Gursel-Pearce 2009 Family Safari Vacation

Sooo the Gursel-Pearce 2009 Family Safari Vacation was a HUGE success. Our 4-day safari began by meeting "Crazy Dave" - our incredible guide/fixer - at the airport waiting for the Pearces to arrive. From there we drove to Tangala Private Reserve for 2.5 days then onto Skukuza in Kruger Park for another day and half. We definitely saw the Big 5 and then some! There were some awesome sightings of rare birds and close-ups of lions feasting on a zebra and dozens of vultures tearing apart a dead rhino! Unreal!


Is was great being with the Pearce Family. They are such great people and we sure did laugh a lot. Mick looked like he worked for National Geographic with all his camera equipment, but definitely now has several professional shots to add to his 3rd safari folder (we will post a link to his photos once they are all back in the UK). Even in the early, cold morning drives, we somehow found a way to laugh and enjoy the surroundings together. Great times.


There really is something to be said about seeing wild animals in Africa. We thought about what words really capture a safari experience - Exhilarating? Intense? Beautiful? Fun? But we're not sure those even come close. It's an experience that changes you. It changes the way you see the animal kingdom and for us, provides a new found respect to animals in general. If you ever get the opportunity - don't hesitate - you will not regret it.


We took a lot more pictures than the below...but tried to pick the best ones. Enjoy!

Mick Pearce - "very prepared" would be an understatement.

Tangala Lodge. Note the Union Jack flag brought by the Pearces.

Lauren and Lucy (Mick's younger daughter) having high tea on the deck. Buffalo came right up that pool during dinner that night!

"Danny" our guide for the few days at Tangala.
Full of stories of the animals and topless women.

First sighting - a family of 5 Rhinos. We like this picture because you can see how close you actually get to the animals!

We came across a rhino that died of natural causes.
These vultures were literally tearing her in pieces!


Good friends.


This guy was sleeping amongst a heard of buffalo with
birds cleaning the bacteria off his skin.





We stopped at the edge of the 150 x 65 square mile camp when we spotted a lion lying alone. Mick broke out his "Flash Extender" so he could get a better shot...and that's when all the jokes really started to kick in.

Then we saw him basking in the sun - "The King"

Inappropriately close to the king of the jungle


The pride had caught a zebra and were literally ripping it to pieces.

A beautiful Male Kudu - "The Great Grey Ghost of Africa"

A Male Bull flapping his ears and making a lot of noises -
making sure we knew who was boss.

Mick, Deb (his wife) and Crazy Dave

Mick was disgusted that Deb could be wearing a Springboks shirt.

Dinner at Tangala

The Safari Gang -
Cherise (Crazy Dave's daughter), Lauren, Geoff, Mick, Collette, Deb, Lucy, Crazy Dave

We left Tangala and entered Kruger National Park through the Phabeni Gate

Beautiful shot of zebra and giraffe

We had lunch at the Kruger National Park Golf Club.
A course a right in the middle of the park!

One early morning we went on a bush walk. Single file! No talking! We saw a few rhino and some lion tracks...very intense and very scary. You definitely feel that you are in their home!

Our rangers - Opiou and Eric. We walked through the bush for about an hour. They definitely had some interesting stories to share! We actually had the privilege (?) of startling a Black Rhino - notorious for charging smells he doesn't recognise - after about 10 minutes into the walk. We had to all hide behind a giant termite mound!