Sabie Care Buddies go on safari with senior residents
SKUKUZA - A dream germinated by the Sabie Care Buddies chairperson, Merle Joubert, way back in 2021, came to fruition on September 12 when 29 of Sabie’s senior residents were taken on a outing to the Kruger National Park.
After months of very careful planning by the Sabie Care Buddies, the big day eventually arrived.
The group gathered outside the Sabie Retirement Village at about 06:00, and at 06:30 on the dot, they were on their way to the KNP. Soon they were all aboard three open safari vehicles, generously donated for the trip by Vula Safaris, and just after 08:00 they were in the park.
“It was somewhat ironic that the first game we encountered were two very senior buffaloes who had obviously been left behind by the herd,” said Care Buddy Chris Colverd.
After this encounter, many more animals made themselves seen, but one of the leopard sightings were quite special.
They had been watching a warthog heading for a mud bath for a couple of minutes when someone realised they were sitting next to a leopard, no more than 3m away!
Arriving at Skukuza, it was brunchtime, and the group was joined by the Care Buddies founder, Yvonne McHeath.
Colverd said the day had gone like clockwork thanks to the perfect planning of some of the Sabie Care Buddies, fundraising efforts and finally the generosity of the transport providers. He said their three guides also deserved a special mention for their skills and knowledge.
“It is so rewarding when your dream comes true. My advice, Buddies, is to follow your dreams, and to never stop dreaming!” said Joubert.