One of the nice things about settling in for a couple of nights at Lion's Rock is that there wasn't all that much to actually do. But, unlike Addo, where there wasn't that much to do, and for some reason, that didn't work all that well, it worked just fine at Lion's Rock. Some days you need stuff to keep you occupied, and others, chilling is the ticket.
We did go out for an ATV ride one morning, which delighted the children. Although it delighted Tom more than Hope because she lost the draw again and got stuck with me. Speed is not my gig.
It felt a little odd, in this place that was all about "animal sanctuary" to go screaming through a herd of zebra, but I am exaggerating. The zebra heard us coming and left before we got there. The property is beautiful, though, and it was fun to explore it on a four-wheeler. I've never been a huge fan of these things, but they are practical for getting around unpaved areas.
The children got to drive on the macadam for a bit at the end, which is why the photo gives you the appearance that Hope was in the pilot's seat. She was, but just briefly and only on the paved road.
If one were planning to come here for a week, a rental car would be a must, and day trips would keep you occupied. I think if you truly love photography and have always wanted to photograph big cats, you could also do well here. In addition, there is a gorgeous National Park not far, a lovely artsy town for with nice restaurants and local crafts, plus the town of Bethlehem, which has a Casino, if you like that sort of thing. I liked the notion that we were spending yet another holiday season in Bethlehem (we've been in Bethlehem Palestine Authority and Bethlehem Pennsylvania in prior years), far more than a Casino, but I'm odd that way.
Jeff and I went hiking up the hill behind the lodge. And while we did not find the long sought after Zebra Mask on our hike, we did not find it in the cute artsy town, either. Or in the National Park. In fact, by this time, I had resigned myself to the fact that I was looking for something that didn't exist in South Africa. Or at least the parts of South Africa we had chosen to visit. I was a bit wistful, thinking of those tourist towns we had blown through on the Garden Route, but at the same time, I would not have traded the things we did get to do for schlepping through a tourist town in search of a tchotchke.
And the pool provide its usual diversion. What is it with pools and children? Mine are always happiest if they have a place to dunk their heads.
And quick as a flash, our time at Lion's Rock was up. We had only two more nights in South Africa, both to be spent in one of the odder places I've ever chosen for us to go: a Family Resort in the Drakenberg Mountains. It was the sort of place that has a Kids Club, complete with clown, and has Family Rugby games every day at 11:00am. So, definitely not our usual deal.
But, I figured after two weeks on the road, the children could use some down time, Hope loves a clown, and they had a pool. So, off we went.
Next: Look, Up In the Sky!
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