On Tuesday we did our usual bush walk but I forgot to mention that we did the Campfire Safari competition of who can spit the Impala dung the furthest!!. I can hear my mam saying ‘What are you doing putting animal pooh in your mouth??’ It’s apparently very safe as they only eat grass – so I’m told.
Wednesday we were digging sand at the dam and looked up to find the 2 house dogs – Lola and Bushveld just wandering across the bush without a care in the world. AT least it was a good excuse to pack up and take them home.
We went into Hoedspruit in the afternoon I lost my hat that I’d bought at the elephant ride which really annoyed me. On the way home we were commenting on what a quiet day it had been and how the bush seemed pretty quiet too. As we turned into the road that leads to camp there were 5 lionesses just strolling across the road in the sunset. They were huge beasts and we tried tracking them in the buckie but they wandered too far into the denser growth. Always a surprise in the bush!
I’ve just spent the last 2 days in Kruger and following the panoramic route home. We saw complete herds of elephants with their babies crossing the road in front of us. There were groups of giraffes and their babies too which couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. At one of the watering holes were a family of baboons and day old babies and then an elephant arrived to drink and have a bath. There were Water buck, kudu, mongeese, njala and hippos. We even went to hug a tree which was over 1000 years old. It was certainly a memorable day – we would be just driving and suddenly Adele or Bee would say ‘LOOK!’ and there would be another amazing sight. We lunched at a nice lodge where the birds just came and sat on the tables waiting for you to finish. We stayed at another lodge overnight where we were greeted by the geese in the evening and woken by them in the morning. We had a BRAII (BBQ) and drank lots of wine.
On Friday we took the Panoramic route home through the Draagensberg mountains. They apparently stretch from Cape Town to Turkey!!. We stopped at several places where the views were stunning. There was a waterfall, then potholes, we stopped at the ‘BIG SWING’ where if we really felt mad enough we could have taken a 75 metre drop swing into a massive gorge or done it in tandem of done a zip slide. I was tempted but thought better of it. We climbed to God’s window and looked at the rainforest and then finally we drove up to overlook the 3 rondavels – I have never seen such spectacular landscape. I’ve taken photos but I know they won’t do justice.
Back at camp now and Saturday is always quiet unless we go into town on the Friday and stay over. Last night there was just me Tracy and Tanya left at camp and we were scaring ourselves with the noises we could hear in the bush and if you shone the torch out into the bush you could see eyes!!.. I laughed as none of us were brave enough to really find out what was out there. Good fun.
That’s all for now.
Glad to hear you’ve been out and about on your own mam!!. Just make sure you don’t overdo it – the dancing can wait a little longer. Love you!! Take care
Sue.xxx
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
All quiet on the African front
Well it's Wednesday and this week has been pretty routine.
Monday was the usual - dropping off and picking up from the airport. Rita and her daughter left and Tracy, Simon and Gail all arrived. Then shopping at Spar and home for tea.
Yesterday we worked on branches again and I've managed to do this without completely slicing my arms and the talk yesterday was on Elephant culling in South Africa. Apparently the Kruger currently has 17000 elephants in a space that is only suitable for 7000 but culling any of them has to be sanctioned by the government and reports across the world could incur sanctions against the country if they go ahead. Again I never thought I'd see the day when I understood the need for culling - the outside world appears to have no idea about the state of things within South Africa. Letitia has a real passion and gift on presenting the lectures and I've learned so much
Today was a lecture on Reptiles so whilst I now understand the deadliness of some of the snakes I now know how to 'handle' them.
I've off to Kruger for 2 days tomorrow so will have more news over the weekend.
Rube's went to see 'Singing in the Rain' last night and Jeanette said she enjoyed it and managed her night out really well.
Ceri took Mark to Paris to the Moulin Rouge and I understand his mouth has not closed since.
All for now !! Love you mum (and everyone else too!! ) Take Care Sue
Monday was the usual - dropping off and picking up from the airport. Rita and her daughter left and Tracy, Simon and Gail all arrived. Then shopping at Spar and home for tea.
Yesterday we worked on branches again and I've managed to do this without completely slicing my arms and the talk yesterday was on Elephant culling in South Africa. Apparently the Kruger currently has 17000 elephants in a space that is only suitable for 7000 but culling any of them has to be sanctioned by the government and reports across the world could incur sanctions against the country if they go ahead. Again I never thought I'd see the day when I understood the need for culling - the outside world appears to have no idea about the state of things within South Africa. Letitia has a real passion and gift on presenting the lectures and I've learned so much
Today was a lecture on Reptiles so whilst I now understand the deadliness of some of the snakes I now know how to 'handle' them.
I've off to Kruger for 2 days tomorrow so will have more news over the weekend.
Rube's went to see 'Singing in the Rain' last night and Jeanette said she enjoyed it and managed her night out really well.
Ceri took Mark to Paris to the Moulin Rouge and I understand his mouth has not closed since.
All for now !! Love you mum (and everyone else too!! ) Take Care Sue
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Catch up on News
Thursday – Power cut between 8 and 4 so like being in Zambia with ‘notice’
Today we worked on the erosion at the dam but were moving branches into the trucks and carrying them to the places needed. Yesterday I felt like a pin-cushion from the thorns, today I feel like I’ve tried to slash my wrists. Most of the bush trees are covered in heavy duty thorns and I’ve no idea how any animal survives being hacked to death. But at least it’s in the good course of conservation and very soon I’ll have strong muscles and a builder’s bum. Back then for bacon and eggs – yes we have gas so the electric cut had minimal impact followed by a lecture on Ecology from Adele.
In the evening we went to a talk on Astrology which turned out to be in a school where there were loads of kids. We went into a dome – but the kids kept kicking the dome and driving us nuts. We made an early exit and went to the pub
Friday – We were supposed to go to Swandini to play paintball but they apparently had no gas for the canisters so we went there still but just for a scenic drive and then a picnic and an afternoon in the swimming pools and sunbathing.
Back then to get ready for Friday evening out in town – Meal and drinks at ‘Sleepers’ and then on to ‘The Fort’ which is where the locals go on a Friday night – local bar/disco with pool tables and a dance floor. The dancing is a cross between /salsa/jive and ballroom. Bee took me for a dance and it was great fun. By the way I forgot to mention that a large proportion of the females here are ‘gay’. It was a great evening and we stayed over at ‘Backpackers’ for the night as there is no bus of taxi service back to the bush.
Saturday – Had breakfast at the deli as backpackers didn’t have any food let alone milk and then I had to hang around till 1pm (Africa time!!) for everyone to get up – go and have breakfast and get ready to go to Jeyjani. Brass had arranged for us all to go to a nearby lodge as she had to baby-sit the 5 dogs for the weekend – A black German Shepard, 2 Labradors and a puppy and a Great Dane. When we arrived there was no water and no toilet paper but we resolved these details eventually. She also arranged for us to go on a night drive with one of the local guides. Well what a night that was – Francois was good entertainment and like a drop of brandy, so it was drive – spot – stop – drink- chat- debate a point with a couple of other south Africans, then drive again. 4 and half hours later we arrived back! But in his defence we did get to see animals close up – 4 cheetahs, 3 lionesses, a BIG herd of buffalo, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wart hogs, duiker, bush babies, kudu and jackals.
Sunday - I slept well but am told that I snore!!! Who Me??
This morning 2 of the dogs decided to fight and took a couple of chunks out of each other so we had to leave them in 2 separate rooms until their owners returned.
Back this afternoon for Camouflage. Adele and Bee went to a spot in the bush and we had to see how close we got to them without being spotted. We all covered our arms and face with mud and stuck grass and twigs to our backs and head. We crawled along the ground and got caught on tree thorns etc, but good fun. I was the 5th to be caught – pathetic effort.
Anyway that’s all for now from Campfire. Catch you all soon. Love Sue.xx
Today we worked on the erosion at the dam but were moving branches into the trucks and carrying them to the places needed. Yesterday I felt like a pin-cushion from the thorns, today I feel like I’ve tried to slash my wrists. Most of the bush trees are covered in heavy duty thorns and I’ve no idea how any animal survives being hacked to death. But at least it’s in the good course of conservation and very soon I’ll have strong muscles and a builder’s bum. Back then for bacon and eggs – yes we have gas so the electric cut had minimal impact followed by a lecture on Ecology from Adele.
In the evening we went to a talk on Astrology which turned out to be in a school where there were loads of kids. We went into a dome – but the kids kept kicking the dome and driving us nuts. We made an early exit and went to the pub
Friday – We were supposed to go to Swandini to play paintball but they apparently had no gas for the canisters so we went there still but just for a scenic drive and then a picnic and an afternoon in the swimming pools and sunbathing.
Back then to get ready for Friday evening out in town – Meal and drinks at ‘Sleepers’ and then on to ‘The Fort’ which is where the locals go on a Friday night – local bar/disco with pool tables and a dance floor. The dancing is a cross between /salsa/jive and ballroom. Bee took me for a dance and it was great fun. By the way I forgot to mention that a large proportion of the females here are ‘gay’. It was a great evening and we stayed over at ‘Backpackers’ for the night as there is no bus of taxi service back to the bush.
Saturday – Had breakfast at the deli as backpackers didn’t have any food let alone milk and then I had to hang around till 1pm (Africa time!!) for everyone to get up – go and have breakfast and get ready to go to Jeyjani. Brass had arranged for us all to go to a nearby lodge as she had to baby-sit the 5 dogs for the weekend – A black German Shepard, 2 Labradors and a puppy and a Great Dane. When we arrived there was no water and no toilet paper but we resolved these details eventually. She also arranged for us to go on a night drive with one of the local guides. Well what a night that was – Francois was good entertainment and like a drop of brandy, so it was drive – spot – stop – drink- chat- debate a point with a couple of other south Africans, then drive again. 4 and half hours later we arrived back! But in his defence we did get to see animals close up – 4 cheetahs, 3 lionesses, a BIG herd of buffalo, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wart hogs, duiker, bush babies, kudu and jackals.
Sunday - I slept well but am told that I snore!!! Who Me??
This morning 2 of the dogs decided to fight and took a couple of chunks out of each other so we had to leave them in 2 separate rooms until their owners returned.
Back this afternoon for Camouflage. Adele and Bee went to a spot in the bush and we had to see how close we got to them without being spotted. We all covered our arms and face with mud and stuck grass and twigs to our backs and head. We crawled along the ground and got caught on tree thorns etc, but good fun. I was the 5th to be caught – pathetic effort.
Anyway that’s all for now from Campfire. Catch you all soon. Love Sue.xx
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