August 12

Tala Game Reserve!
I woke up at 6 am and Sarah, Janet and I left about half an hour later for this really neat farmer's market. It is on a big field and sells fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and other things. We had pancakes (crepes) for breakfast there. I also got to try a "cooked sister", an Afrikaans sweet fried thing. I actually bought my first souvenir, as well, a Zimbabwean painting. It was only 70 R and I thought it will be cool in my house one day.
Soon we were off and headed to Tala Game Reserve about half an hour from here. It was so neat and so fun! We drove their 4 x 4 Condor over the rough trails and saw all kinds of animals- up close! We saw hippos lazily sunning themselves in a pond, rhinos munching on grass, skiddish antelope (of many varieties, which I don't remember their names), ugly wildebeest, beautiful zebras, graceful giraffes, funny-looking ostriches, and many more (except no elephants). As you may know, I don't really care for animals, particularly pets, but I was definitely able to appreciate these wild creatures in their natural habitat.
After we had seen all the animals there were to see (luckily without our car getting stuck in mud or rocks) we had a picnic in the park they have on the reserve. In the park there lives a 3-legged warthog.
After our picnic lunch we headed back home. Since I have gotten out of shape due to my more sedentary lifestyle the past few weeks, I went for a jog up this hill right by their house. I just ran up and down it ten times since I can't really venture too far away.
I showered and Janet and I had dinner (Sarah and David went to Sarah's school in Maritzberg because she had something going on). Then I went and hung out with James and Neill (Charlene was at a 21st birthday party). We watched Notting Hill and eventually they took me home. They are such nice guys! I always have fun hanging out with them.