Yesterday we discovered that the SD card in the Earl’s camera had gone Awol. The park shops do not stock them. Also missing in action was our caravan step-up. We only realised this when we set up camp at our overnight stop, Heins. When we shopped at Pick n Pay yesterday we tried to find one without success. There were also one or two other things that we could do without but would be make life more pleasant so we decided to trek back to Malelane and try the larger Super Spa shopping center where there were more shops to choose from

We left around 6:30ish and the overcast weather turned to quite heavy rain along the way. At first there was not much to see along the H1-1 and H3 roads to Malelane Gate. Of course we greeted the odd group of impala but the wildebeest seemed to have gone on vacation. Here are a few critters that did turn up.

As we passed Afsaal picnic site we reminisced about the leopard we’d seen in 2012 when our grandkids were with us. This leopard is quite often seen along the H3 around Afsaal. About 10 minutes later we saw three cars stopped up ahead.

“Now what can they have spotted,” I wondered. “Giraffe, wildebeest, elephant?”

No something far more exciting.

Shortly after this we arrived at Malelane Gate, got our re-entry permit and made our way to town. The rain had let up a bit and by the time we’d finished our shopping it had stopped altogether.

Within the hour we’d got an SD card from a pharmacy, purchased some foodstuffs and ice bricks from Spa, bought a pair of shoes for the Earl and found an inexpensive, plastic, foldable step-up from the Crazy Store! “You’re the best shop ever,” I told the assistant. “We’ve tried everywhere and you’re the only place that knows what we’re even talking about!”

So with everything on the list accomplished we popped over to Wimpy for breakfast and then made our way back to the park.

The temperature rose to from 20 to 27 by the time we reached Berg-en-Dal. We went to reception to make slight changes to our bookings and to see what damage had been done to the restaurant after a recent fire. There was a temporary office as they are busy doing renovations. The restaurant is still closed but the shop is fully functioning. They have an outdoor coffee station where you can order light meals and sit at picnic tables if you so desire.

We then took the Majulu loop to the dam.

En route to Afsaal picnic site you can turn down a dirt road to Renosterpan and then drive back again. It’s about 4km each way. “Should we do it?” asked the Earl. “We might not see anything.”

“But then again we might miss something if we don’t!” I replied. Renoster is the Afrikaans word of rhino and as it turned out it was a fitting name indeed.

From Afsaal we made our way back, spotted more elephants, buffalo and other creatures but these were the most interesting.

Altogether it was a most enjoyable day.