Lunch in Harare before we headed to the airport....bound for Hoedspruit, South Africa! We were so excited to have a few days of relaxation on the end of our trip.
This is the "terminal"....just a runway and brick walkway inside. 
Unloading the luggage...
This airport mainly services the nearby game parks...so it was all done up in authentic safari decor. The kids loved it!
Checking out Pondoro Game Lodge. This place was such a nice resort! The back balcony of our cabin....overlooking the river. It was actually kind of hard to go from such extreme poverty at Karanda....to such extreme luxery here. Hard to wrap your brain around...
Our first game drive. This resort shared some 3 million acres with many surrounding lodges. They've taken down all fences and just let the animals roam freely. We travelled around in these open-top Landcruisers....very cool. Each game drive was 4+ hours....so we saw a lot of the countryside.
Each vehicle had a driver who narrated the whole time...and a scout that sat in the "bonnet" seat. Our scout, Sam, would go off on foot for over an hour at a time following animal tracks.Pretty brave!
My girl.
My boys.
The elephants were probably the most impressive animal to me that we saw. They are just SO massive. And they come right up to the vehicle! We had fun watching them.
We even saw a baby elephant. He was trying to act all tough....like he was as big as the others. His mama was watching us like a hawk, though! We had to be extra-careful around this pair....didn't want to make mama mad.
All the men at one of our refreshment breaks.
This is the inside of our cabin. It was beautifully decorated....very rustic but elegant.
We ate dinner each night out on the main balcony. The table was always beautifully set....with a blanket draped over each chair in case you got chilly out under the stars!
We would sit around the firepit and relax for a few minutes while they got everything ready for us.
And the food...WOW! It was some of the finest I've ever had. Definitely gourmet...and gorgeous presentations. :)
Warming their toes by the fire after dinner.
This is the main gathering area where we had tea and snacks.
Faith Anna trying to stay warm on an early morning game drive....snuggling between Papa and Mama Sheets.
I love this picture of giraffe with the zebras. Their eyes are still glowing in the early morning light. So "Africa"...
What an amazing creature. The giraffes were spectacular. This one is actually pooping. Yep, caught him right in the act. :)
Speaking of poop, Sam took us on a Game Walk one afternoon and stopped to explain the significance of giraffe dung. I didn't catch all the details, but basically the locals like to have "Giraffe Dung Spitting Contests" to deem who is the most manly-man of them all. So of course Luke and Landon obliged and partook of this African tradition. :) Gross, huh?
Not sure who's went farthest. We were still in shock that they actually put it in their mouths!
Sam showing us the elephant scrapings on the trees.
The kids fell in love with the wild Mongeese. These were babies that liked to hang out on the porch of the lodge. They carried them around everywhere.
Monkey see, monkey do.
Mama and baby elephant
Breaking down a tree
Beautiful sunset
We finally saw a rhino on our very last day! Luke actually spotted it hidden out in the brush. It is a fantastic creature.
Impala were everywhere. These animals can jump so high- 9 to 10 feet! See the male in the very back with his horns?
Zebra with a Wildebeast. Our guide said they often travel together.
Male Kudu. Check out them horns.
Interesting looking animal....and massive! See the white stripes?
We learned alot about zebras. They each have a different stripe pattern that is unique.
And their manes stick straight up. If they are sick, the hair on the mane will fall over like it does on a horse.
See the baby in the front?
Warthogs
Happy boy. We had such a fun time! Everyone is excited about heading home tomorrow to see Beth and Tag...
