Wi-Fi disappears in the morning, cutting off some of the ability to stay connected to the business stuff back in the States, which is just as well. We need to get an early start for our 5 and a half hour drive to our safari destination. We get out at around 7:15AM and encounter the rather bizarre border crossing ritual from Lesotho to SA.
One might think that it would be a rather casual border, but no. First; park, get out, get passports stamped to leave Lesotho. Next, drive a hundred meters to park again and wait in line to get passports stamped to enter South Africa. Meanwhile we watch hundreds of people on foot returning to Lesotho carry enormous amounts of baggage in Adidas sports bags, baskets on their heads, huge satchels and just about anything else that can be carried. Having been dropped by busses or taxi vans on one side of the border they walk through the gauntlet to then catch public transport of one sort or another on the other side.
We head to the dingy Free State town of Ladybrand, where Steph takes us to the mini-oasis of Living Life, a restaurant-spa-retreat. It’s only 8:30AM by now, so it’s early for their usual brunch crowd but we order to-go breakfast. We sit in their garden while the food is being prepared, then hit the road with a bacon, ham, cheese and onion omelette (fabulous) and a breakfast focaccia with egg & ham, which proves much harder to eat on the road than the omelette.
We drive to the Nambiti Game Reserve. Once past the main gate, we are greeted by Kel, who will deliver us to Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge. We are welcomed by the entire staff of the resort.
At the main entrance to the lodge, a table with three cool towels and a shot of chilled, tart lemonade. Our first game drive will be at 4pm, preceded by high tea at 3:30pm. We are shown to our room and it is stunning. The photos do a much better job of describing our living quarters than words ever could. We indulge in short cat naps.
High tea is served on the veranda with sweeping views of the game reserve. Tiny pizzas, and pancakes topped with smoked salmon, creme fraiche and caviar are on display. Along with a chocolate cake. We order tea and coffee.
On game drive #1, the game reserve welcoming committee greets us: giraffe, zebra, and impala. Wildebeest. Kudu. We stop for a mid-drive break, and Kingsley and Victoria offer champagne with a welcome toast. G&Ts become our GoTo drink for the afternoon drive. Along with nuts and other snack items, they fire up a little camp stove and cook some cubes of meat which are serve with toothpicks. We chat with our Land Cruiser mates Gary and Susan, a couple from Switzerland (though he’s an American originally from upstate NY).
We return to the lodge at around 7:30, allowing just a bit of time to “freshen up” (or mini nap as the case may be) before dinner outside on the deck overlooking the wilderness. Steph is exhausted and really still recovering from the multiple weeks of sleep deprivation a quadruple whammy of Uganda proposal /travel /jet lag /partying upon return to Lesotho. She opts to pass on dinner. Annette & Paul have _________ for appetizers, duck breast and fillet strip for entree. Dessert was chocolate mousse (in little balls between a thin, flakey sweet wafer of sorts — see Annette’s picture) and creme brûlée — perfect topping, but not as flavorful as hoped.
Then it’s off to bed to get as much sleep as possible before tomorrow’s morning game drive.