Meerkats! Meerkats! Meerkats!

Yes we finally checked off an item we had talked about for 10 years - seeing meerkats in the wild. Got up at 6 a.m. in cold weather but so worth it. Our guide was so nice and informative - we learned so much. For example, we learned that meerkats eat mostly bugs because they are always on the run and must eat quickly; otherwise they will eat for too long and their family will leave them behind, making them a possible target for predators.

Also learned they do not go out in the rain as it will wash away their scent. Meerkats only recognize each other by scent so even if they have lived with a sister for 6 years if they return to the burrow smelling different, their family will kill them. And if a girl meerkat hooks up, she must leave with him or they will kill her. Ruthless creatures. 

Our guide positioned us in chairs with our backs to the sun as the meerkats face the sun the warm their bellies to help with their digestive system. We observed them for 2 hours. Amazing!

Sunrise waiting for meerkats

The sentry

The entire family

Table Mountain

Us and meerkats

Fun drive to Oudtshoorn - and Paul drove on the left (correct) side of the road

More photos of penguins at Boulders Beach. We learned that it all started with two breeding pairs in 1982 and now there are 2,200 penguins here. 

Slept in later than we wanted but body was telling us that it needed to catch up on sleep after a fun day in Cape Town and awesome dinner at Graeme and Rob's house.

Paul drove on left (correct) side of the road, which was not easy in downtown traffic but we survived. Gorgeous drive to Oudtshoorn - we felt like we were in Arizona or Utah and spellbound by the mountains. Stopped outside of Robertson at a winery with beautiful views, great inexpensive local wine and the best burger of our lives - huge local beef with caramelized pears and a slice of bleu cheese.


Got to De Zeekow Farm and Inn. Amazing meal of ostrich filets that were ... well ... running around yesterday on the property. Tomorrow is an early morning for meerkat safari. We have been obsessed since Meerkat Manor!

Great Day in Cape Town

Arrived this morning in beautiful Cape Town. Graeme and Rob P. picked us up at the airport. Rob and Hank's house is gorgeous with beautiful gardens right near the City Center. Graeme and Rob W.'s house is nearby and equally beautiful.


We then hit the road and stopped at one of Western Cape's oldest wineries to see Dutch Cape architecture. Then off to Boulders Beach for a picnic (cheese, salami, pate, assorted fruit, quiche - yum) on Boulders Beach. The water was not as cold as we feared and we waded in a bit. Then we spent hours admiring the adorable penguins. They are hundreds at this park! So cute.

More pics tomorrow. 

Tomorrow we rent a Mercedes and drive to Oudtshoorn for meerkats!

We've Arrived in Johannesburg

21 hours later we have arrived! Flights were great, especially the long haul from Atlanta. Being able to lie flat in first class made all the difference. Service on Delta was fabulous, too (too much food though).

We are surprisingly not tired as we were able to sleep 5-6 hours. We will crash somewhat early tonight as we have an 8:30 am flight to Cape Town. Our airport hotel is quite nice.

Off to Cape Town tomorrow!

Two weeks from today we will arrive in Johannesburg

We've created this blog to help our friends and family stay in touch with us while we are on our 18-day adventure in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Many of our friends will simply follow on Facebook but we thought this format may be easier for others, and for us for the few times we don't have access to Wi-Fi.

There is a button at the right where you can subscribe via email so that you will be notified whenever we've done a new post.

For now, we're beginning to make packing lists, instructions for the house sitter and figuring out how we are going to fit 18 days' worth of clothes into one checked suitcase for two people. Luckily most of the resorts and even safari camps have laundry and dry cleaning services. Also the cool autumn weather in Africa will allow us to mostly wear jeans (except for Rovos Rail, which requires a dinner jacket for dinner).

We are very excited and cannot wait to board Delta Air to begin our adventure.

-Greg & Paul