Satara 2 nd Time

We left Tsendze one day early, the cold front had come through with annoying winds blowing sand all over the place. Four days is adequate for Tzendze there are great river drives with great spots to sit and watch animals drink.

 We saw this small Elephant with a deformed back left leg, it was hobbling along with quiet a big herd near Tsendze

   We hope that it was born like that and not lost it in a snare or accident.

 Elephant digging a hole to get water in the dry part of the Tsendze river.

 Tsessebe which we saw in small groups on occasions

At Tsendze we saw mainly Buffalo and Elephant, plenty Buffalo seeing 3 to 4 huge herds every day and small  groups of Dagga boys. On the second night we heard Lion roaring close by, awesome. With no power to charge computers and cameras and everything flat we decided to head back to Satara.

We phoned ahead to see if we could get in at Satara, no problem as we were going onto the Private site courtesy of Willem who organized for us.We started breaking down camp at 09h00 we were on the way by 10h30 arriving at Satara about 14h00.

An uneventful drive until we crossed the high water bridge over the Olifants river where we encountered an enormous bull Elephant walking straight down the middle of the road. We stopped about a 100M away hoping he would move off the road into the bush. Two other cars were reversing towards us as they were in its path. I tried reversing slowly with the caravan which is a difficult task anyway without an angry Elephant pushing you. Both cars reversed past me and still the Elephant came. The one person in the car advised me to turn around as the elephant had pushed him back for a long way. How do you do a 3 point turn with a caravan in tow and an Elephant now only 50M away?  I could not reverse as I could not see behind nor could I could I keep a straight line at the speed required to reverse. The Elephant was almost on top of us when I decided to stop, close all windows and see what happens, I could do nothing else, Lettie was almost hysterical the only words coming out was “oh Shit”  Was this how our trip was going to end? A car with a tusk through it and an overturned caravan…..

The Elephant walked straight towards our car, stopped 5 meters away raised his trunk shook his head and moved next to my car, passing within 2 meters of the driver’s window. I saw the gap, foot down and before the Elephant could react I was past him caravan and all. A close encounter, after we recovered we suddenly thought why did we not video this, too late it is in the memory forever.

We had always spoken about this happening many times, what would we do if we were confronted by an Elephant while we had the caravan in tow and unable to turn around or reverse. Well let me tell you there is nothing you can do, pull aside leave the car running, close the windows, so he does not pick up your sent, and hope for the best.

Set up camp on the private site with the help of Bongani, everything charged, fridge working DSTV ready for today’s rugby.

How lucky we are to get this site, sitting here typing this with all types of birds swimming in the bird bath, Banded Mongoose and Squirrels scurrying around, Buffalo, Impala and Wildebees visible from the fence.

Last night was the coldest we have been in the Park when it dropped to about 7C daytime is about 23C clearing tomorrow.  

Our rusk bin is running low; we have 4 or 5 nights left before we start making our way home. Missing our family, friends, golf, painting, and my own bed.

 Some Visitors to our Site at Satara

Bird bath visitor

 Begging for money from VISA (my charcoal carry bag)

Latest Pics from Tsendze

While I still have battery power left

The answer to Spot The Animal in previous blog post.

 Have ago at an ID

answer in next post.

Tsendze rustic camp

Site no 6 our view from Van

What a lovely and peaceful quiet camp, no electricity, batteries and solar power only. Outdoor and indoor showers, really rustic, Communal deep freezes for our foodstuff and I am running the car fridge for the fridge stuff.

Run by Rodger and Elina great hosts who keep the camp spotless, they are on the Sanparks Forum and Facebook, do yourself a favour and follow them.

The battery on my computer is running low so will keep it short until we get to Satara on Saturday where we again have the private site. We can recharge our batteries and get the fridge going again and DSTV of course….. Rugby.

the Tropic of Capricorn

Caravan on one side and car on the other with Lettie on the tropic.

On the rock of the tropic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lion Kill

Last night we heard about Lions that had brought down a Buffalo near Babalala about 20 Km on the tar north of Shingwedzi. We left camp this morning at about 07h00 hoping to find the Lions still on the kill.

2 lions were still feeding and had moved the kill into a more open position for photographs.
We spent about 2 hours there, had coffee, before the lions left the carcass and moved deeper into the bush under some shade.

On the way back we saw this Pearl spotted Owl.

Spent the rest of the day slowly packing and cleaning ready to move to Tzendze tomorrow, no rush as we have a reserved site no 6 apparently the 2nd best in the camp, we will see tomorrow.

See if you can spot the animal in this photo

Spot the Animal No 1.

The answer will be in the next Blog post.

In and around Shingwedzi

What a great camp, my favorite, everything works and the camp is well run, the staff are tremendous and well trained in the needs of us campers.

Saturday, as always, is my rugby day, the only time I watch TV, great win for the Stormers, again.

Weather has been perfect, daytime has reached 34C and at night has dropped to about 10C perfect for camping.

Sunset from Shingwedzi

Mother and Child

Shaking off the pests Red Billed Ox pecker

Peaceful scene along the S58 towards Babalala

Lots of Elephant and Buffalo around Shingwedzi, still hunting for cats, but hope to see tomorrow as we have heard there is a Buffalo kill on the  H1-7 near Babalala.

Tomorrow Sunday is our last day at Shingwedzi before we move to Tsendze for 5 nights

Tsendze is a rustic camp with no electricity, so we will have to conserve our power.
The computer and I pad will be switched off until the situation normalizes. Cell phones will be charged in the car. All The Perishables will be move to the car fridge and the frozen stuff stored in the camp freezers.

We will try to do a regular Blog Post from Mopani, the biggest camp from where we are. 

Shingwedzi

Arrived at Shingwedzi for 6 nights, a great shady site next to the fence which Archie and Judy had kept for us until we arrived at 08:30. easy set up.

We had a braai the first night, very pleasant other than a neighbor who had his TV a bit loud ""Sevende Laan"", a polite request from me to turn it down worked (was going to go out at midnight and knock the aerial out of alignment).

Stayed in camp the second day to paint we both half finished a painting. Will show once complete.

Had a deboned leg of lamb with roast potatoes for supper Had Archie and Judy over for dinner.

At about 01:30 this morning we woke with the Hyaenas making a huge racket followed by Lions growling, Lettie got up in her PJ's to see if she could see, I was to lazy to look for my pants and stayed in bed, everything quietened down only to be followed by an enormous roar very close by.
Everyone was up and I found my pants and spotlight and was out like a shot.

An amazing sighting of 9 agitated lions, one with a collar, not more than 30 meters from the fence right in front of our caravan. They were moving fast and growling, the spotlight I spent R900- on the other day just paid for itself. No Photos as the cameras were in the car, note to self, always take one camera to bed with you, you never know, keep spotlight charged.

A few campers had gathered trying to see the Lion, it was pitch dark with no moon, one lady stepped into the bird bath we had set out for the birds, much to everybody amusement.

It was either a skirmish with the Hyaenas or a territorial dispute.

Things quietened down and we went back to bed unable to sleep from excitement. We heard a few roars as they moved in a westerly direction. At about 4:00am we heard an almighty roar close by and wondered if this might be the new owner of the territory having expelled the lesser pride.

We awoke early, bleary eyed we set off to see if we could track down the pride. We found the spoor on the road but no sign or sound of them. Completed the Red Rocks road to Bateleur, on the way back we found a riverside shady spot where we caught up on lost sleep and snoozed for an hour or so
wonderful wonderful sleep.

Came back to camp contented and had a late breakfast.

A truly amazing sighting, a first for us...what next will this Eden offer up?

This was tinged on Kruger Sightings by me at 02:00am by me (Rogie Rogie)

Bateleur on the Red Rocks road

Tonight we are braaing at the day visitors site right on the river what could be better

Braai 101

Moving to Shingwedzi tomorrow 26/5/2015, one day early. spoke to Archie who says that the internet is not working at Shingwedzi so the Blog posts might not be as frequent, hence this late post before we go. Come on Vodacom whats the problem same thing at Lower Sabie.

Last Braai at Letaba after we have packed and ready to go.

BRAAI  101

Heat..Eat..Drink..Repeat. 

Packed and ready to go to Shingwedzi. canvas down, caravan turned, we leave at 06h00 26/05/15

We are at Shingwedzi for 6 nights before moving to Tzendze for 4 and then back to Satara for 6. 16 nights left, have been in the park for 32 nights already.