Family
Chiefs Camp, Thursday July 18th.
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
Thursday was our last full day at Chief’s camp and it turned out to be a full one which includes, a Hyena family and Rhino photo op in the morning along with some other interesting species.
- Hyena mother
- Hyena pups
- Rhino
- Rhino
- Rhino gets close
- Bat-eared Fox
- Impala
- Reedbuck
- Snake Eagle
When it was time to return to camp for lunch we had a surprise. The chef and staff had set up a stir fry to order lunch, of course with a bar, in the bush.
- Our Kitchen has been transported
- Along with the bar
- Lunch in the Bush
- Lioness
- Lioness
- Lioness
- Lioness
- Baboon
- Baboon family
- Baboon
- African Wild Dog
- African Wild Dog
- Puppys
- Puppies
- Cocktail Hyena
Tomorrow we will fly on to Singita.
Last Day at Chiefs Camp then on to Singita
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
Joyce and I decide to have a leisurely morning as everyone else decides to take one last game drive on the way to the airstrip for our flight in the same King Air that brought us. It’s cool and we have breakfast with our family then see them off. We say our goodbyes to the wonderful Chiefs Camp staff, then are driven to the airstrip for our flight. It’s a short flight to Maun to clear customs out of Botswana, but this time they decide to do it the hard way and it takes us an hour and a half because they inspect every bag. We continue the hour and forty-five-minute flight landing at Sangita lodge where we are met by our guides and trackers. Our Hostess welcomes us to our compound, our chef has prepared lunch and we still leave for the afternoon game drive at three-thirty. We come upon a small heard of Rhinos wallowing in a water hole with both Black and White species, which is an impressive start. We then view some elephants and start to get the lay of the Singita land.
- Rhino photo op
- Rhino wallowing
- Elephant
- Elephant at the River
- Elephant drinking
- African Bee Eater
The first evening we join the other lodge guests at the main lodge for a barbeque. We are introduced to the excellent Singita wine collection, and a wonderful meal cooked over the fire. We are then entertained by the local tribe who perform a traditional dance, that includes participation by some of our family. It was a very auspicious start to our stay at Singita.
- Sangita Dancers
- Kinsey and Alexandra at the drums
- Sangita Dances
Singita Ebony Lodge a magic place
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
Singita Ebony Lodge is the original location in the 19 lodge Sangita collection of top-end luxury “camps.” The private property is set within the 160,500-acre Sabi Sands Game Reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in northeastern South Africa. Sangita Ebony Lodge sits on a bluff overlooking the Sands River, where we had a two-family suite (four bedrooms) plus common area and a separate suite for Joyce and me. Our separate compound had its own Hostess, Chef, serving staff and we had two trackers and two guides assigned to look after us. The main lodge was a five-minute walk away. Our routine was to rise at six A.M. have a light breakfast and leave on the game drive at seven. We would stop around nine A.M. for coffee, cocoa or tea, and a biscuit, then continue our morning game drive. We then would have a large breakfast/brunch around eleven and then relax or participate in activities until three P.M. We then would leave for the afternoon game drive, stop for a glass of wine or cocktail before returning to our lodge, where we would have a gourmet dinner prepared by our chef after cocktails. Singita is one of the biggest buyers of premium wines in South African and they served outstanding wines at every opportunity. Our Trackers and Guides were superb and became part of the family quickly.
- Singita Manager in the wine cellar
- Our Vila from across the river
- Vila entrance
- Vila family room and bar
- Vila Family room
- Vila Pool
- Gil and Joyces deck
- View from our deck
- Gil and Joyces bedroom
- Morning coffee
- Morning coffee
- Cocktails
- The family on game drive
- Our Trackers and Guides
Singita Saturday July 20th
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
The word was that a lion pride had killed a Cape Buffalo next to Kruger Game Reserve, so we headed there first thing in the morning. We were not disappointed. The pride was still feeding on the second day with the dominate male doing the eating with two cubs and the mother and other females still there.
- At the Kill
- Pride feeding
- Pride feeding
- Dominate Male
- Dominate Male
- Cub watches
- Cub nursing
- Mom and Cub
- Cub portrait
- Lioness Portrait
We crossed the river each day on our game drive and saw the more aquatic species at the crossing.
- Hippos fighting
- Hippo Portrait
- Hippa day time activity
- Crocodile
The afternoon drive serves up a big variety of species.
- Waterbuck
- Rhino
- Rhino Portrait
- Elephant Herd
- Elephant Herd
- Juvenile Elephant
- Giraffe
- Giraffe Portrait
- Klipspringer
- Leopard
- Leopard Portrait
- Wildebeest
- Nyala
- Cape Buffalo
- Monkey
A great day of game viewing and enjoying Sangita incredible amenities and hospitality.
Singita Sunday July 21st.
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
Sunday turned out to be a leopard highlight day. In the morning our amazing tracker Vusi spotted a lone leopard in a dense bush, it then decided to pose for us. In the afternoon we followed a male as he walked along the riverbank near our camp. In the evening, again our tracker spotted a female near our camp who had killed an antelope and had hyenas steal the kill. When we came upon the scene the hyenas were fighting over the kill, and we provided enough distraction for the leopard to steal back part of the kill. With a few more interesting animals to photograph it was quite a day.
- Zebra
- Morning Leopard
- Leopard
- Leopard Yawn
- Impala
- Leopard close encounter
- Strolling Leopard
- Wildebeest
- Giraffe
- Our last Africa Sunset
Tomorrow will be our last day and as usual, Our Singita Host, Chef and Staff prepare a great dinner, with great wine to celebrate a great trip.
Final Day and Return Home Monday July 22nd.
by Gil on Jul.31, 2019, under Family
We were ninety percent packed and had our normal six A.M. wake up call and seven A.M. departure for our last game drive. One of the naturalists had spotted a lone male lion so that was our challenge for the morning. Vusi our tracker picked up the tracks on a road and started tracking on foot in the bush and we circled to try to intercept our quarry. We soon spotted a magnificent young male traveling fast. The early morning sun was low and behind the lion but we still managed to capture some halfway decent images of this magnificent creature.
- Lion
- Lion on the move
- Lion
- Lion
- Zebra
As we headed back to camp we stopped to photograph two Zebra who turned to say goodbye as we leave this incredible place. We enjoyed one last Singita lunch, then finished packing and headed for the airstrip. Our flight was a little over an hour and we checked back into the Intercontinental where we had a day room. Lunch, shower and relax until our eight P.M. fifteen-hour flight to Atlanta. We cleared customs and then caught our last flight to our home airports. We all arrived home before noon on Tuesday, July 23. Enjoying two fabulous locations, unbelievable hospitality and unforgettable safari experience with our family is a trip of a lifetime. We will be sharing memories for months and years to come.
Thanksgiving 2018
by Gil on Nov.23, 2018, under Family
The family started gathering at the Chechessee cottage on the Monday before Thanksgiving with Jennifer, Mike, and Alexandra arriving from Florida. Tuesday Caitlin and Kinsey arrived with Gil and Joyce and Heidi, Gary and Brenn completed the gathering Thanksgiving morning. Thanksgiving day was typical with lots of activities, starting with some working out at Spring Island, games, cooking, eating, additional games, football watching, more eating, more games, talking, relaxing, more eating, more cooking, giving Thanks and then feasting. It was a great Thanksgiving day surrounded by several days of family fun.
- Our Family
- Brenn
- Caitlin
- The cooking begins
- Jen and Joyce
- Cousins cooperate
- Faulty Towers
- Heidi and Kinsey
- Puzzle
- Puzzle A team
- Turkey Time
- Saying Thanks
Black Friday activities started with exercise for everybody with some heading to the gym and others entering the 5K at Spring Island. Once that was done we resumed the eating, games, football watching Missouri won big, and there was some shopping. Gary left to coach his football team, who are in the playoffs. All but Gary went to the Oyster Roast at Spring Island for dinner.
- Spring Island 5K
- Brenn meets Oysters
- Oyster Roast
Christmas 2017
by Gil on Dec.29, 2017, under Family
Christmas weekend started with Caitlin and Kinsey coming to Hilton Head on Thursday, with Heidi having outpatient surgery done Friday. Friday Jennifer, Mike and Alexandra arrived in the evening from Florida. Saturday morning Jennifer organized the traditional gingerbread house baking and construction and there as lots of other holiday baking. Kinsey declared that her gingerbread house was hit by hurricane Mathew, Caitlin’s was sturdy and nice but the prize went to Alexandra for prettiest house (pictured below). Early Saturday afternoon we all traveled to the Chechessee cottage and to our surprise Heidi was there recovering. Gary and Brenn arrived Christmas eve morning. Christmas eve was spent playing games, watching college football, enjoying each others company, capped off by a fine dinner.
- Ginger bread project
- Alexandra’s creation
- Card Sharks
- Hanging out Christmas Eve
- Two against one
- Joyce and Heidi
- Grand Children
- Santa has arrived
Christmas morning the excitement was high and yes Santa had delivered lots of gifts. There was lots of happines, but the highlight was Brenn shedding tears of joy when he opened his tickets to the Collage Football National Championship game. We all teared up and it capped off a great morning. We then had a big Christmas brunch then everyone enjoyed their gifts and socialized. In the afternoon we watched the San Francisco 49ers pull off an impressive win over the Jaguars who were favored. We then enjoyed a traditional prime rib Christmas dinner. We spent Boxing day doing more family things, with some shopping, working out and playing with new toys, before Gary and Mike arrived with Barbecue dinner. The Prado’s went back to Savannah on Wednesday and Montgomery’s to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. It was a great family Christmas.
- Christmas gifts for all
- Cailin’s happy
- Brenn’s new fishing pole
- Alexandra’s delighted
- Kinsey’s all smiles
- More smiles
- Jewelry nice
- Tear’s of Joy
- Christmas Dinner 2017
Thanksgiving 2017
by Gil on Nov.29, 2017, under Family
Joyce and I flew to Fort Lauderdale the day before Thanksgiving. Great flight and then time for Jen and Joyce to spring into action preparing for tomorrows feast. Dinner out a fun Italian restaurant, eat light so you are ready for turkey? Thanksgiving day was great, with the traditional dinner and quality time with family. Alexandra was in charge of the official picture and did a fine job.
- Thanksgiving Dinner 2017
Friday after Thanksgiving we drove into Miami to the Wynwood Walls area to me Dennis and Jill Haber and Dennis’s sister Arlene for lunch. We had a great lunch and a great visit. We then toured the area visiting a neat little car museum and taking in the incredible street art.
- Lunch with the Habers
- Wynwood Walls
- Wynwood Walls
- Mercedes Touring Car
- Mercedes 300
- Wynwood Walls
- Joyce, Jen and Alexandra
We then returned to Jen and Mikes home, and Jen did some shopping (Black Friday) and Mike and Gil went to the shooting range. Dinner at home and Saturday we flew back to Hilton Head another great flight. Another super Thanksgiving with family.
Weddings in Oregon
by Gil on Aug.03, 2017, under Family
We flew to Oregon for two joyous events, the weddings of Brian Littlefield (nephew) to Lynda Mathews and my brother Mike Williamson to Laticia Stryker. We stayed in Bend, Oregon, where my brother lives, then traveled to Salem the site of the rehearsal dinner and wedding. We stayed in Salem at the beautiful Oregon gardens.
Oregon Gardens
- Oregon Gardens
- Garden Pond
- Tranquility
Rehearsal Dinner
- Tina Littlefield
- Mark and Cathy Mathews
- Brian and Lynda
The wedding was outdoors in a beautiful setting, followed by dinner.
Brian and Lynda’s wedding
- Here comes the bride
- The vows
- Ceremony
- Toast
- Guests
- Bride, Groom and Parents
We traveled back to Bend stopping at the Willamette Valley vineyard to taste wine and have lunch with Mike, Laticia and cousin Kayle. We liked the Pinot, and sent a case back to South Carolina.
Oregon Wine Country
- Willamette Valley Vineyards
- Tasting Wine
On Monday we traveled to Camp Sherman, Oregon for Mike and Laticia’s wedding in a beautiful wooded setting, followed by dinner. Laticia had a fabulous photographer who did not want competition so these images were taken with my spy camera. It was a wonderful wedding enjoyed by the whole family.
Mike and Laticia’s wedding
- Camp Sherman
- Wedding in the Woods
- Laticia and Mike
- Cutting the cake
- Bride and Groom
We returned to Bend with my sister Patty and her husband Lenny and the next day had lunch with Mike and Laticia. During the week end we had the occasion to reunite with our family in Oregon including my three sisters (Suzy, Patty and Tina) and their husbands and children as well as of course Mike. We decided it was time to have a family reunion and include all of the east coast contingent next year. Patty is in charge so we know it will happen. Joyce and I got up very early Wednesday and flew back to South Carolina. It was a great weekend which we will be reminded of as we sip the very nice Oregon, Pinot Nior that is on its way.