Running my first half marathon was an incredible experience,
but running it in Kruger National Park was even more incredible.
Within minutes of driving into the park, we had our first
encounter of one of the Big 5, a pair of white rhino. Although I have seen
white rhinos at the game reserve before, I had never been this close to one,
and was in awe of how truly big they were!
As we continued through the park, we were lucky enough to
see all of the big five; white/black rhino, African elephant, African leopard, Cape
buffalo, and African lion. The Big Five game was coined by game hunters when
referring to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. The
members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty of hunting them and the
degree of danger that is involved, not their size.
Pictured: A dead Cape Buffalo on the side of the road.
Pictured: A baby elephant.
Pictured: Two lionesses watching a warthog.
Pictured: A lion, and a young male lion laying by the watering hole.
Pictured: A Cape buffalo.
Pictured: A leopard sunbathing on a rock.
When we got to Skukuza camp, we pitch edour tents, and
then walked around the Skukuza village, which is made up of guest houses,
camping grounds, 2 swimming pools, a golf course, a library, a museum, 3 restaurants, and gift
shops. The word Skukuza, is a shortened word from Sikhukhuza, from the Shangaan
language. The name was given by the local Tsonga Shangaan people as a nickname
for James Stevenson-Hamilton. The word translated into “a new broom,” since
Stevenson-Hamilton swept the area clean of poachers, outlaws... and the Tsonga
Shangaan people, to make way for the camp.
Pictured: Nic with his running number next to his tent.
Pictured: Me with my running number next to my tent.
Pictured: Drinking a beer at the Skukuza restuarant.
That night, we ate a huge meal of braii, and pap tart. Pap
tart is a delicious meal that is made in a pan. You put a layer of mealiepap, and
then a layer of tomato sauce mixed with onion, mushrooms, garlic, and corn,
then another layer of mealiepap, and another layer of the tomato sauce, then
another layer of mealiepap, and then you pour over onion soup, and then you
put a layer of grated cheddar cheese. It was delicious.
The next day, we woke around 6 to head out to the race. Before
the race began, helicopters came in to fly over us to scare of any lions,
elephants, or leopard that might want to cause us harm. They continued to stay
over us throughout the race, as well as squad of rangers littered throughout
the race in vehicles and on foot, to make sure that both humans and animals are
safe throughout the race.
Pictured: Let's run a half marathon, but first, lemme take a selfie!
When I finally finished my first half marathon , I was
awarded with a beer, and a medal.
Pictured: All sweaty after running a half marathon.
When
we got back to the camp, I took a long nap, a long shower, and put on my knee
brace.
After we all celebrated the 21k race by taking shots, drinking beer, and
eating pokjie (a slow cooked meat/veggie dish, famously served while camping
from a big three legged pot. Pronounced poy-key).
The next morning, we woke up early, to break down camp, and so that we could have a whole morning of driving through the park before heading home.
Pictured: Impala, there are thousands of impala in Kruger National Park
Pictured: An elephant at the watering hole, if you look to the right of him, you can see a group of about 5 lions. A little after this picture was taken, the elephant charged at them to scare them off.
Pictured: The hornbill bird, also known as Zazu in the lion king!
Pictured: Hyenas at night, on the other side of the fence of our campsite. Not nearly as cute at the hyenas in the lion king.
All in all, the race was amazing, the animals were incredible, and the food was delicious.
It is truly a different experience seeing these animals in the wild, and not in captivity.
I promise though, my next blog will be about my students.
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