After all those lovely desserts from the lounge and a fitful night's sleep, we were up bright and early (and I do mean early!) for our Sunrise Safari. I think I'll post a separate review of this safari experience, so I don't bore all of you with all the details and all of the animal pics we took!
I will say, though, that if you ever have the opportunity to take the safari, I recommend it.
We were told to meet in the lounge VERY early...I believe it was between 5:40-6. They said there would be fruit and coffee, and that we'd meet and organize in the lounge and then head downstairs to board the bus together.
Instead, what greeted us in the lounge was a bunch of other safari guests and an irritated looking CM who told us that coffee would not be served until 6:00 am. Eventually, they at least plugged in the espresso machine, so many of the people in the lounge started drinking espresso, including DP. Here is the "fruit," which finally came out about 5:55 and the "coffee" aka espresso:
Can you tell I was a little annoyed? There weren't even enough bananas to go around, and the lounge doesn't begin serving the actual breakfast until 6:30. The thing is that I always have my morning coffee, but I was in such a hurry to get to the lounge by 5:40, that I had skipped the pod coffee in the room and planned to have my first cup in the lounge...which never did happen, because they hadn't brewed the coffee by the time we were all told to head downstairs. Oh well...it's just a little thing...but I was a little cranky without my usual fix.
The safari itself was awesome. I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Here is just one of the pics we took:
We actually got to see the lions! In fact, they were very active, and by active...I do mean "active" in a private sort of way...
We also got to hear the male lion roar many times, as he called to the female lion over and over. It was really very sweet and silly.
After the safari, we walked down to pizzafari as a group, where there was a buffet waiting for us.
This was one of our chefs.
When he saw us preparing to take pictures of the buffet food, he thought that was so silly and offered to be in the photo instead. It was very sweet and thoughtful. I guess he doesn't know about the dis...
The breakfast consisted of typical hot items:
Eggs, biscuits, mealie pap, breakfast potatoes, meats and I believe sausage gravy.
There was also a pastry selection, cold cereals, fruit, yogurt, nuts and granola.
This was their specialty:
Plantain stuffed French toast, fried plantains, and syrup
Finally!
Just what I needed!
While we waited for the last of the safari guests to arrive, I enjoyed looking around the restaurant:
Even though I'd picked up pizza here once before, I'd never been in the actual dining room.
I thought it was pretty cute and well-themed!
After everyone had arrived, we were allowed to dig in!
This was DP's first plate:
A biscuit, some pap, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and a cheese blintz with strawberry topping. She didn't care for the blintz; it had a citrus taste to it. I tasted it and I agreed. It's weird, because the cheese blintzes at Tusker House do, too. We just don't care for AK blintzes I guess. The biscuit was ok, potatoes were ok, pap was the star of the show!
This was my first plate:
These were probably the worst scrambled eggs I've ever had. They tasted like cardboard with salt and pepper on it. The potatoes were a little dry. You can tell I knew the pap would be my favorite. It is cheesy, creamy goodness. Even with a name like "pap," you can't stop me. I ate a huge helping of it.
And then I ate another huge helping:
I also had a little piece of watermelon and I picked up that chocolate chip pastry twist, which was kind of dry and I was just too full to eat it...
We also had to try the most famous dish of all:
The French toast!
Here is an inside shot:
This was pretty darn tasty. It's too bad we were so stuffed we couldn't fully enjoy it, but next time (if there is a next time) we know: start with pap and French toast!
We were totally stuffed (uh oh, time for Expedition Everest
) and mostly enjoyed this breakfast buffet. It's not as good as the Tusker House buffet, but considering it's included in the cost of the amazing safari, we felt it was more than adequate. Coming up next, lunch at Yak and Yeti! Our first time!