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Leopard Hills, Sabi Sands, South Africa — October, 2015


Tom Kellie

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An invasive species? Well there we go,


Argemone mexicana thrives here.


How it first arrived I really don't know,


Eradication? — so tough, I fear.




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Argemone mexicana





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As the morning warms up, the waterbuck lay down,

With legs folded under they seek a simple break.
Their expressions unchanged, they seem to smile, not frown,
And who would begrudge them the brief rest that they take?

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Impressive Horn Growth

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Shaded Waterbuck

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Well-groomed

 

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Tra-la-la! Giraffes are here! Tra-la-la!


A giraffe sextet resting in the shade,


Ha-ha-ha! Giraffes don't work! Ha-ha-ha!


Their great secret is that they've got it made!




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Giraffe Sextet in Shade



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Giraffe Group





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This sighting was poignant in a way,

For it was the safari's final wildlife view.
My heart tugged hard, wanting me to stay,
Yet it had come to its close, what more could I do?

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Giraffes Don't Easily Hide

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The Tall Ones

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Shade Cluster

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Giraffe Patterns

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Adult Female, Young Male

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The Tough Part Is Getting Back Up

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Final Leopard Hills Game Drive Wildlife Image

 

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Riding around, sitting in the back row,


Drinking in the landscape as if it were fine tea,


Nothing so fancy, that's the way to go,


Now it all must come to an end, oh my, oh me...




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Returning from the Safari's Final Game Drive



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My View from the Back





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Those giraffes gave you a good final show. Sorry, but I could not bring myself to "like" the invasive plant picture. I devote too much time to eradicating them near home. But I appreciate your effort!

 

Hopefully you will again be enjoying that "view from the back" very soon.

Edited by Atravelynn
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fictionauthor

The saddest words: "final game drive."

 

Wonderful... thank you for sharing.

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Those giraffes gave you a good final show. Sorry, but I could not bring myself to "like" the invasive plant picture. I devote too much time to eradicating them near home. But I appreciate your effort!

 

Hopefully you will again be enjoying that "view from the back" very soon.

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

Thank you for your comment. The invasive plant image was intended to illustrate the issue.

Oddly, that photograph was taken at an extreme angle, as the vehicle climbed up a sandbank.

It was later adjusted to a parallel image in the computer.

I'm at a point in my life where it's time to let stalwarts like you carry on with the exploring and photographing.

I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute on safari, but sense a turning of the page.

Whether you're seated in the back, center or beside the driver, I'm certain that Safaritalk will love your humorous and spirited commentary!

Tom K.

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The saddest words: "final game drive."

 

Wonderful... thank you for sharing.

 

~ @@fictionauthor

 

That's so nice of you to tell me that.

Thank you very much for your kindness.

It was indeed a lovely final game drive.

Sadness being integral to a life well-lived, it was an acceptable dénouement.

Writing the verses and preparing the images has facilitated reliving the experience.

If you and others enjoyed any parts of it, then I feel more than satisfied.

With Appreciation,

Tom K.

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It was an honor I didn't deserve,


To sit up there in the tracker seat.


I would have to say that without reserve,


With that the safari was complete.




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In the Tracker Seat


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Look who stopped by to say farewell,


An arrow-marked babbler in a tree.


From its furtive glance I could tell,


It was eager to be done with me.




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Turdoides jardineii



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Arrow-marked Babbler





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The very last animal I photographed,


Was a grey treefrog above the plunge pool,


When I heard, then saw, the small treefrog, I laughed,


I'd thought that it was a bird — what a fool!




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Chiromantis xerampelina



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Windowsill Sitter



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Grey Treefrog





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My departure wasn't made in haste,


Wanting to savor every small amenity.


Grapetiser was to me a fresh taste,


Which enhanced the atmosphere of serenity.




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Grapetiser


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Zelda and Bridget came out to say,


Gentle words of farewell to me.


It had been a truly lovely stay,


With wildlife aplenty to see.




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Port Cochère



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Dry Weather Xeriscaping



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Tusks Over the Gift Shop



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Zelda and Bridget Say Farewell





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Back to the beginning again,


The Ulusaba Airstrip walkway.


These days, every now and then,


I find myself reliving that day.




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Ulusaba Airstrip Walkway



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Waiting Federal Express Aircraft



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Inside the Aircraft





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The Fedair return flight was uneventful,


Which, after all, was as it should be.


The landscape so far below was beautiful,


I enjoyed whatever I could see.




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Patterned Landscape



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Steep Bluffs



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Irrigation Circles



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Approaching OR Tambo Airport





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The flight was delayed by a large typhoon,


Which jumbled air traffic into Hong Kong.


At times such as this weather calls the tune,


Yet we'd reach Hong Kong before very long.




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Aboard the South African Air Flight to Hong Kong



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South African Aircraft



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Taking Off Over Johannesburg



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South African In-flight Meal





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The approach into Hong Kong was memorable,


Bumps, shaking and jolts, as if in a Landrover.


Ms. Kimmy Chan's efforts were considerable,


Rebooking me to Beijing, safari over.




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Post-Typhoon Clouds Over the South China Sea



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Approaching Hong Kong



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Arrival in Hong Kong



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Welcome to Hong Kong



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Missed Connection Passengers



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Less Than Satisfied



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Dragonair Flight to Beijing





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~ Thank you to all Safaritalk members and visitors who've taken time to visit and look through this trip report.



The very kind comments posted during the months that it was written were greatly appreciated.



Sincere encouragement means a lot. Those honest Safaritalk members who lifted my spirits made the writing and uploading possible.



Leopard Hills is a remarkable safari destination worthy of consideration.



Sabi Sands is a wonderful location for a safari, with a variety of both larger and smaller game.



The hospitality which I received in South Africa has given me a very favorable impression of that sun-kissed nation.



As this trip report ends, I offer my hope that all future Leopard Hills guests will enjoy their safaris there as much as I did.



With Gratitude to All,



Tom K.


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Those giraffes gave you a good final show. Sorry, but I could not bring myself to "like" the invasive plant picture. I devote too much time to eradicating them near home. But I appreciate your effort!

 

Hopefully you will again be enjoying that "view from the back" very soon.

 

~ @@Atravelynn

 

Thank you for your comment. The invasive plant image was intended to illustrate the issue. Yes, I understand. You were not applauding its invasiveness.

Oddly, that photograph was taken at an extreme angle, as the vehicle climbed up a sandbank.

It was later adjusted to a parallel image in the computer.

I'm at a point in my life where it's time to let stalwarts like you carry on with the exploring and photographing.

I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute on safari, but sense a turning of the page. Oh my! Maybe just a subtle shift. Explore nature closer to home in Asia. We all will turn that page some day. But can't we turn it slowly, not flip it?! And don't close the book just yet!

Whether you're seated in the back, center (I don't sit in the center!) or beside the driver, I'm certain that Safaritalk will love your humorous and spirited commentary! Thank you!

Tom K.

 

 

Does Leopard Hills know about this eloquent Odyssey? They could save 80% of their marketing budget if they just like potential clients to this. I certainly answers questions such as, "What will we see?" If you have not shared this with them, you gotta do it.

Edited by Atravelynn
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Game Warden

@@Tom Kellie

 

And so the last stanza comes to an end,

But through your writing and photos my friend,

I've explored a place I never would go,

If only the finances would let me though.

 

For all a safari has different meaning,

And for those with such a poetic leaning,

Only an iambic pentameter can convey,

The serene experiences throughout the day.

 

The sights, the sounds, the senses all,

Ingrained within the mind's recall,

To flood a page with joyful script,

Of passionate observation, so very well writ'.

 

And you will look back with smile upon face,

At the flora and fauna within this net space,

Of a Safaritalk page that once was blank,

Now full for others to enjoy and we thank....

 

You.

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@@Tom Kellie

Thank you for sharing your love of the large, the small, the predator,the prey, the plants, the environment.

Details easily overlooked - you have helped many of us look more deeply and widely when on safari - beyond the obvious

 

We did have wonderful leopard and rhino at the end - but that sad feeling of "the last giraffe" of the trip.

From our selfish point of view I hope it is not your last safari or indeed trip report

But as Yogi Berra is alleged to have said "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future"


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I looked up Argemone mexicana and I thought this was interesting - it's used medicinally in Mali to treat malaria! I guess it must grow in dry locations. I haven't seen it here in Ghana. However, we have lots of opuntia cacti growing on the beach beside the Keta Lagoon (so slightly salty sandy soil) - apparently brought in by the Portuguese hundreds of years ago, and now used by people to form a living security wall around their property.

 

Enjoying your trip report, @@Tom K.!

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Beautiful portraits of the leopard! She must be quite used to safari-humans?

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