Welcome to Ulusaba

Welcome all of you to Ulusaba! In October this year, a trainee role at Richard Branson's private game reserve in the Sabi Sands became available, and I very excitedly took up the post. Joining the team as a Junior Ranger, I have been given the opportunity to grasp how a 5* lodge operates, be exposed to a huge range of training, and have the chance to build on my experience and knowledge, with the aim of becoming an established ranger in this experienced team. 

My first six weeks at Ulusaba have flown by in a blur of amazing people and incredible sightings. Positioned in the western sector of the Sabi Sands, the game viewing here is second to none; cats are abundant, the landscape is stunning and guiding first class. Here are some of my highlights...

Wild dog pups!

Very active hyena den

A pride rock moment

Young elephant bulls playing in the mud after the rain

Fishing at Skwenga Dam...it's a tough job we have.
Here with Rico, one of the rangers...see the elephant in the back ground!

We cooked our Tilapia over a fire

Watching elephants playing in the Dam while fishing

Newest member of the family...adorable

Botswana - a true safari adventure

To celebrate the end of my training and to get the family together, we all had a huge adventure in Botswana. Dad & Roseline, Mark & Debs, Aunty Merry & Marianne, George and I all headed to Maun, where we picked up two fully equipped Toyota Land cruisers and spent 2 weeks on safari, driving though Nxai Pans, Chobe, Savuti and Moremi, taking in the incredible Victoria Falls on the way, and culminating in a two night stay at the more luxurious Okavango Delta camp, Odd Balls. The trip, two years in the planning, was better than we could have ever imagined, and besides from being able to spend so much precious time together, we had some wonderful sightings and awesome experiences. There is too much to say about the trip to put it into writing here, perhaps one day I will have time and can reflect in detail, but for the time being, here are some of the highlights...

Driving through the salt pans in Nxai Pan

First stop...Baines Baobabs in Nxai Pans
L to R: Rose-Line, George, Debbie, Aunty Merry

Sunset in the salt pans...
L to R back: Rose-line, Merry, Mark, Georg
L to R front: Dad, Debs, Marianne, Me

Camping at Baines Boababs in Nxai Pan...magic

Breakfast at sunrise! Bacon and eggs, yummy
L to R: Rose-Line, Merry, Debs, Dad, Georg, Marianne, Mark

On the road to Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls! Zimbabwe side...incredible

Group snap at Vic Falls...
L to R: George, me, Merry, Dad, Debs, Marianne, Roseline, Mark

George and me at Vic Falls

Posing with Livingstone!

Me walking through the forests at Vic Falls

Awesome dinner and drumming at "The Boma" in Zimbabwe

Me enjoying the open plains in Chobe

Awesome sightings in Chobe

Lilac breasted Roller

Sable

Giraffe drinking water...awkward!

Room with a view...our camping site in Chobe

Mark enjoying sunset and watching game from our campsite in Chobe

Giraffe "necking"

Crossing the bridge with Kudu into Savuti

Sunrise sighting of a leopard in Savuti...exciting!

Excitement at Savuti...a pride of lions find the carcass of a baby elephant in the river...

...except none of the 10 of them can get it out! Atleast half of them fell in trying...hilarious

Fail!

Exciting river crossing in Moremi

Enjoying a boat ride from Xakanaka in Moremi

Dust bathing elies 

Lots of mud in Moremi - so close to the Delta!

Flying into the Delta 

Alterative mode of transport in the Delta - mokoro's!

Walking on one of the islands in the Delta

Family time...Dad, Debs, me and Mark