What to do when you're not going to Kenya?

     Not going to Kenya was a blow, I can tell you, but I wanted to console myself with some sort of exciting "add-on" after my two weeks of work at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.  Back to the internet--could there possibly be anything interesting to do near Kruger National Park in Limpopo and/or Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa?
     Why, yes, there is!  After much agonizing, I decided to go to the Otters Den Lodge not far from Moholoholo for a couple days.  It's a lodge located on an island in the Blyde River.  One has to cross a wooden footbridge to get there.  Hippopotami hang out under that footbridge.  And the final key consideration for me was that in order to stay there, one MUST book a balloon flight!  Dear oh dear oh dear, this is going to be tough!  Check it out!      http://www.ottersden.co.za/
     Hippopotami are great, but what about elephants????  I found that not so very far from Hoedspruit is a place where one can book a two hour "hand in trunk" walk with an African elephant.  Sounds a little corny--perhaps even exploitative.  Do I want to do that?  Of course I would want to do that.
     My friend Linnaea described oh-so-vividly the thrill of riding a horse into a herd of wild zebra when she was in South Africa.  Would such an adventure possibly be available nearby?  I asked the staff at Moholoholo and yes, indeed, that sort of thing is readily available.  
     Oh, OK, I think I shall be able to manage not going to Kenya--this time!