Wed 13 March: Leaving Johannesburg we were conned by the airport staff. An airport porter would not leave us alone and insisted on escorting us to check in. He then pointed out that we were over our 20kg limited on both cases. He said the clerk was a good man and would not charge us for overweight but as he was so good we should give him some money. The clerk said don't give me any money here but to give our friendly porter 400rand and they would split it later. So our new mate escorted us to security checkin and then asked for the money. After giving him in $US the near equivalent, as we were worried if we didn't would our luggage arrive, he then said "what about me this is for the clerk I need something". I said you Are to split it and walked off worried about the future of our luggage. Why worry it arrived safely in Hoedspruit. Minus one wheel that had been ripped off including the whole assembly. Hard to imagine how this could happen to a very strong assembly. Is this just a coincidence or am I overly suspicious? How can I blame them for being thieves when there government set the example?
However, after 2 hour drive from airport, where we saw a number of wild animals, we arrived at our safari camp with 15mins to spare to get ready for the 4pm afternoon drive to see more wildlife.
Great, we got up close with zebras, impalas ( known as McDonalds as they are fast food good eating and they are on every corner), elephants, rhinos, giraffes, kudus, Buffaloes, wildebeests and many more names which I lost track of. At one stage an elephant in a group got a bit upset and had a charge at a truck in front of us and when we were close she had a go at us. No problem but it was scary at the time. Back at about 8pm for dinner under the stars and in to our hut for the night. Only 6 huts that are all set well apart. Really beautiful pointed thatched roofed round hut with outside shower. Not unusual for the poor animals to be scared by the sight of a naked body.
We have to be escorted to our hut after sunset due to the presence of the wild animals. I hope the rangers are considered better eating. No showering while it is dark.
Thursday 14 March:
5am walkie talkie wake up call. 5:15am cup of tea and biscuit, 5:30 truck leaves on tour. Drove for a long time with little to see except the odd buffalo, impalas of course, kudu, but then the big thrill. A pride of lions, 10 cubs, 5 adult females all walking together within a few metres. As one mum and cub walked near us mum spotted the tree full of very scared baboons we have just past. Mum was a girl on a mission and took of with the cub trying to keep up until it joined the pride while mum have fun really giving the baboons something to think about. She lay near their tree for a while and the Baboons were going mad in the tree. Great fun to watch and no one was hurt in the long run as she gave up. We then heard a male who was nearby try out his mating call. We managed to see him nearby as he slunk around looking for love. No wonder there were so many cubs as our hunter the mum now decided to move into the middle of the road next to our truck and all the other vehicles that had learnt of the prides location and make herself approachable.
Not unlike the bar seen in Melbourne as the big brave guys chickened out and left the scene.
We were able to spend about 20 mins with this girl and the pride. She seemed completely
unfazed by our driving right up beside her. It was an exceptional moment and very exciting, we were lucky. After that we saw many of the animals we had seen previously. Everything else seemed tame after the encounter with the lions. Did see our one and only hippo just after the encounter with the pride of lions. Also most of the other common ones such as wildebeest, steenbok, bushbucks, buffalo, zebras and a few warthog and the odd giraffe.
Back home for breakfast at 9:30 and then a much needed shower.
At 4:30 it was off again for the afternoon drive to see more of the wild life. Tried hard without success to find a leopard that had made a kill and had hung his meal in a tree to protect it from the hyenas. Spotted up close Elephants, giraffes, impalas and most of the general animals.
Back for dinner under the stars and while having out drinks a very large 60 year old elephant came up to join us for drinks on the deck. She was drinking about 20 metres from the deck we were on.
We saw her most days as she would come up for drinks during the day and sometimes at night. Great fun.
Friday 15th March: Up again at 5, will we ever get a sleep in, and off on safari. Soon up close with a large group of rhinos, then a large family of elephants with lots of mums and kids, then steenbok, a herd of very large kudus, warthogs, family of zebras, wildebeests, good size herd of rhinos,and then the highlight of the day when we were very up close with a group of 16 giraffes of all sizes from youngest to adults. Were with then for a long time and watch them interact. They even necked each other and that is serious necking in their case. Back for 9:30 breakfast followed by a walk with guide complete with rifle for protection. He told us or the correct things such as only walk in single file so we do not look threatening, small target. They had me last in the group as they work on killing the oldest first. Also how the biggest danger were the buffaloes as they are the most prone to charging and how the only way to shoot them is when they lift the head at about 45M away as they check they are still on target to get you and then the shot is up the nostril to the brain. Sounds easy. As expected the only things we ran into were Buffaloes. and at one point we had them in three different directions around us. So we had to find a way out. I did show him Mick crocodile Dundee's method to subdue a Buffalo but he was not prepared to let me succeed as I am sure he felt he would be embarrassed with Mick's method working. Anyway got back safely but with some caution.
Saturday 16th April. Another early rise for a morning Safari, back for breakfast and off to the airport for a flight to Capetown
These game drives make us thirsty
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| Our home |
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| This gets the animals away |
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