Our long coast tour had led us to Mossel Bay, which was only about a 20-30 minute drive to the Gondwana game reservation where we were to have our safari. Mossel Bay, unlike Cape Town, was a small port town with pretty much nothing to do. On a side note, I have been reading the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'brian while on the cruise and they go to a lot of these places which I think is pretty cool having just been there and visited. Anywho it was a cozy little place with a nice restaurant, which I have not doubt mom would have loved. It was right on the point by the water and as we sat down for lunch it had waves breaking about 300 yards out. And the food was declines as well. You really couldn't got wrong with the seafood. We were there for two nights and both nights we were the only people at the Irish bar in town. It had that feeling of being in an old western ghost town. We would walk outside to go back to our town house we were staying at and there would be no cars or people anywhere in site!
So we woke up after the first night's stay and had our safari scheduled for 3pm. We went to grab some lunch beforehand and as we walked out side the weather couldn't have been worse for the occasion. There were scattered showers and the wind was still howling 30-40 knots. This was a little disappointing to say the least, since we had had glorious weather since in South Africa and the one time we need good weather it craps out on us. By the end of lunch the weather looked to be clearing up and felt a glimpse of hope. This, however, only lasted about as long as the drive to the game reservation. Although the bad weather had seemed to clear up over Mossel Bay by the coast, the game reservation being more inland did not share the same reprieve of the weather. We got to Gondwana and stepped out of the car and it was cloudy, raining, and blowing about 30-40 knots. It couldn't have been more miserable, but we were determined. The guides thought we were absolutely insane, but we were here and didn't really have many options. Nobody really wanted to stay another night in Mossel Bay in hopes that it might be better the next day, so we went on with it. They guides couldn't promise us anything, because not unlike humans, animals don't like to be out in bad weather either. The enjoy the security of shelter just as much as the next.
It wasn't all a bust though. We still got to see some of the local wildlife in spite of the less than optimal weather conditions. We didn't get to see any lions (the lion sign was as good as it got!), which was really the only thing I wanted to see, but that will just leave something to do next time. Even though I had seen most of these animals in various zoos, there is something special about seeing them in their native country. Even though it was a reserve, there was still about 30,000 acres to roam. The highlights were getting to see a rhino, elephant, hippo, and for me personally, 
the zebra. I just find it absolutely fascinating that the zebra was able to adapt it's camouflage to the black and white stripes. I mean how did they know that lions see in black and white and that if they chose this particular color scheme they would look like much larger and intimidating as a herd. Here are some of the photos of our safari trip. I hope you enjoy and hopefully I get another chance when the weather isn't horrid!
the zebra. I just find it absolutely fascinating that the zebra was able to adapt it's camouflage to the black and white stripes. I mean how did they know that lions see in black and white and that if they chose this particular color scheme they would look like much larger and intimidating as a herd. Here are some of the photos of our safari trip. I hope you enjoy and hopefully I get another chance when the weather isn't horrid!
ciao,
-J
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