I arrived safe and happy in Johannesburg, South Africa - good flight

(10.5 hours from London) on time. Good people, good stimulation of good thinking.

After a stimulating conference (where I spouted Technology Futures as the Keynote Speaker) I went with my hosts on a visit to the "Big-5" - Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Buffalo - so named because these were the dangerous prizes for the big-game hunters; these days they roam midst natural surroundings in protected parks.

We drove to the Pilansburg Reserve, 3-4 hours from Johannesburg.

The hotel was as luxurious as anywhere in the world, with separate jungle-huts, outfitted with all the amenities and conveniences - private bath and outdoor shower, settee on a porch to lounge in the late evening, listening to jungle noises - some animals actually come to the nearby fence, I was told.

The next day we went off on the Big-5 trek with a wonderful local guide - 23-year-old white S. African who had a zoology degree and experience in several major wild-animal parks in Southern Africa.

We went out twice a day - 5:30 AM (the guide gave you a wake-up call at 5:00 AM, to catch the sunrise as we set out; and 4:30 PM (back at about 9:00 pm).

We saw herds of zebra and wildebeest grazing together with many different species of deer. Interestingly, one of our group is color-blind and midst the jungle camouflage, he'd always be the first to spot animals from a distance - giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, hyenas, buffalo - we didn't get to see always elusive leopards. We stopped to see lions crossing the road, and zebras and then elephants too. With a little zooming, I got lots of fairly good close-up pictures. During the first night, a big female elephant was protecting her herd, blocking the road back to base; the guide thought it safer to return via another roundabout route, which took another hour, in pitch black.

The second day we saw two young lions (brothers) stalking a herd of zebra and wildebeest. A zebra which had been separate from the lions had seen them approach, and continued screaming warnings which we hoped the others wouldn't hear. Well, perhaps they did, because they moved off and we didn't get to satisfy that bloodthirsty tourist urge to witness a kill.

This was my very first trip to S. Africa, and I spent a remaining day trying to catch up with my thoughts about this beautiful country. South Africa is a nation of over 47-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs. The country's population is about 48 million; with black Africans in the majority, making up about 80% of the total; whites are estimated at just over 9%, colored (mixed) just a little less than 9%) and Indians/Asians about 2.5%.

After Apartheid was eliminated in 1994, the blacks seem to be very forgiving, though they are mostly poor. The largest tribes are Zulus; I listened happily to music on a Zulu radio station on the way to and from the airport - with a liberal sprinkling of English words and phrases; Zulenglish?

After 9.5 hours, non-stop flight on S. African Air, I arrived in Mumbai, India, where the terror-attacks happened about a week later. I didn't know anyone actually involved, but several friends and business associates who I work with were quite near.

As I wrote this, I was in Bangalore (where I was born). But that story will have to wait for my Bucket List report #3.

Pinto 'bucket-list' trip:

http://jimpinto.com/enews/oct9-2008.html#1

Bucket List Report #1:

http://jimpinto.com/enews/nov4-2008.html#3

Big-5 Game:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_game