(This article was written by Louise and my 10 year old daughter while out on drve with Gary. It is wonderful to see the experience through her eyes. All the pictures in this article were also taken by her).
Duncan Rodgers
Elephant Herds, Cheetah, beautiful sunsets, and being stuck in the mud…..Gary knows how to show his Guests a good time.
I was lucky enough to spend the afternoon drive out on Safari with Gary and a regular guest his name is Frankie and his friend Adam, there was also two honeymooners named Ashley and Robert. It was quite an experience, as all drives with Gary are.
We left Leopard hills at 4:15 and headed out we drove to a place where a male leopard had made a kill, it was hanging in a tree as we drove through. We look and looked but there was no luck there, no sign of him, so we drove in another direction and we saw waterbuck and wild beast on route. We were driving down a road and we smelt the pungent scent of elephants up ahead. We drove up and we saw an Ululapa game drive vehicle there already. It was June a tracker that used to work at Leopard Hills. We sat with them for a while just enjoying the fresh air and watching the elephants pass by. Gary heard that there was a cheetah closed to where we were, so we decided to leave the elephants in peace. On our way there we saw yet another herd of elephants, we carried on and saw a land rover, so Gray drove up there.
We saw some spots in the grass, a cheetah was lying there. June was also there as well, so we parked close to where he was. About 10 minutes later Gary looked over at June, he told Gary that he was stuck in the mud because it had been raining heavily the night before. Gary told us that we had to go and help June out but the cheetah was still lying close by to where the land rovers were parked. Gary slowly drove around to where June was, and guess what, we got stuck there too! Gary radioed another ranger on drive, who was nearby, and 10 minutes later they pulled in behind us, and all the guests were so happy to see the cheetah. The Ranger asked Gary if he had a winch, but our land rover did not have one, so the other land rover had to go and get one from their camp.
As they left, the cheetah got up and moved away. All June’s guests could now safely get off the land rover, and we started to push it out, but no luck, the land rover was too stuck and we could not do it. In the nick of time the other land rover was back and they had the winch with them. We all jumped for joy as they attached the winch to the land rover they pulled and pulled but it was too stuck. We had to use a jack to lift it and make it slide a bit to one side and when it slid the driver took off at full speed and we managed to get it out, Gary, was so excited. As we pulled free for the mud the land rover that pulled us out was now stuck, so when we got him out and we were so thankful to the people that helped us.
We drove down the road about 5 minutes away from where we were stuck. I sat there with a drink in my hand I thanked God for letting me live in the bush with all the wonderful things I have, and all the wonderful people I had around me. As we drove home there was the most amazing sunset I have ever seen in my life I took some nice pictures.
As the sun disappeared and darkness set in, we saw another herd of elephants and a Civet Cat as it ran across the road.
It was a wonderful night and I really am looking forward to my next Safari with Gary.
I want to know if Duncan and Louise will adopt me so I can come and live at Leopard Hills!! Kiara – that is a stunning sunset picture with the tree – well done!
Wow Kiara I enjoyed the safari too, it was something different, and clearly added a bit of exitement to the evenings safari. Sooo glad that you enjoyed it and great photos.
Sure there will be a few more safari’s in the future.
Gary.
great job.
I felt like I was there with your descriptions
Kiara, well done my girl, what a great story and your photos are excellent, I am so proud of you and hope you will become a regular weblog writer. Love you sweetheart. Mum
WOW kiara can i please come on a game drive with you again ! it all seems to happen when your there ,remember we had to climb a rock to get out of the way of an elephant !! your writing is wonderful keep doing it . see you soon am very excited x
Fantastic piece of writing Kiara -Iam very proud of you.It sounds as though Gary took you on a wonderful adventure. I just wishI could have been therewith you. Lots of love
Kiara I felt like I was there with you. Youo did a greast job. I have to admit I had to laugh remembering the times we were stuck. You brought back great memories.
Keep up the good work.
Kiara! I am so proud of you! Your writing is excellent! Nice describing words and I can hear your voice in my head as I’m reading. Its like I’m there with you! Clever girl!! Keep it up and keep reading too. Its wonderful to see that you’re using some of your many talents. Lots of love to you, Cook. Cara
Kiara,
I had the same experience you did a few years ago. Our LR was stuck in a hole, in the middle of lions! And in the dark! We had to wait for the winch also. Hannes was our ranger then and we had to wait for Gary as Marius was holiday. But my guests still talk about that night. Just another added feature when staying at your beautiful and special Leopard Hills.
Kiara,
I had the same experience you did a few years ago. Our LR was stuck in a hole, in the middle of lions! And in the dark! We had to wait for the winch also. Hannes was our ranger then and we had to wait for Gary as Marius was holiday. But my guests still talk about that night. Just another added feature when staying at your beautiful and special Leopard Hills.
i think you should be taking game-drives!!!
you are by far the best potential of any other Ranger i have ever met – excluding me of-course!!
We need more of your writings please.
Louis
Glad you had a great Safari! Great pictures- Vanessa&Marius
Great story my Little Eco-Bush-Bunny, I think from now on I am sending you my info and you can write my stories for me. At least I dont get you stuck when you go on drives with me, ask Gary Iif he wants me to come back and train him sopme more on how to look after my Eco-Bush Bunny. Beatiful sunset.
You go Chicken
Wow Kiara! Fantastic descriptive story and what beautiful pictures!
At last there is someone who gives your dad a bit of competition on the Leopard Hills Blog.
Very well done
Great to read about your game drive Kiara. Your story is great and with each word, I envy you living in such an awesome place. We look forward to the next story. Big hugs. Annies.
Well done sis, great article!
I wish I where on game drive with you and I loved you discribed everything.
I think you should write a book one day.
Great job!
Thank you Kiara for your lovely story. Your story was so vivid and the pictures so fantastic, that I almost felt like I was on game drive with you. I hope we will see more posts from you soon.
I agree with Megan, although I think you should both write a book…
I am sure you will be doing more writing. What a wonderful natural ability, and a great sense of humor! I look forward to more descriptions of your safaris, and wonderful photos. Thank you for sharing your feelings about living in the bush.
Thank you to everyone who has commented, I get so much pleasure seeing the bush through young eyes, and the enthusiasm is contagious.
We are blessed to live in such a wonderful place, but even more so to have the opportunity to raise a Family here, thank you Kiara for making it even more special.
Kiara
What a wonderful article. It sounds like you had a great adventure which was nicely expressed in your writing. Great photos, I especially liked the sunset. Look forward to your next posting.
Michelle
What?! Gary got stuck in the mud? I’m gobsmacked! Just kidding…what a wonderful game drive for all! So enjoyed your post.
Joy, Camarillo Ca
What?! Gary got stuck in the mud? I’m gobsmacked! Just kidding…what a wonderful game drive for all! So enjoyed your post.
Joy, Camarillo Ca
I can see something coming "Come to Leopard Hills and experience the most fantastic games drive with our Head Ranger, the well known Kiara Rogers!"
Hi Kiara,
What a great personal true adventure story you have shared with eveyone! Very few people, let alone those of your age, have the talent, insight and work ethic to put together anything close to what you have done. You are well deserving of all the superlatives that have written and spoken about you and your great article. Ruth and I are proud to count you, Megan and your mom and dad among our long-time friends. One point I must add is that why should Gary getting stuck in the mud surprise you? — look at his role models — Your dad and Marius!!!!!!!! (I believe it’s part of the Leopard Hills "Mystic")
Allen (Big AL)
Wow Kiara!
What a beautiful story and awesome pictures… incredibly well written for a little lady of 10! You’re amazing and deserve all the adoration you’re receiving!
Big love,
Llane, Karl & Taeghan