Hi all from outside Kruger Park.  The students endured a long travel day yesterday on the road from a magnificent and quite rustic lodge in the bush at Thanda.  They were able to feed and snuggle some rescue elephants, which was hysterical!  After that they headed on a game drive in safari vehicles with many exciting moments such as cheetahs walking a road, lions resting in some thick bushes, as well as wild elephants nudging trees and flapping their ears to cool themselves off.  It was pretty amazing.  One vehicle of all girls, including a rare female guide, had to push the vehicle out of the deep mud, with immediate success and the reward of being very muddy!  The evening was blustery and the braii (South African barbeque) outside by the fire knowing that just behind a small fence were hyenas and giraffes was pretty exciting.  Kids slept in pairs in separate thatched roofed chalets under mosquito nets and the setting was quite rustic and beautiful.  Today we are heading to do a day with ECO kids with a service project of painting, gardening, and playing with students.  More exciting adventures to come!
JO