Day 11 - JJ loves his airport lounges

Port Elizabeth to Ulusaba via Johannesburg

Today, we got up at the crack of dawn and headed to PE airport for our 6 am flight to J'berg (notice our 'local' abbreviations - we've assimilated). Airport check in on South Africa Airlines was incredibly smooth. We're sure that this has nothing to do with the, er, "different" security standards (e.g., finally we didn't have to chug or throw away our water bottles). We arrived on time into J'berg, fully expecting to need to fend off the greatest criminals known to mankind who lurk around the airport searching for hapless tourists like ourselves. Thankfully, urban myth was just that and we successfully found our contact who took us to the first staging area for our flight into Ulusaba on the well known Federal Airlines (FA). Our flight was (un)scheduled to depart at 09:05 am. There is a special terminal about a 5 minute van drive from the main terminals for (un)scheduled flights (translation: gather at the terminal around scheduled flight time and then wait until further notice). We were greeted by the baggage handler who unloaded our bags and held them up and stated with great assertiveness, "These are your bags. I will look after your bags" (translation: open your wallets now and give me some currency to look after your bags) followed by an expectant pause. At 11:00 am, 6 of us were lead to a nine seater propeller plane by the pilot/co-pilot/flight attendant/baggage handler (the original handler seemed to have disappeared after vowing to look after our bags). The pilot/co-pilot/flight attendant/baggage handler happened to be one individual.

One hour and one stop later we landed on a small airstrip and were greeted by our Ranger, Sam. We were guided to the airport lounge (aka fancy hut with a nice deck) where we were offered bubbles or juice. Kirsten thought it was a bit early for bubbles so had an oj. JJ went for the bubbles. We chatted with our new friend Sam and JJ seemed to get comfortable in the airport lounge, so much that a 1/2 hour later, Kirsten was shooting him 'finish off your bloody glass so we can get to the lodge' looks. But to no avail, she had to resort to directness and finally said "down the hatch" and we were finally on our way to what we now know as heaven.

Ulusaba is a private game reserve on the western border of Kruger National Park. After we were shown our room and given the house rules (don't walk alone at night, always lock your doors and windows because baboons are like rock stars, they will come into your hotel room and trash the place, if you want a drink and there is no bartender, fix your own and make one for your Ranger), we set out on our first game drive. First sighting was of 4 lions who had just taken over the territory after killing one of the pack of 3 existing lions and chased the other 2 off that morning. JJ, being the fan of CSI and Law and Order, asked the Ranger what was done with the body to which he responded, "I don't know". We then saw some kudu which JJ kindly reminded us he had eaten for lunch. We then got to see elephants, impala, rhinos and a few other species whose names escape us. We were quietly watching a huge pack of impala when JJ's mobile phone range (to the tune of the Magnificent Seven) which promptly sent the pack into the brush. We stopped for a little appero but had to wrap it up quickly when it started to rain torrentially. A half hour later we were back at the lodge and soaked to the bone but thoroughly satisfied with our first safari. After changing into dry clothes, we headed to dinner where JJ charitably conversed with the lone frenchies who didn't speak a lick of English (and Kirsten conveniently feigned not speaking French). Then it was to bed...resting up for the 5am wake up call.