“Back in the land of Nod after an exhilarating 2 weeks in East Africa.  More about that later.  GB seems to be doing very well for his first 100 days of rule, despite the foot and mouth and Blue Tongue (what the hell is that, and how do you get a blue tongue!!  Can’t be pleasant however you do it).  DC needs something pretty spectacular to change around.

What however is still inexcusable is the Government not applying “The Military Covenant”.  Disgusting conditions where troops and families are living in, and yet they (The men in suits) are quite happy to send them to areas back and beyond.  No wonder there’s a shortage.

What’s George W up to.  I think he’s a great speaker!  He talks on TV to you like we were children and needed the Elders to look after us.  Then the elections in Greece, and somehow the same party (won’t try and pronounce his name as you’ll think I’ve had a few!) gets back in despite the fires there and so on.

Sports – at last it has started (The Rugby World Cup) and yes I know what has happened to date, but honestly England were not particularly convincing to say the least.  Time will tell.  South Africa are looking very strong indeed.  Talking about South Africa, down here there have been a few dramas with The Chief Prosecutor being sacked, then the Chief of the Police (COP).  All very interesting in that it’s not long (2 months) before the ANC have to select their leader who will eventually become the next president of South Africa.  A bit of Politics playing around I think.  Lets see how the Chess game pans out.

Down here on the Farm it has started to become busy with 55% Occupancy for August and 60% for September. We have done a few weddings, and still more to go.  They all went very well.  It was great to welcome back after some time Patrick and Lisa who brought some friends over.  Also to Martin and Jane who also brought some friends over.  Then also to Michelle.  Great to see you all back!  I nearly forgot – welcome back Carol, before you fling a brick at me!  Sorry!  In September also welcome back to Annie who has supported Garonga tremendously over the years.  Thanks!  We also had Philip and Gerti who brought over the 7th cavalry again.  Great to see the Horses, and always a nice group of people.  Last but by no means least to Fran who has made her traditional Pilgrimage to Garonga.  No, it was not deliberate that I was on leave at this time!  A number of Guests on Honeymoon.  Picnics, and sleep outs have all been busy.  Now that we are back in Summer Routine Lunches are back on as well as the Picnics. So lots of food.

The last day of September we had our first rains – 20mm!  This is the first time in about 5 years that we have had early rains.  It used to be a regular thing, but not recently.  This is brilliant news, and hopefully more to come.  The smell of the Bush, the cleanliness, and the colours are dramatic after the rain.

On the safari front the Guides have been performing some miracles with Game Viewing.  Finally the Leopard has been seen again and appearing very relaxed.  They saw it twice in a week.  Also a sighting of a female Cheetah with her 3 cubs.

Lions; well they are now being seen practically every day.  There is a Coalition of 4 that operate around the Camp and we often see them underneath the Picnic deck where there is a big tree for shade, or they come and drink from the Camp waterhole.  This happens about twice a week.  Then there was the dramatic sounds of a Kudu being ripped apart by these Guys right on the small waterhole in front of the main Lounge area during dinner.  The next day there was the carcass and the 4 lions just resting as they do after a big meal (lying on their backs, rolling over and so on) at the waterhole in the shade.  They were there all day.  One of them lying on his side with one leg resting up against a tree; very amusing to see.

Ellies have started their walkabout and so they are being seen a lot now.  Finally one of the Rhino Cows belonging to the Reserve gave birth.  Obviously the Garonga Boys strayed off territory as I have instructed them to stick only to the Garonga Cows!  I will have a word in their rather large ear!  As it is becoming hotter now, wake ups in the mornings are about 05:30 to leave at 06:00, and then in the afternoon tea at 16:00 and depart shortly after.  These timings will become earlier and later respectively as summer really kicks in.

On the Food front we have been busy taking a lot of photos for the Garonga Cook Book.  The meals have been great, but the Girls are now dreading Summer as the Kitchen is no longer a popular place to hang out. Anyway one of the recipes will follow.

At the Camp we have also had Paul who handles our website down for a few days to take a whole new set of Pictures for the Images to go on the website.  That all went very well.  We also had renowned Lodge Photographer, David Rogers, for a few days as he is taking pictures of all the 'Classic Safari Camps of Africa' as the Association is putting together a Coffee table book which will come out next year in May.  It is going to be a great Book.  Garonga is also going to be in the Gerald Hobermann Book on Southern African Lodges.  This will be out shortly all over the world.  So quite a bit of Book thing stuff.

   

So where was I?  I went to Kenya where I stayed in two of the Classic safari Camps; the first in the Meru was Elsa’s Kopje, and the second in Laikepia (near Nanyuki) – Loisaba.  Both stunning Lodges and also very different.  I enjoyed them tremendously. 

   

In Loisaba I went up in a balloon high above the clouds and just drifted along.  To come to earth with a bump and then a bigger bump in the head after a bottle of the traditional Bubbly!  Fantastic.  Thanks to Stefano, Tom, and Mike the Pilot!  Also to Stefano and Liz for a fantastic dinner in Nairobi watching the Local talent (pretty good too!!).  The Bands; what do you think I meant!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Time for a Trip to Rome with Stefano and Liz which should be a laugh. 
Anyway great great fun.

Well that’s about it.  European Winter soon.  Bet you cannot wait!  Come and chill out here with a few cold beers and a swim!  Anyway this letter is to my lovely Niece, Alex, to congratulate her on her two “A’s” and a “B”.  She was telling us all how badly she was going to do.  Well she had us all fooled.  Well done Ali!! See you soon and take care. Bernie