It is just so wonderful to be back in Londolozi, such wonderful people, old friends and new. We just love it here so much! We started off with a late lunch then off on a game drive! We joined a Swedish mother and daughter already mid stay, and met our Ranger Barry and Tracker Tsepo. Right off the bat we came across a herd of elephants, wandering around tearing up branches and grass. It was awesome to see them, they don’t occur in Tswalu and it felt so odd to be on game drives without elephants. We then moved on and found a pride of lionesses. They were napping in the shade, avoiding the hot sun. They truly act like giant house cats. After that we had a lovely sundowner with G&Ts and cookies. Then back to lions to see if they woke up. They did! Awake lions!!!!!! We followed them for a bit, watching their hunting behavior, checking the wind and a slow steady walk.
Upon return to the lodge we were led to dinner by paper lanterns and kerosene lamps into the boma, a circular outdoor area surrounded by staves, filled with sand and a large fire pit in the center. Our friend Will, the lodge’s manager was waiting for us and made us his signature cocktail, an Espresso Martini, delicious! We shared we had learned cocktails during the year of Covid and soon I was behind the bar making drinks! It was a lot of fun, I made a bunch of cocktails we had learned for the staff and they were passing them around and trying them. Making different flavor profiles for different people, desperately trying to remember the right ratios since we were out of wifi range. I had forgotten what it was like to have fun with a group of people after this long year. This trip had definitely reintroduced us back into the joys of friendship and social connection.
