hello from south africa!!!

wow!
really, is there anymore i can say after an amazing couple of days in the bush with wild African animals!!!

the first photo of bill and "gilbert" the elephant is REAL.
apparently gilbert likes to walk around the cottages of the game reserve we were staying and we met him on the way to the game drive.
apparently he is quite comfortable with people...
we were peeing our pants!
he even interrupted us poolside for a drink.
is that not the craziest thing you have ever seen!!

here are some photos we took on the 4 game drives we were so lucky to go on.



those are 2 REAL lions after making a kill.
we found them on one of our night drives...
sorry for the graphic nature, but it was the most amazing thing i have ever seen.
our ranger and tracker spotted them hidden in the bush...it is an absolute rarity to witness.
we were in an open top jeep only 20 feet away.

we just made it to cape town and the remainder of our trip will be spent here. i have tons more photos to share, and will upload and post a bunch when we return home on Sunday.

registration for INSPIRED. is on sat and i will hopefully be standing by from S. AFRICA!!
CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MORE!!
right now it is time for room service and a good nights sleep before a big day in cape town tomorrow!!

Comments

[Catherine Schwartz]

AMAZING photos! Enjoy your trip to the fullest--it looks like a life changing event.

[cynthia]

awesome!

[Faith]

This is my absolute dream...to see the big cats up close. They amaze me. Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures.

[lynette smit]

hi donna, we attended the convention in sandton last weekend and i must say i loved it, I thought u were wonderful and wished there had been more time to meet. thank you for shareing your time with us we really enjoyed ourselves something we will do again next year. Enjoy your holiday in south africa and have a safe trip back home.
God Bless
Lynette Smit

[Jennifer]

OMG!!!

What great shots and awesome story! I just showed these to my 12 year old daughter who looked at them with her mouth hanging open. When she read you were in a Jeep 20 feet from the lions she said "How cool is that?!"

[Charlotte]

Hee hee, "easter bunnies" in London, Gazelles in Africa, whatever next!! Glad you are having such an amazing time, just love the photo of Gilbert x

[Jolene George]

Although your photos are amazing and the animals are beautiful I'd have to say, no thank you! Open jeep, hungry lions...nope! So glad you're enjoying your time in Africa.

[Dalne]

I am an African living in Australia and now I miss home SICK! Enjoy Cape Town. Visit the Melissa's deli in Kloof street. They have the most yummy cakes and treats and about 1 or 2 doors up the hill is a little store called Heart Works. They have the most gorgeous art made in South Africa.

[jodii geddes]

OMG What great photos and what an awesome experience. Africa is one of the place i most want to visit, for exactly the experience you are having right now. Can't wait to see some more photos

[Guard Wife]

Those photos are AMAZING. Elephants are one of my very favorite animals...to be that close to one?! I can't even imagine! How neat!

Enjoy your trip! Can't wait to hear more!

[Anna M-W]

Phenomenal photos! I'm glad that you guys are having such a great time. I can't wait to see more pics! Have a safe trip!

[Anastasia]

Oh what wonderous things you've seen! I so want to go to Africa someday. Your photos just make my desire to go even stronger. Thanks so much for sharing your truly extraordinary photos! Enjoy the remainder of your trip!

[Laura plunk]

Can I just say "WOW" !!
Have a great trip !1
Laura P

[Yanah]

Donna,
You are so lucky to be there! Enjoy.
My husband is from South Africa and he hasn't been able to go back in 20 years,hopefully one day we'll go there to visit.
Cape Town is the most beautiful place he says, so enjoy your holiday.

[sarah the kiwigirl]

Wow doesn't even come close...have a fantastic time, looking forward to registration!

[Debbie Mac]

You are living the life, girlfriend! I just can't imagine seeing the lions and would have paid to see your face. You have memories for a lifetime and thanks for sharing because I'll never be brave enough to make the trip. Hurry home and need to see the rest of the pics.

[cheryl]

Those pictures are amazing! Can't wait to see more!

[Di Hilstad]

WOW WOW & WOW! What an amazing once in a life time trip. Those photos took my breath away.

[Shelly]

Wow! Amazing photos! Enjoy every moment.

[WENDY MYERS]

Donna,

What amazing photos. I can't wait to see what you do with those.
My sister went to Africa several years ago and she said the Beauty there is Amazing and hard to put into words.

Have a Great trip and a safe trip home.
Oh and don't feed the elephants, they will follow you home! LOL

[Stefani]

Wow-amazing photos! What a fantastic experience!

[Julie]

I was going to mention the bunnies, but someone beat me to it! Love your photos Donna. Have a great time.
Julie

[Annie]

It's a good thing the lions already had dinner that night. Can't wait to see the rest of the pictures.

[Jennifer]

What lodge did you stay at. I go to SA often, and the place you were at looks like they have lots of opportunity to see big animals-- I've been to so many parks and lodges and never saw a kill. We got married on safari too-so wonderful.

[Nadia]

Hey girl,

Thank you SO much for sharing your experiences and pictures. I have added South Africa to my list of places to see. What an amazing adventure!

[Sherryann]

the pictures are amazing, but I am sure your memories are even better.

[Vanessa]

OMG DONNA!!!!!! My dream is to visit S. Africa and we're hoping to finally go there next year. Your photos are breathtaking and the experience must be amazing. Thanks for sharing all this with us! Please do share all the details, inc. where you stayed and what your itinerary included... :-) Have a safe trip!

[creativelyselfemployed.com]

hope you're enjoying your trip--and the book!
thanks for bringing the turquoise and brown to another continent for me.

[Cheryl]

So glad to know you're enjoying S. Africa. We lived there for a year as well as other places in Africa for an additional five years (mostly in Madagascar). Anyhow, it's definitely a place dear to our hearts . . . the land, animals and people. Enjoy!

[Tamekia N. Owens]

okay, i'm so late, but have you thought of a name for your book yet - i was thinking:
"scrapbook ALL your photos: including the bad, the not so good, and the down right ugly".

[Sasha Farina]

whoaaaaaaaaaa..... awesome photos! better not let my kidlets see this... they will surely wanna go there..

[suetreiber]

seriously awesome!!!

[Tena]

Wow Cool photos Donna! Can't wait to see the rest. Tena

[Kimberly Hill]

Hi Donna,
I've been reading your blog for a year or so now... I just love reading about your life, and all you do in and for the scrapbooking world (and then some!)...

I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your Africa pictures are... I hope you post more for sure! Africa is a place where I have always wanted to travel to, and now you've sparked a fire in me and I'm hoping to convince my DH to change our upcoming 10 year anniversary plans! hehe

Awesome pics! Can't wait to see more!
You're a real inspiration!

[Debbie Mac]

Just left Deb, Freaky, and Lynn after a late cocktail hour so I could rush home to sign up for the workshop at 12:01. So ....Midnight tonight??? Okay so I'm a day early. Crap I could have had one more Margarita! I think I'm overexcited. May need to skip the java tomorrow.

[Kari]

Your photos and descriptions are making me homesick.....enjoy Cape Town, my home city and say hello to the mountain for me. Safe travels.....

[marie]

OMG OMG AMAZING

[Sara]

Thanks for sharing those amazing pictures with all of us. I would love to travel there one day.

[JulieP]

AWESOME photo!!! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

[mikascrap]

Thanks for sharring the great pics. Like to see what others do in holiday. In a few weeks i'm off for Nepal (a whole month) Mika

[Jenn from MA]

OMG - so freakin cool!! Africa is in my top 5 dream destinations...along with Italy. Thanks for sharing your uber cool pics.