JNB-WDH

Well here we are at JNB airport sitting in the British Airways Galleries lounge having cheese and crackers and wine waiting for our flight to Namibia. Thank heavens for Michael's executive platinum status that gets us into such places. It is the only way to travel.
We are really looking forward to seeing Namibia, but cannot leave South Africa without a few last comments about our stay here. Last night's game drive started out comfortably warm but as boring as seeing 4-5 zebras again and again can be after days of game drives. Then as the sun was going down and it was just getting chilly again and we were getting a bit frustrated, what shows up right by the side of the road but a young female leopard (pictures to follow) clearly intent on something in the grass on the opposite side of the road. So she sat there staring across right in front of us forever.
We were apparently really spoiled at Sabi Sabi last year where the leopards are, by all accounts, very habituated to the vehicles and where we had wild dogs conveniently treeing the leopards for our viewing please. It seems that in the rest of the world, leopard sightings are usually so brief (more like the other day) that rangers hardly ever call them in because the cat will undoubtedly be gone by the time anyone else gets there. I swear that for me watching a leopard is every bit as mesmerizing as sitting in the Cistine Chapel or staring at the David. I could have stayed for hours, but we had to be polite eventually and move on for others to get a chance to see her. But she gave us a fabulous last drive in Welgevonden.
Last night turkey dinner in honor of Jon Dill's birthday today. Reluctant goodbyes to friends, new and old. And then an early departure via transport to JNB this morning.
Always sad to leave but always sad to arrive someplace new. More later.