Rovos Rail and Hwange National Park

During our rail journey, we had a few stops on the way, our most memorable would have to be visiting the Hwange National Park where we did a three hour safari and had drinks at sunset.
This park is famous for the elephants that roam and live in this park.
They have a never ending supply of water due to it being solar powered and water is pumped from the reservoir beneath the ground.

 An elephant family

A very vulnerable position for a giraffe to be in, when drinking at a waterhole.

Elephants enjoying the water

Our sunset drinks and canapés

Henry our guide

An elephant skull, an elephant lives to about 60 years of age and dies if they lose their teeth, because then they cannot eat, trees or the roots from the trees that they push over.

More elephants

Our sunset.

Giraffes.

Termite mounds.

More elephants..

Our beautiful African.

Sunset

More elephants.

Impala, maccas of the bush, called because of the

Big M on their bottom.

More elephant bones

Zebras.

This giraffe had a huge gash on its neck, possibly from a tree and one of the birds was cleaning it out, these birds also eat the ticks of the buffalos and zebras.

A hornbill bird.

All lined up for our sunset drinks.

We all settled in for a nice evening

Canapés were served as well as any drink you desired.

DH dressed for dinner on our last night.

Our names on our suites.

Menu for last night

Lobster tail.

We had this dance team, greet us when we alighted the train.

And so ends our 1600kms journey, a very enjoyable three days.

Now to enjoy Victoria Falls and tick off our bucket list.

More of Chiang Mai adventure.

New Year's Day saw us visiting the local park where we fed the fish and ducks, walked around a few of the shops and then had lunch at 3 SIS, then back to hotel to have a game of cards, waiting for our massage at 3 pm. Not sure why I  get a Thai massage when I come to Thailand you usually end up being more sore than when you started, so!!! off to have a few mojito's to dull the pain. Later that night we ventured out of the old city into the new city to have dinner along the waterfront. the restaurant we chose was The Gallery, great food, but service very poor.

One of the may temples in Chiang Mai.

One of the local gardens we visited.

The 2nd of Jan 2014, Alex and Cara went to "Flight of the gibbon" for the day and we organised a private toor to the Hill Tribes, Large temple on the mountain and the elephant camp. That evening we went to dinner at Whole Earth, highly recommended by locals and we were not disappointed. After dinner into the night Brazzar to do a bit more shopping.

Buddha Mountain

The hill tribes, Baan Tong Luang

Photo opportunity with a Yao mien lady

The long necks, interesting conversation with this lady about the neck rings, they are never removed and are quite heavy.

After the Hill tribe visit we went to the elephant camp, there are over 71 elephants at this camp and all are sponsored, we got to see the baby elephant at 3 months of age.

The 3 month old baby elephant.

Breast feeding.

3 rd Jan 2014, we are going fishing!

Our family fishing day, Alex helping Cara to reel in the big one! everyone caught 3 fish each, a great day was had by all.

Cara's catch. ? 15- 20 kgs. 

Alex's catch, he was the hero off the day, letting everyone use his t-shirt to hold the fish for photo's.

Nigel's catch, well done boy!

Kiss the fish! fun with Sam from Canada

Great catch DH!