Fellow travellers

Being split into two trucks for the game drives – and with separate tables at every meal  - there was little chance for any interaction between the two groups – 15-20 mins over coffee at 5.00 am when conversation rarely flows, and them similar periods over a drink before lunch and dinner.

So we really only chatted with those who were in the same truck and as usual it was a mixed bag: a couple of recently retired middle ranking civil servants with some odd little foibles;  another retired chap from Kent of generous proportions who had lost his wife a few years ago and was now hooked up with a slightly younger but somewhat larger lady who was a travel agent and had booked the entire trip so, in his words, all he had to do was show up and bring his credit card; and an older South African couple who owned the largest free range chicken farm in KwaZula-Natal and were staying on the reserve as personal guests of the owners.

Thankfully the Kentish Man– or should that be Man of Kent? – and his partner had a good sense of humour and enjoyed a glass or two.

Of course the mix changed most days as people moved on and new folk arrived. We were down to 4 at one point and then we were joined by two Irish couples – one were long term SA residents while the other was a sister and brother in law who ran a pub in Kildare – so any thoughts of joining Bernie G and having a day or two off the drink went by the wayside. Anyway it is now after the 1st of Feb and I assume that Bernie has already enjoyed a glass or two of something memorable.