By Robert Yoshioka What an adventure this has been! Our safari into South Africa started with its glorious coast of inviting beaches and lush vineyards and concluded in the vast grasslands where many of the animal kingdom’s most majestic creatures roam. Welcome to the Cradle of Mankind, the famed birthplace of man where some of …

By Robert Yoshioka This long necked friend kicked off a day of “lekker” (South African slang for fantastic or awesome) game drives! Back at the lodge, we tried our hand at several ancient forms of native hunting – with the bow, blow darts and spear throwing as well as local beading crafts. The day wrapped …

By Robert Yoshioka Our second morning of private game drives started with a delicious breakfast. Even in South Africa, #EverythingTastesBetterShapedLikeMickey!! This morning we were on the look out for big cats returning from a night of hunting. Early morning game drives are always worth getting up for. The sunrise over the bushveld is magnificent, and …

By Robert Yoshioka Waking up early on vacation can sometimes be challenging, but not if you are scheduled for an exclusive, first-light game drive! Today’s theme was the “Little Five” – a take on the “Big Five” from the days of hunting. The “Big Five” was coined by the big game hunters to reference the …

By Robert Yoshioka While we had to say goodbye to the Garden Route and our new monkey, bird and ellie friends in Knysna, we were buffered by the excitement of traveling to our new home for the next several days. As we landed at our airfield (Fun Fact: It is a very long runway—at 13,094 …

By Robert Yoshioka Waking up at this lush resort really showcased why this region is called the Garden Route. Abundant rainfall and humid sea winds help to maintain this vibrant vegetation. Runoff carrying nutrients return to the sea enriching the Knsyna Lagoon and we were excited to quickly eat breakfast and begin our nature hike …

By Robert Yoshioka This morning we said good-bye to Cape Town as we boarded our flight up South Africa’s Garden Route to George. The views from the flight were absolutely stunning – this coastal region is where lush forests meet pristine beaches and would rank high among aviary, simian and human travelers alike. This was perfect …

By Robert Yoshioka Continuing our awesome avian encounters from yesterday’s penguins, this morning we set off to visit a raptor wildlife rehabilitation and conservation center in Spier. We were given an up-close and personal introduction to their numerous eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and, my favorite, vultures! It was awe-inspiring to watch these majestic birds soar …

By Robert Yoshioka Refreshing ocean views from the Cape of Good Hope kicked off our morning. Originally thought to be the southernmost tip of Africa, this was an important stopping point for ships sailing between Europe and the eastern colonies. Two oceans’ currents from two completely different Oceans meet in these waters, resulting in wild …