South Africa Day 7: More Marakele!

This was our second full day on safari!

As I've told people since we've been back, this trip was the rare combination of both the greatest adventure you'll ever have - seeing wild animals interract in their natural habitat right before your eyes - and the most indulgent, relaxing treat of a vacation. Our guide called us at 6 am and we were dressed in all the layers and walking over to the main lodge to eat our breakfast snacks. Today's gluten-free muffin was some sort of cinnamon cake concoction that I would give a lot to be eating again right now.

We headed out with our guide, hoping to find a leopard for the kids or any other kind of big cat, but also just happy to see any of these amazing animals we had fallen in love with.

And we found a cheetah! Two cheetahs! Brothers, per our guide.

They were mostly just relaxing in the sunshine, but we did get to see them move positions.

I loved all the animals, but watching the big cats slink around their world really was incredible.

We came across a big herd of zebras, with lots of little ones.

Cheese!

Rhinos! I love them too. They always reminded me a little of Maggie. Something about their stalwart charm.

We stopped for our mid-morning-drive snack with hot tea, hot chocolate, and gluten-free goodies for me.

Hello Mr. Wildebeest

Once back at the lodge it was time for the big breakfast.

And then just some relaxation time (and/or lunch, which obviously my whole family ate all of 90 minutes after brunch but I skipped). I was going to work, but then just read and also took a little nap and it was lovely.

Some monkeys ran across my view at one point and the warthog mom and baby came by as well.

Then it was high tea, with more snacks (including mini gluten-free pizzas!), and then we were off for our afternoon safari, our final ride in Marakele National Park!

And we came across so many elephants!

Including these big bulls.

Love!!

I just remember really enjoying watching everything around us.

Then it time for sundowners!

I took so many pictures of animals that it's easy to miss that the surrounding views were absolutely stunning. Plateaus and mountains and lakes and sunsets... just gorgeous.

My peeps! Just as I truly can't overstate the animals and the views, I can't say enough how incredible it was to share all this with our kids. They were so fun- so interested and curious and delighted to be there... we didn't get to do much traveling in our 20's since we were both getting degrees and started our family so young, but man has it been wonderful to make up for it in our 40's!

Having them with us truly made it so much better- we spotted more animals, got to listen to our guide answer questions we might not have asked, loved recapping our day and laughing over dinner... I'm so thankful we were able to do this together.

The sun was quickly setting, but we spotted quite a few animals on the dark drive back to the lodge.

We had a great dinner by a roaring fireplace and then got to our canvas castle to discover a romantic little set up for our anniversary which was very sweet.

Cheers to 20 years!! Celebrating surrounded by elephants and rhinos, with our three grown kids in their own canvas castle... I can't imagine anything better.