Day 14 - Mabula, Johannesburg, London Heathrow

A 5.50am wake-up call by safari rangers to ensure everyone was up and ready for the 6.30am game drive. Coffee and biscuits outside the foyer before setting off at sunrise. Within 40 minutes one of our trucks spotted a family of lions which were wrestling no more than 4 metres from its vehicle – exciting albeit a little unnerving.

 Another successful game drive for all three groups and a hearty breakfast before checkout.

As a surprise to break up the three-hour journey back to Johannesburg airport, our driver Maurius arranged a pit-stop for lunch in Bella Bella and pre-ordered each member of our group a 1kg rump steak. Despite all the betting that took place on which boys would be able to finish their meal, most of the team – to their delight – managed to clear their plates. The fastest to finish, however, was Luke Maguire who was awarded a Bros steak knife from the restaurant.

Then it was a swift transfer to Jo’burg airport for last-minute shopping and our night flight back to London.

Mr Cane-Hardy and Mr Beckett would like to thank all the Shiplake boys for their excellent behaviour and efforts on this tour.  We look forward to a great season of rugby ahead.

Day 13 - Mabula Game Park

Plenty of swagger/limping from the boys as they boarded the coach for the three-hour drive to Mabula early this morning. Many were in muscular pain from yesterday’s very physical match and so, on went the “cans” (headphones), back went the seats and the team slept throughout most of the journey.

Upon arrival at the Mabula Game Lodge we were met by a fleet of khaki-cloaked safari rangers. By incredible coincidence one of them turned out to be Peter Walker-Munro, a former Shiplake boy who warmly welcomed the boys and called for a raise of hands for his fellow Everett guys.

After checking in to luxurious rooms everyone enjoyed a buffet lunch before watching the 1pm reptile show or sunbathing by the pool. It was then time to adorn more layers of clothing and head to the trucks for our afternoon game drive.

In short, we had magnificent close-up viewing of a herd of elephants, zebra, giraffes, warthogs, a mother rhino and her baby, impalas, an armadillo, buffalo, crocodiles, wildebeest, hippos, waterbuck, baboons and a variety of antelope. We even saw the carcass of a warthog in a tree that had been dragged up there by a leopard a few days prior.

This evening the team wore their no 1s for dinner which included a traditional African show displaying local singers and dancers. Various Shiplake members, such as Mr Beckett, Mr Cane-Hardy, Max, Nick P, Teddy and Luke were invited to join the dance troop. Which they did with vigour (video evidence available upon request).

An awards ceremony rounded up our final night and the winners were as follows:

Young player of the tour: Nick Arbuckle

Players’ player of the tour: Jimmy Wright

Coaches’ player of the tour: Teddy Hewins

Best tourist: David Plato

Day 12 - Game 4 v Christian Brother's College, Johannesburg

CBC 29 - Shiplake 5
Match report to follow