever had there. The kids are at an age now that they get SO excited about everything – even the impalas - which are as plenteous as perhaps the
trees. We ‘joke’ that you always know when it’s someone’s first time in Kruger. They stop to look at impalas. :o) We saw 4 of the Big Five; Lion, Elephant, Rhino, and Cape Buffalo among tons of other rare sightings too numerous to list.

The highlight of course was seeing the huge male lion just off the tar road. All morning, Joel was asking God to bring the lions out. We had just headed back out for an evening drive before the gates closed at dusk. Coming upon a gravel road, we noticed several herds of animals: waterbuck and impala. They were all frozen and fixated on one area of grass. Something had them nervous. We turned onto the gravel road, seeing a couple cars pulled over. As we turned the corner, just off the side of the road, a huge male lion lifted his magnificent head out of the tall grass. We turned off the engine (and rolled up the windows!). As he was lounging there in the grass, he lowered his head and laid down. This is why it is illegal to get out of your car inside the park. Even though we KNEW the lion was there, we could no longer see him at all. After a few minutes, he lifted that magnificent head and began sniffing at the air. I began to pray that God would pinch the lion and make him run or roar! And did he ever roar…

Click below to see our actual video clip, this was without zooming in. :o)

Wouldn't you just LOVE to see this with your own eyes? Booking visitors for next term….