Plan B…Le Clue:

Opting to watch the Argentina match vs. S. Korea before departing North to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, we had no one to blame, but ourselves for plan B. At about 10 minutes into the match Kevin mentioned the National park doors closed and hence we would not be able to access our Hilltop Country Lodge (reserved, prepaid and non refundable) accommodation.

Bry & I conveniently ignored this kernel of knowledge knowing we had at the very minimum a 4 hour drive ahead of us. We decided to split after the second goal and we heard the 3rd goal on our way to the car, but it was well after 3:00 and the countdown was on to be there by 6. Time wise it was not going to work no matter how you sliced it. Rain and sleet on the way did not help our cause. Anyhow, I recalled there was a South entrance to the park which was much closer so we figured it was our best bet.

Needless to say we arrived at 6:08…gates closed at 6:00. In retrospect it was all for the best as it was already pitch black and later we experienced the national park is teeming with wild animals after sundown. Probably best the pirates were not wandering aimless in the midst of the roaming elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, etc.

We adopted a plan B after speaking to some locals at the the garage (petrol station) restuarant. Kev's slab of ribs could have fed a samll village. We pulled into the first 5 star hotel where the pirates promptly worked their magic. We ended up with a room for pennies on the dollar and a subzero safari with Le Clue.

Our theory is that Le Clue was the back up safari guide who was likely flipping omelets the day before. you know the one they send out when none of the experienced guides want to make the trek. He was dressed like a Disney safari guide on the jungle cruise at Disneyland. Le Clue introduced himself and asked what game animal we were interested in. The big 5? We had a pair of Japanese hunters that requested the coveted Lions, only 125 of them in the vast savannah covering more than 1000km² in Zululand. We basically drove around doing figure eights freezing our asses off while searching for the wild game that were everywhere we were not. Now we know why he was coined Le Clue... he didn't have one.

For starters he stopped at the entrance to the park for the only chickens that were not picked up by KFC. We knew it was going to be an interesting safari thereafter. A few hours into the safari he switched his focus from animal game to the "hot breakfast" that was only served until 9:30. We ourselves spotted the few animals we did see. Well he did locate the giraffes which our tallest land animals and average heights of up to 19 or more feet. And let’s not forget the warm elephant dung where the elephants had passed before. Why he took us to where the elephants had been is still a mystery. Kev spotted Le Clue with his binonculars hoping to locate the variety of wildlife such as leopard, cheetah, lion, black-backed jackal, reedbuck, nyala, eland, white and black rhinos, giraffe, zebra, kudu, waterbuck and blue wildebeest the park boasts. We came back with a luandry list that read nil, but we did arrive just before 9:30 so all could enjoy the 5 star breakfast buffet with le Clue's buddies.

We ended up driving ourseleves on a BMW safaria checking off the list above and including zebras, baboons and some others so it was not a wash. We actually ventured out at sundown and experienced a safari by night that was quite impressive. We steaked out a local watering hole and waited for the game to show. More pics to follow!