Month: April 2019

The morning started before sunrise. We each got a wash bowl placed in front of the cabin and after a quick coffee we were off into the “Wilderness!”. By jeep into the bush and then on foot a few miles through the countryside. Fiona and Christopher always take a short storytelling break when interesting things appear along the way, such as elephant graveyards, tiger tortoise shells, dinosaur fossils, … turn up.

We learned a lot about nature and the people who used to live here. There are centuries old holes carved into the rocks for playing fields with stones! Lunch break was high up on a small mountain in the ruins of the “castle” of the former cruel, African king Makahani. The view was fantastic. A Black Eagle nest on the cliff side used to be used to punish disgraced men by lowering them down on a rope and only bringing them back up if the person could steal the eagles’ chicks from the nest. Otherwise, the rope was cut! We also learned a lot about the beautiful ancient Baoab trees. Among other things, containers are made from the bark, they serve as food for the animals and you can also make medicine with it. In our camp is a huge Baoabtree. After we were back in camp, there was lunch and then siesta. At 16:00 we left again, with the jeep and a short walk to a hill where we admired the sunset with a can of beer.

Afterwards Winston, the camp cook, spoiled us with a good dinner and we had a nice chat with the others. By the way, we also saw hippos, zebras, impalas, nyalas, buffalos and many birds and small animals.

Silke

On Easter Sunday we had breakfast at the Silonque Bush Estate in Phalaborwa and then drove north to the Punda Maria Rest Camp. The drive took a little longer, because on some roads a few holes ( pot holes) forced us to drive slowly. There are also cows and donkeys running along the road.

Un 12:30 we reached the gate and then leisurely drove to the camp. From the car we could again spot giraffes, zebras and impalas.

After a little wait, we met our guide Christopher and his assistant Fiona and our 4 fellow travelers at the camp. Two couples, Eric and Giesela from South Africa and Doro and Pablo from Basel are coming with us. Our cars stay in Punda Maria. We still had the opportunity to buy extra drinks like wine, coke or beer in the store. Then we have been driven with an open jeep to Camp Nyalaland to a Wilderness Trail, 4 days – 3 nights. .

The camp consists of four cabins, each with two single beds, a communal hut, a fire pit, a wash house, a kitchen, a supply store, a ranger’s hut and a fence, which, however, is more to keep the visitors in the camp than the animals out. A part of the fence is currently collapsed because an elephant wanted to look after the right. After the delicious warm dinner we sat together at the fire and got information about the schedule of the next days. Among other things: – If we see any eyes on the way to the outhouse, we are to turn back to the safe hut and call Christoffer for help. – During the “Walks” we must always walk united behind the two armed rangers and act on instructions in case of danger. – It is advisable to carry a flashlight in the dark and wear closed shoes to avoid accidentally stepping on snakes or scorpions. All precautions of course!!!

Silke

The day started with a short walk through the camp to the viewing area at the waterhole! We could observe many water birds, impalas and a crocodile. But our highlight was a herd of elephants stepping out of the bush to drink and several hippos swimming in the water, snorting.

We still had breakfast on our terrace and then started the “drive” via Letaba to Phalaborwa Gate. Several times we had to stop because of zebras, buffalos or elephants that wanted to cross the road. We also saw giraffes and hyenas.

A grazing water buffalo has a bird riding along on its back. In the park a maximum speed of 50 Km/h is valid and one can stop almost everywhere at the roadside and observe the nature spectacle from the car. Getting out of the car is not allowed or only at designated places and in the camps. We ate our sandwiches in the picnic area of the Letaba Camp and then drove again through the Gate Phalaborwa to the Silonque Bush Estate, where we sleep in a nice cottage. We added half board here and had a great delicious African buffet ( including polenta with spicy chakalaka and warm malva pudding with custard) on a site lit with torches, fire bowls and a full moon.

Silke

Today we had booked an overnight tour in the Kruger Park. We left at 10:00 and ended up seeing a giraffe, zebra and 2 bird ostrich on the property of Blyde River Wilderness Lodge.

Since the night was to be self-catering at a campsite, we bought more food and a tent and a new sleeping bag for me because the lining of the old one had disintegrated into nothing. When we reached the Phalaborwa gate punctually at 14:00 o’clock we were not allowed to start the tour, however, because our VW Tiguan SUV has unfortunately nevertheless no four-wheel drive. With such a “small car” it would be impossible to drive the route, unless you risk a total loss. What the ranger proved to us by photos he had taken of a dented jeep from the last tour. Since the internet description recommends a 4×4, but 2×4 are also explicitly allowed, the manager of the Kruger Park was called. Too bad, the tour would have been great for sure, because off the beaten track. But we got a good replacement offer and sleep instead today at Mopani Rest Camp in a nice cottage with 2 bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. On the way here from the gate we encountered “Southern yellow billed Hornbill” (bird with thick beak), zebras and elephants that even crossed the road in front of us.

Our cottage is very nice, with outdoor kitchen and a large covered terrace, where we ate our dinner, salad with boiled eggs and buttered bread in the sunset.

Silke

A wonderful breakfast with homemade bread, homemade jam, etc. awaited us this morning. The view from the terrace of the Blyde River included many peacocks, impalas and monkeys.

After that we went to the “Panorama Route” , where we promptly got lost and had to drive properly test track offroad through the African bush (more than 40 km).

We didn’t encounter any other tourists on this section. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see all the waterfalls and wild animals either. A small monkey, many goats and cows and also the local residents looked at us in wonder. At some point we reached the paved road again and the Pinnacle Rock, a 30 m high quartzite rock column in a deep gorge. Back it went somewhat more pleasantly over alphaltierte roads however also again 2 h longer than from maps.me calculate. In the hotel we got a delicious candlelight dinner served in 4 courses. There was salad, potato soup with pumpkin bread, vegetable lasagna and brownie with caramel sauce.

Silke

We received our car (SUV VW Tiguan) only at 11:30 am. Thus we arrived unfortunately in the dark in our new accommodation, where there are usually already on the outward journey many animals to see, we had to concentrate on the road, or the potholes.

Anyway, our cottage is quite nice, the moon is shining brightly and the crickets are chirping. From yesterday we still had a portion of vegetable rice to warm up. We ate it on the terrace.

Silke

In Luanda there was a moment of shock, because our vaccination cards with the yellow fever vaccination certificate were in the big backpacks, so in the next plane. For the entry one must show these there actually. After some consultation and verbal assurance on our part to have the vaccination, the security staff then let us board the plane. Shortly before 14:00 o’clock we reached Johannesburg International Airport. Before the immigration control, fever was measured with a contactless thermometer at all entrants! We got our stamp in our passport and our luggage was already on the conveyor belt. As the crow flies from the airport to our accommodation is 1.8 km. But since there is a highway intersection in between, you would have to walk over 6 Km. The cab ride should cost 10 EUR. We asked at our car rental if we could rent the car that we have rented for tomorrow maybe already from today, because we would have saved 2 ways, but the car was not yet available. Scott, a South African businessman, noticed this and spontaneously offered to drive us to our hostel.

(By the way, here is left-hand traffic!) So we were brought very comfortably to the Terrylin Guesthouse. Thanks a lot ! In the late afternoon we went to a nearby supermarket and bought SIM cards for the cell phones. It took the saleswomen a good hour to do this, but they were very friendly! We then did some shopping and cooked a curry-rice-vegetable dish in the evening. It is 5 hours time difference from South America and we are back in the same time zone as Germany! 23 degrees day/9 degrees night.

Silke