The thunder subsided to allow us to go on the wildlife tour at 5.30pm.
The resort had just taken the reigns of a very substantial army-vehicle-type bus (the wheels weighted a tonne each!) and were eager to put it to the test, so we were the guinea pigs. The driver had been out that afternoon to check the vehicle could indeed get up the hills and through the creeks... once...
The resort had just taken the reigns of a very substantial army-vehicle-type bus (the wheels weighted a tonne each!) and were eager to put it to the test, so we were the guinea pigs. The driver had been out that afternoon to check the vehicle could indeed get up the hills and through the creeks... once...
The Kangaroos, Wallabies, and Wallaroos (all Macropods - members of the kangaroo family) all came out to play, but were a little confused at the sight of the big bus rather than the previously used vehicle!
We had never heard of Wallaroos before - apparently they are smaller than a Kangaroo, but larger than a Wallaby, and those early European settlers, having run out of names, therefore called it a Wallaroo!
Spot the joey in it's mother's pouch:
Unfortunately, in our haste we packed the wrong camera lens at home, meaning most of the photos we took were out of focus. In the fading light our iPhones struggled too. You should just be able to make out the Albino kangaroo behind the dark one. There are three albino kangaroos in the valley, and two albino joeys. The valley is pretty protected, meaning these creatures can flourish where they may have struggled elsewhere.
As well as the Macropods we were also able to see many different birds, such as the bird of prey pictured below. One species of bird the guide pointed out whilst on our stay was the White-winged Chough, which kidnaps young birds from surrounding families of Choughs and then subject them to a form of slavery: building nests, foraging for food, feeding the young birds. Some manage to escape, others do not.
It was a really interesting 90 minutes, and a great way of seeing some of the resort valley, as well as its inhabitants.
As for the bus: there were a few hairy moments going up some of the steep slippery and muddy slopes, but the vehicle (and the driver) got us through. We managed to get most of the way around before the rain began, again.
Apart from the larger capacity of this versus the older open-sided bus, I think the resort bought it so they could still give the tours in wet weather - however, the new one seemed to have sprung a leak, right above my head, and the rain was rapidly dripping through the light above my seat. Luckily it was a big vehicle and there were only six guests so I could move to a dry seat!
Apart from the larger capacity of this versus the older open-sided bus, I think the resort bought it so they could still give the tours in wet weather - however, the new one seemed to have sprung a leak, right above my head, and the rain was rapidly dripping through the light above my seat. Luckily it was a big vehicle and there were only six guests so I could move to a dry seat!
The following day we went pony trekking.
Now this was a huge deal for me, I was thrown off a horse when I was 16 and broke my back. Always a nervous rider, this 2 weeks of not being allowed to move at all, together with all the months of wearing a back brace, firmly spelled the end for my riding career.
When I had attempted to get on a horse since then, it always ended up with me crying tears of pure terror as soon as I come into contact with the four-legged beast. I did always like the thought of returning to the saddle until that point.
T had arranged it as a surprise (he did know that I was seriously wanting to have another go at it - he is not mean!!), so luckily I didn't know what we were doing until 30 minutes beforehand.
Now this was a huge deal for me, I was thrown off a horse when I was 16 and broke my back. Always a nervous rider, this 2 weeks of not being allowed to move at all, together with all the months of wearing a back brace, firmly spelled the end for my riding career.
When I had attempted to get on a horse since then, it always ended up with me crying tears of pure terror as soon as I come into contact with the four-legged beast. I did always like the thought of returning to the saddle until that point.
T had arranged it as a surprise (he did know that I was seriously wanting to have another go at it - he is not mean!!), so luckily I didn't know what we were doing until 30 minutes beforehand.
On arriving at the stables, we were asked to read and sign a disclaimer. Of course, the usual, death, serious injury was on there. At this point, reading "serious injury", I was all ready to walk out of the door.
I persevered, and was introduced to a 9-year old male horse called Scooter.
I persevered, and was introduced to a 9-year old male horse called Scooter.
It was fantastic to be able to ride amongst the macropods, who just thought it was the horse walking past - they hadn't figured out there was a human on top.
T's horse, Bandit, was a cheeky character who spent the whole of the 90 minutes trying to eat, or drink, or walk into trees - as the guide and myself kept telling T not to let Bandit do it...
Scooter was a little treasure, and we arrived back with me not having shed one tear, or shaking, even including the moment when T and the guide were at the bottom of a steep hill, and Scooter and I were at the top. The guide had told me Scooter sometimes trots to keep up, especially when downhill. I have always hated going downhill on a horse, especially at speed, but, after a bottom scratch (for Scooter...) we walked down, slowly.
Scooter was a little treasure, and we arrived back with me not having shed one tear, or shaking, even including the moment when T and the guide were at the bottom of a steep hill, and Scooter and I were at the top. The guide had told me Scooter sometimes trots to keep up, especially when downhill. I have always hated going downhill on a horse, especially at speed, but, after a bottom scratch (for Scooter...) we walked down, slowly.
Europhic, we were driven back to the main hotel where we were then driven to the other side of the resort for a posh Bush picnic:
We didn't go on another safari that evening, although the hotel does offer a twilight one at 9pm, by that time the clouds had firmly rolled in and the rain showed no sign of subsiding.
This little fella eating grass outside of the front door to our suite reminded us we didn't even have to venture out of our suite to see the wildlife:
This little fella eating grass outside of the front door to our suite reminded us we didn't even have to venture out of our suite to see the wildlife:
We had planned to go for a hike on Sunday, but the steady rain beating down outside made us rethink our plans (we had nothing dry to change into after the walk, and therefore it would be a very wet three-hour drive home), so we opted for a swim in the pool, a leisurely read of the paper, and then, grudgingly check out.
We didn't want to leave, but what an experience it was!
We didn't want to leave, but what an experience it was!