Tuningi day drives and Sensational Boma Dinner.

We woke early to our 5.30am wake up call and after a coffee and rusk, we departed for our morning Game drive. We left the arena of the Safari Lodge and immediately came upon Elephants, Giraffes and many wildebeest. We trundled further and we came upon 3 male lions asleep on the roadway, obviously exhausted after a recent chase and kill.

The 24th March is our froth Wedding anniversary and the African holiday is a celebratory break. We are indeed blessed.

Our guide suggested we wait around and they may wake, but this was to no avail. They had had to.

This is another large park off 125,000 hectares of a range of undulating and flat countryside with a multitude of vegetation although acacias remain the dominant hardy plant loved by the elephants. Suddenly we come across a group of 5 rhinos and we sit and watch them for a time.

Then we seek more impalas as well as the glorious zebras. There are animals everywhere. We also hope to see the female lionesses as a couple are near the lodge area.

We drive for almost 3 hours and have a wonderful time.

Breakfast is served outside at the safari lodge and whilst enjoying the wonderful food, we see a family of elephants enter the area and walk past us to the waterhole.

We go down the pathway to the hide ( an underground viewing area) which is set up with all facilities to enable watching of the 20 elephants who have come for water and a long drink. It is simply amazing to watch them play and drink.

We return to the breakfast and complete then return to our Safari Suite to shower in the outside shower and change and Ken will complete his update of the diary.

Jeanette adds Facebook photos and comments reflecting our anniversary and receives many responses.

Then lunch at 2.00pm outside on the decking above the pool area. A simply superb entertainment area which iOS set up with individual tables for the 4 couples who are staying in.

Tuningi Safari Resort is an upmarket resort in Madikwe near the Botswana border. We are delighted and can endorse both the resort with its outstanding decorations, wonderful facilities and outstanding food.

We are informed that tonight will be a celebratory dinner with a BOMA ( our bbq) set up in thew Game viewing area about 100 metres closer to the Water hole / beside the hide, with lighting showcasing the Water hole and back up to our Safari Lodge, but beforehand we have the afternoon game drive.

Departure occurs at 4.30pm a d we are advised that we need to return by 7.15 pm for dinner will be served promptly at 7.30pm.

Our drive takes us further away from the Safari lodge out to the more hilly countryside. We again take in Rhinnos, Giraffe. Antelope of various forms Wildebeests, buffalo , see the lions from a distance . We also take in many elephants moving about and he thinks there may be rain about.

Martin puts on night glasses for the return trip and says he might have spomething special to show us. We drive off the track into a dense acacia field, he suddenly stops the vehicle and we hear a noise something like a lion , but he says it is a leopard , a mail, some 50 metres as head. He shines a spot and we see its shape aqnd body before it disappears into the Acacia. We drive around another track and we hee the back and rear end of the Leopard, but that is as close as we are to getting to see the Leopard. It runs away.

We return to the Salfari lodge all excited as to having seen the Leopard and looking forward to the BOMA Meal.

The area is lit by kerosene camp lamps and is set up in a hall circle for 10 people as another couple have joined us for the weekend.. We enjoy a spectacular meal of meat, chicken and springbok . There are hot vegetables and salads , followed by a Dessert of a caramel pudding and ice-cream. We celebrate the occasion of our Wedding Anniversary and that of another couple celebrating 40 years and a couple on their honeymoon with champagne. Just superb and this memory will last for a long time. The wines are chosen as award winning white and reds from Stellanbosch wineries. The 10 guest chairs are set up around a large fire pit throwing wonderful heat out, without any smoke.

The gr\arden area is beautiful;y presented with the kerosene lamps, candles and other lights.

At the conclusion of the dessert, we are entertained by a male choir signing African fables and cultural songs. They perform 3 songs all beautifully and it represents another highlight of these first weeks.

We are escorted from the Boma area, back up the path to the Safari lodge areas, where the night concludes with rain beginning to fall heavily. Most unexpected but gratefully received and we wonder as to the coming morning game drives.

Jeanette and Ken go to bed at 10.00pm after another absorbing and interesting day highlighted by the lions and leopard and we hope to see Cheetahs tomorrow. The Boma celebration and meal proved great highlights. We will long Re her our 50th Wedding Anniversary in Madikwe at Tuningi Safari Lodge.