Welcome to our Blog!

 This blog will document our adventure in South Africa with my Veterinary Science students who have just graduated from high schools in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Our posts will begin a week from today, July 13!

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Day 1: The Panoramic Route

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​First, my apologies for a brief post tonight. My luggage has not yet arrived, so I am having to do this on my phone, while leaving time to wash out my clothes in the sink in preparation for a 4:00 am departure for Kruger tomorrow.  Some highlights: —Everybody loves the food and is eating well (for a certain worried parent…) —Souvenir shopping is ongoing, and students are learning to haggle for prices. Expect some VERY full bags to arrive home! —On our drive today, we dodged potholes, cattle, baboons, minibuses, tourists, and a line donkey wearing a bell. —The program’s mascot puppy is already a favorite of everyone (except the resident cats!) Sunrise on our way to the Panoramic Route. Scenery is spectacular, ranging from lichen-colored cliffs to citrus groves, valleys to canyons to lowveldt bush.  Students overlooking Blyde River Canyon, 3rd largest in the world.  Canyon formation called Drie Rondevels (Three traditional huts).  One of the 3 rivers that converge to ...
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Days 7-8: Kruger revisited

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​We spent our second weekend inside Kruger. Long, leisurely days cruising around the sunny bush, spotting an impossible number of animals! I’m just going to share a sampling of what we saw. I’m not sure this is what they usually mean by a “zebra crossing”! Massive Cape buffalo  So many elephants! While this is great for us, it is not so great for the Park. Elephants destroy trees and bushes, stripping the landscape and disrupting habitat for other species. Currently, Kruger has about 3 times it’s carrying capacity of elephants. Impala lillies bloom in winter Crocodile We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn in the Park. This out is roughly as far south as Traverse City is north of the equator. In case you wondered why spotted hyenas have spots! Impala. Lions! We watched this group for nearly an hour as they lounges beside the road. Notice that they appear pretty relaxed! Aloe in bloom at the entrance to our overnight camp A giraffe tree by first light Sunrise giraffe Black-backed jackal...
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