25 November
Apologies for the break in posting. The internet connection is erratic. Might not be able to post for several days but will catch up when I can.
Thanks for reading😊
Gecko 81 Goes to Kruger – Interruption
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Gecko 81 Goes to Kruger – Satara
The Earl had a successful trip to and from Haenitzburg yesterday.  He now knows how to set up the canopy so that it won’t hold water in the next downpour! (Thank you, Keith!)
Oh, and he saw a lion just as he was leaving Satara. There were no other cars around. “Why didn’t you take a photograph?” I asked when he told me.  Of course, he had forgotten to take his camera with him and didn’t think to use his cell phone! But anyway, he saw it and it was good to know they’re in the area! Â
21 November 2019
Our morning began with light drizzle and a temperature of 22 degrees centigrade. The S100 is famous for good sightings so that is where we started at 07:00. The birdwatching was pretty good but we saw very few mammals. Our Kruger 2019 list stands at 100 species now. Photography was difficult because of the poor light.
Fish Eagle
Rufous-naped Lark
Wattled Starlings
A pair of courting coucals amused us.
I wonder if she’d like this tasty morsel
She said, “no” and turned her back on me
I’m so upset – Well, if she doesn’t want it, I’ll eat it myself!
After the S100 we drove the S41 then the S37 and H6. It was great to see big herds of zebra, wildebeest and waterbuck on these roads.
We stopped for a break at N’Wanetsi which does not have a restaurant but like all the picnic spots they do provide boiling water on tap so we had a cup of tea and a rusk after taking in the view.
Spot the giraffe!
We also visited the Sweeni Dam and saw yellow-billed storks, green-backed herons, blacksmith lapwings and crocodiles.
We watched this croc swim across the dam
I would not like to get too close to him!
Later, on the H6, “What’s this walking toward us? ” asked the Earl.
It was a small four-legged creature and from the distance, I wasn’t sure but guessed it could be a warthog. But it was not a hog, it was a dog!
He was a scruffy little jackal
And needed to scratch
Then he got up and almost smiled at us
A little further on we saw a traffic jam. Now that could mean only one thing – a predator! Traffic jams are not our favourite way to find animals. We prefer to be the only car or have just one or two others. If we can, we try to get a glimpse of the creature and then move away as fast as possible. But it just was not possible this time. Jeep jockeys were blocking the way and other vehicles were jostling for position.
“Just go with the flow,” I told my frustrated hubby. “It doesn’t matter if we see it or not.  Just don’t try to push in or past.” He wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.
And all the fuss was about a cheetah on the move and quite a distance away. We got good views of him and then the cars started to follow him from the H6 to where he was to come out on the H1-3.  I got lots of photographs but none of them was really any good.
What a fuss you caused, Mr Cheetah
We got back to camp at midday and had leftover Texan steak and salad for lunch, as we had missed breakfast! By then the skies had cleared and the temperature had risen.  We only went out again after 15:00 and returned at 18:15 which is just before gate closing time.
The different coloured lizards here are fascinating
Steenbok
Sabota Lark
Male Red-backed ShrikeÂ
Female Red-backed Shrike by the Earl
Beautiful African Landscape
Impala Moms and Tots
So adorable
A Red-billed Oxpecker in a treeÂ
African Hawk-Eagle
There were two of them
Female Waterbuck
Kori Bustard
Another beautiful lizard
Black-winged Lapwing
My darling husband is besotted over animals – any animals, both domestic and wild. He believes they’re just as besotted over him and that they would never hurt him!  This evening while we were getting ready to prepare our evening meal, a hyaena walked right next to the fence that separates our caravan from the wild. “Oh, how sweet, ” he said and called him with lip-smacking sounds one would use to summon a dog!”
Believe it or not, the creature responded and came right up to the fence to smell his hand! Obviously, he was looking for a snack. “No, Earl! Don’t go too close!” I yelled in terror but still snapped the photograph.
The Earl thought I was overreacting!
To end our day we enjoyed a delicious braai of lamb chops and boerewors served with sweet potatoes, gem squash and of course the compulsory Greek salad.
Gecko 81 goes to Kruger – Skukuza to Satara
19 November 2019
It was still raining when we awoke this morning. Oh dear, it promised to be a wet pack up.  But we were lucky as there was just a spit and a spot and no wind so we managed to get everything done very quickly.
It is over 90km from Skukuza to Satara and as usual with the caravan, we stuck to the tar road. We were off by 07:15
It was good to see a fair number of the usual gang – impala, baboons, zebra – enjoying the cooler weather. We have been seeing the Grey Go-away-bird quite often but he has never posed very well for me. Today I got two together!
Bush Alarm System
Elephants were among the regulars.
On the H1-2 just a few kilometres from Tshokwane we came across three hyaenas. Two walked quickly past us.
The third one decided to have a rest
And stuck his tongue out at us
We stopped at Tshokawne for breakfast. Next time I will remember to bring my own cutlery. Plastic knives and forks just don’t do it for me!
Our rig outside Tshokwane
Who invited you to breakfast, Mr Crested Barbet?
After breakfast, we went to see if there was anything happening in the river bed. There was!
These white-backed vultures were feasting on an impala
I asked the staff what predator had killed it but they did not know. The carcass was there when they arrived at work this morning.
Other vultures soon got the V-mail. This lappet-faced vulture was not going to be left off the guest list.
White-heated Vulture soon to get in on the act
Lappet-faced Vulture
There was soon a crowd of tourists standing next to us trying to get a look so we moved away and carried on toward Satara.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I spotted one of my favourite birds, far from water.
Saddle-billed Stork looking a little scruffy – I think he is still young as his colours are not very bright.
Soon we came upon a traffic jam. “It has to be a lion or leopard,” I told the Earl. Cars and tourist jeeps were parked badly across the road and there was only a very narrow passage through them. The Earl gingerly piloted the rig through and stopped for a quick look.  It was a leopard eating a baby hyaena!
We quickly snapped our photos and continued in order not to add to the chaos!
We arrived at Satara at 11:00. It was still overcast but no rain.  We found a site right on the perimeter with a view across the veld.
Last night’s storm had kept us awake so after setting up we had a rest until just after 15:00 then set off for a short drive. The clouds had cleared and the temperature was 37 degrees C. I don’t think we have ever seen this part of the park so dry.  Rain is desperately needed.
In spite of the dry conditions, there was quite a bit of game to see.
Hi, do you come here often?
Swainson’s Spurfowl
At last – our first Kori Bustard of the trip.
A rather muddy rhino
From the bridge, we looked down onto the river bank and were quite shocked at how low the water level was.
Yellow-billed Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
We got back to camp at 17:45 and it was still very hot.  As in most camps, there is also a lot of avian activity at Satara. We were delighted to find these visitors were not at all shy.
My elusive Go-away-bird is now right outside the caravan!
Red-billed Buffalo-weaver
Long-billed Crombec
Red-billed hornbill
Grey-headed Sparrow
There are a few Wire-tailed Swallows, Woodlands Kingfisher and Mourning Doves about too, but I haven’t snapped them yet.
Satara Campsite
Sunset at Satara
Beautiful Sky
I cooked chicken in the Remoska Pot for dinner and we were in bed by 20:00. However, in the middle of the night, we were woken by crashing thunder, crackling lightning and pelting rain! The Earl got up to check the canopy but it was too late! The weight of the collected water caused the tent poles to bend. We would deal with that problem in the light of day! There was not much sleep for us from then on!
20 November 2019
It was still raining when we got up at 06:00 this morning. The Earl donned his bathing costume and I just risked getting my pyjamas wet. We sorted out the broken poles and rolled up the canopy and only managed to get slightly damp.
I then went off to shower while The Earl called Gecko in Haenitzburg.  At 07:30 he set off to get replacement poles. This should take most of the day. As I write I am alone at Satara, blogging and getting some caravan chores done! It is still overcast and raining from time to time. We are not complaining. The park desperately needs rain!
Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – Skukuza, Lower Sabi, Lake Panic
18 November 2019
We were out all day again today. The weather was cool and overcast with temperatures between 21 and 25 degrees C.
There were long stretches of driving where we saw very little and others where we were pleased to see good herds of plains animals as well as birds and one or two predators. We drove the H4-1, S20, S30, S128 and H4-2.
No drive is complete for me unless I see a giraffe!
A pod of hippo being groomed by Red-billed Oxpeckers
Mommy and baby hippo
There were 60 buffalo in this herd on the S138
Who are these people, Mom?
We have only seen small herds of wildebeest and they’ve usually got their backs to us!
We were driving quietly along the S128 and were looking forward to breakfast at Lower Sabi.  There were no other cars in sight until we saw one parked up ahead. He was facing us. I took my eyes off the bush and kept them on him wondering what he’d seen.  There was a single wildebeest to his left – our right. It was standing dead still, staring into the bush. “Is it only the wildebeest you’re looking at or is there something else?” asked the Earl.
He explained that he and his wife had watched a lioness stalking the wildebeest but had dropped down into the long grass when the wildebeest saw her.  She was still there and we managed to spot her.
The man went on to tell us that he’d also seen a cheetah on the opposite side of the road and drove on to show us the exact spot. We reversed no more than 150 meters and there she was! I’d missed here when I took my eyes off the task at hand!
Grass in front of her face made photography blurry
Then she moved
That’s better!
Now when we looked right, we could see the lion. When we looked left we observed the cheetah!  This was just too much!  We remained where we were looking left and right while the other chap went back to his original spot to see if the lion would try to chase the wildebeest.
After a while, the lion stood up.
I wonder what I should do?
And off she went
This left us with just the cheetah who sat up straight as soon as she saw the lion move.
Good riddance – I don’t need competition from that lioness!
Yawn, I think I’ll take a nap!
“That was awesome,” I told the Earl, “But now hurry to Lower Sabi – I need the loo!”
That was the most exciting part of the day. At Lower Sabi I wanted to take a walk from the restaurant along the path next to the river but this chap prevented me from passing.
And I didn’t know the password!
So we left and continued our drive.
Because of the overcast conditions, hippos were out of the water
We soon came upon a traffic jam. “What do you see,” we asked a jeep jockey as we stared into the bush.
“A leopard in that tree!”
Well really!  What was it thinking?
Surely he could find a more comfortable place to sleep!
We left the poor creature to sleep and hoped not too many tourists would disturb him.
Burchell’s Coucal
Another favourite – Waterbuck
Hornbill in love
Yellow Mongoose
Before going back to camp we visited Lake Panic and spent an hour there. We have had many wonderful experiences at this hide. It was not as awesome as usual today but it was still great to be there.
Fish Eagle
Green-backed Heron
Burchell’s Coucal
Crocodile
Southern Masked Weaver
Malachite Kingfisher
Squacco Heron
Mommy Water Thick-knee has babies under her wings
This one got restless and came out to say hello
Three-banded Plover
Purple-crested Turaco
I was reluctant to leave the hide but the Earl insisted. We were back in camp by 4:30 pm.
We had a delicious braai of lamb chops and boerewors, sweet potato, gems, whole garlic and salad.
It rained hard during the night! Oh no – would we have to pack up in the wet in the morning?
Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – Skukuza to Lower Sabi and back
Sunday 17 November 2019
The day started with the temperature being in the low twenties as the skies were overcast.  We left camp at 6:30 after enjoying an early morning cup of coffee and planned to have breakfast at Tshokwane Picnic Site.
The first excitement was on the H4-1 when we saw a row of cars stopped ahead and their occupants looking left.  Oops – a few hyaenas came loping onto the road.  We counted seven in all and followed them as they turned onto the S76. When they disappeared into the bush we continued on our way.
Our route took us next to the river with lots of little crescent turnoffs and on one of these, we spotted a blue-eared starling with a feather in his or her mouth. He/she was obviously lining the nest.
Later we came across an interesting interaction with two Jacobin Cuckoos
Another interesting bird was a white-browed scrub-robin. Thanks to De Wet’s Wild for correctly identifying him for me.
Also please help me with this little chap.
De Wet’s Wild thinks Nedicky
My favourite animal has to be the giraffe! They are so elegant and graceful and always elicit a thrill when I see them on the African landscape
How many giraffes do you see?
Baby – you are gorgeous
At breakfast time we stopped at Tshokwane a really lovely picnic site in Kruger.  The restaurant is a boma created around a huge tree.
Tshokwane Boma
The front entrance
The picnic area
All the picnic sites provide a wash-up area
You can, if you wish, cater for yourself at the picnic area but we usually buy breakfast as you can get something to eat for a really good price and the coffee is excellent.
Don’t expect silver cutlery and porcelain crockery but the food is excellent.
After breakfast, we continued our tour stopping to look at various interesting creatures including this elephant.
Around midday, we stopped to stretch our legs and get an ice cream at Lower Sabi Camp. After that, we spent a few minutes observing life at Sunset Dam.
White-fronted lapwing
Black-winged Stilt
Grey Heron getting a lift on the back of a hippo
Greenshank
Yell0w-billed stork sitting on his haunches
African Jacana
Black-winged Stilt
Spreading his wings
The temperatures rose to 35 degrees C today so we did not expect to see too much on our return to Skukuza.
This baboon looked so human surveying the terrain
Our most exciting spot of the day was these lazy lions. As I mentioned, it was hot so they chose a nice shady spot to spend the day doing what lions do best – sleep!
There were other creatures out and about but mostly near the river.
A handsome male kudu
This one needed a snooze
Just love this male Waterbuck
Female Nyala
The Earl took some lovely bird photographs
Violet-backed starting female (Thanks to De Wets Wild for the ID)
White-backed Vulture
It was quite late when we finally returned to camp and we were hot and tired. The Earl did not feel like doing a braai so suggested we go to the Skukuza Cattle Baron for dinner. This was a real treat as the Cattle Baron is expensive but awesome.  Wonderful gourmet food is on offer and the service is superb. One doesn’t expect to have fine dining in the bush but in colonial times they took their crystal, silver and fine china on safari and had their meals served on a table covered in a white table cloth, so why not now?
We both had chateaubriand served with mash potato, salad and vegetables.
Getting ready to flambe the steaks
The flame is there
Beautiful setting – wonderful meal
It was a lovely end to an awesome day.
Gecko goes to Kruger – Berg en Dal to Skukuza
16 November 2019
This morning we packed up and were ready to move to Skukuza by 6:15 am. Because we were towing we stuck to the tar road. Berg en Dal to Skukuza is about 67 km.
We had some interesting sightings before arriving at Skukuza at around nine.
Klipspringer in the middle of the road. There were rocky koppies on either side of the road so they were probably crossing when they stopped to investigate who we were.
Lilac-breasted roller – iconic in the park
At Kwagga Pan we found a pair of knob-billed ducks
Only the male has the knob
The female has freckles instead
Aren’t I a handsome chap!
We found a suitable campsite at Skukuza and then the Earl cooked us a delicious breakfast.
At 2 pm we left for our afternoon drive. The temperatures today got up to 35 degrees C and the skies were clear.
The red-chested cuckoo or Piet-my-vrou is a very vocal bird. You hear him all the time but spotting him is next to impossible as he hides in the foliage of the trees.  So when Earl said, “I can see the Piet-my-vrou” I trained my binoculars into the tree and saw this.
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
“It’s a kingfisher!” I said, “not a cuckoo!”
“This is not a kingfisher – it has a red chest and a cuckoo shape!” he insisted and then took this photograph.
Piet-my-vrou!
Indeed, it was a red-chested cuckoo!
(Cousin Wayne – Please note – It’s not a kingfisher!) Sorry, dear readers, private joke!
Our drive was lovely as it took us alongside the Sabi river and had little semi-circular turnoffs from the road so you got good views of the river and the bank.
Great Egret
Waterbuck enjoying the water
Naughty Monkeys
Little Bee-eaters
One flew away
White-fronted bee-eater
Water thick-knee
Egyptian Geese
Female Bushbuck
Look right
Look left – Pied kingfisher
Near the end of our drive, we crossed a bridge over the river bed and scanned for animals that might be grazing or crossing to the other side.  As we drove along slowly I heard a crunching sound and leaned closer to the window to look down. I got the fright of my life when just inches below the window was this guy!
Now you’ve disturbed my meal!
Always lovely to see my favourite – giraffe
Lovely curly horns
To end our trip we went to Lake Panic which is usually a fabulous place to watch birds.  However, being the weekend, it was full of tourists.  It was hot and we did not relish fighting for a place to sit in the hide so we left and promised ourselves we would return on Monday.
We enjoyed a lovely braai of pork chops, sweet potato and gems as well as the compulsory Greek salad and were asleep before 8 pm!
Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – A day in the life of Berg en Dal
Friday 15 November 2019
As I stepped outside the caravan at 4:30 this morning, I heard something running toward our campsite. I turned to look and almost wet my pants when an enormous hyaena loped at speed past me, toward the neighbours and disappeared.  He must have found a hole in the electric fence and slipped through it!  The Earl wouldn’t believe me. “It must have been a bushbuck,” he said. Like I wouldn’t know the difference!
Half an hour later, the Earl left for Nelspruit to have the Ford Everest serviced and I was left to spend the day alone in the camp. Only, I wasn’t entirely alone. There are two couples camping next door to us and coincidentally the men also had to go to Nelspruit as one of them had needed urgent repairs done to his vehicle. It was now ready for collection and not long after the Earl, they too set off for Nelspruit. Their wives stayed behind and as they busied themselves with camp chores and I was doing the same, we chatted to each other and grumbled about the baboons and monkeys that were constantly trying to steal food. They’re particularly bad at Berg en Dal Camp. I told them about my hyaena and Julia said she’d seen the pawprints next to her caravan.
I achieved quite a bit during the morning – cleaned the caravan and did the laundry which required a bit of walking to and fro – urgently needed when you sit in a car for hours on end.  I was busy working on the computer when Julia called to me to join her and Jan for a cuppa. And of course, that took over an hour!
Then I noticed monkeys trying to get into my caravan. I ran to chase them.  All but one scattered but the leader had no fear and ran at me. “Help!” I yelled and turned tail and scarpered.  Julia and Jan came with catapults and shot at him. Thankfully he turned and ran up a tree! Don’t laugh! It wasn’t funny! Lol.
The Earl returned at around three and by then I had completed the computer work and was feeling that it had been a day well spent in spite of the little dramas I’d experienced. Honestly – hyaenas and deviant monkeys. What is the park coming to!
I thought the Earl would be all driven out but he was keen to go for a game drive straight away, so off we went.
Adult Ground Hornbill
Immature Ground Hornbill catching an insect
A journey of giraffe emerging from the bush and proceeding along the road in front of us
The baby zebra decided not to get underfoot!
These two oxpeckers stopped feasting on a giraffe and had a quick drink and bath before returning to their duties
What a procedure just to get a drink
I bet you can’t do this!
Zebra reflections
Please don’t run me over
These magpie shrikes were calling and flying from one tree to another. The juveniles were vibrating their wings and begging their parents for food
These poor endangered creatures. We heard that nine were poached last week alone!  We saw six today.
Our last braai at Berg en Dal
A word about Berg en Dal for those who plan to visit one day.
The campsite is beautiful. During the offseason, it is easy to get a site on the perimeter with views across the veld.  All the sites are under trees and there is plenty of shade.
The ablutions are okay. The showers work but it takes a long time for the hot water to come through. There is also nowhere to put your soap and shampoo etc. so you have to work from the floor.  I found that this time they were not cleaned regularly throughout the day but they were reasonably clean. If you shower early in the morning you will have to deal with dead insects before you start.
The staff at reception were friendly and helpful. When I went to get coins for the laundry I was greeted by a deaf employee. She handed me a piece of paper and indicated that I should write down my request. I did and she went off the fetch the bag of coins, counted the required number out – enough for a washing machine and a dryer.  I handed over my two R20 notes and gave her a thumbs up in thanks. She smiled broadly. How lovely that Sanparks are employing people with challenges!
The restaurant has a view over the dam. It is well worth taking this Rhino Trail walk. It starts at the restaurant and takes you right around the perimeter of the camp.
Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – Berg en Dal to Pretoriouskop and Back
14 November 2019
Don’t go to Kruger in summer!  It will be too hot! You won’t be able to cope with the heat! The grass is too long. You won’t see any animals.
The above is advice I have received from many well-meaning people, most of whom have never been to Kruger or who only go in winter.  All the information out there suggests that the winter months are the best. It’s warm during the day but chilly at night but you will definitely see the animals as they won’t be hiding in the long grass!
Well, most of my visits over the past 20 years have been in summer and yes, it’s hot and the grass is long but the game viewing is still awesome. Also, it’s a fantastic time to see birds as the migrants from Europe love the Kruger.
Now what we have never been warned about – mainly because the prophets of doom have never been here themselves – is that you might just get flooded out!  The weather can become rather extreme at this time of year. In past years we have had a spit and a spot of rain and on a few occasions have had to pack up in wet conditions. But read on dear reader to find out what happened to us today!
The roaring of lions woke us at an impolite hour this morning. I turned over and ignored them!  Only crazy people go out at 4:30 in the morning. The saner among us wait until after six! I was up before the Earl and after my shower, I had coffee and a rusk ready to tempt him from his comfy bed. The weather was overcast and warm and while I pottered around, a lovely white-browed robin made an appearance.
In order to have the Ford serviced we have to get to a certain number of km on the clock. It didn’t have enough before we left home and by the time we get back, we’ll have too many. So our Bredasdorp man organised for us to have it done in Nelspruit tomorrow.  We were just short of the required kilometres so we decided to do an extra-long trip today.  After coffee and rusks, we set off just after six stopping at Afsaal picnic site for breakfast and then continuing to Pretoriuskop Camp, arriving around midday.
The overcast weather meant the light for photography was not great. We hoped for a bit of rain as the park, like the rest of the country, really needs it. Since arriving in the park we have not needed to put on jackets or jerseys. The temperatures have hovered in the early to late twenties. Today it went right up to 33 degrees C.
There were long stretches of driving when there was absolutely nothing happening – not a bird nor a buck – yet by the end of the day we’d seen some interesting creatures and four out of the compulsory BIG FIVE! Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. Sorry – no lions.
Always exciting to see eagles – this one we think is an immature Martial
Very common and very pretty – the lovely Macdonald’s for lions – Impala females
And a shy grey duiker
Gardenia Hide produced very little but this Natal Spurfowl entertained us
Lots of small herds of elephants and of course quite a few single males like this guy
At the waterhole, he almost stepped on a terrapin
As we drove along we came across a stationary car. “What have you spotted?” asked the Earl.  He was foreign and his answer sounded like, “kudu” We couldn’t see a thing so the Earl drove on. “Go back,” I said, “They’re still staring into the bush. There must be something there!”
“Anything to make you happy, my love,” he sighed obligingly. And then I saw it – not a kudu – a cuckoo!
Yesterday I posted the dark morph Jacobin Cuckoo – This is the pied morph Jacobin Cuckoo!
First, he refused to look at me but I asked nicely so he posed beautifully – Male Waterbuck
After we’d stopped and enjoyed an ice cream at Pretoriouskop we got back in the car to make our long way back to Berg en Dal.  The skies looked threatening and we expected a shower of rain.
Not too scary looking
There was first one big splash and then another on the windscreen, a few stokes from the wipers and it was clear again. This went on for a minute or two and then the wind got up. Omiword – it was gale force – almost like a hurricane.  The rain pelted down in huge drops and then the hail hit sounding like shots from a gun! The Earl drove with full headlights on at snail’s pace and then had to come to a complete stop as visibility was zero!
I was terrified!  I was afraid that the golfball-sized hailstones would crash through the windscreen or windows, we’d be drenched or drowned and never see home again!  I was wearing a fit watch that measures your heartbeat and mine went up from its normal 70 to 91!  The storm went on for an agonising 15 minutes and we were alone in the middle of the wilds of Africa!
And then it was over as suddenly as it had begun. We were in one piece and perfectly safe.  What an adventure!
We continued and saw a few more animals. Miraculously they’d survived the storm too! Imagine being a tiny bird or helpless buck in a violent storm like that!
A klipspringer surveying is surroundings – How that rock doesn’t tumble I do not know!
There was a baby too but he was hiding from the camera
A happy ellie
Distinctive pattern on this guy’s rump
A rather wet steenbok
One of the many buffalo seen today
We also glimpsed a leopard again today.  It took us ages to locate him hiding under a tree and then he got up and disappeared into the bush. Too quick for a photograph, I’m afraid.
The skies clouded over again as we approached Berg en Dal. The Earl wanted to get back to camp quickly to secure our canopy and make sure the hatches were securely battened down!
Just as we got to the caravan the heavens opened, there was thunder, lightning and a heavy downpour. We secured the poles and the Earl made sure the canopy didn’t collapse under the weight of the water collecting in it.
The Earl using a broom to push the canopy up so the water emptied
Suddenly we had a river running past our caravan!
This storm too lasted only about half an hour and then all was calm again.  We abandoned our original plans to braai and I cooked chicken in the Remosca pot.  So yes, we survived!
Gecko #81 goes to Kruger – Elangeni to Berg en Dal
Everybody who knows me is aware of the fact that The Kruger National Park is my most favourite place in the entire world. I love lots of places and I would be happy wherever I found myself but if I could live in the Kruger National Park, I would be in heaven.
Our stay at Elangeni was lovely.  The caravan sites are grassy and under beautiful shady trees. The ablutions are old and could do with an upgrade but the showers were hot and they were clean. We left this morning at 8 o’clock, stopped in Nelspruit to shop for supplies and entered the park before midday.
Goodbye Elangeni
Chickens and weavers enjoying a feast of seed at Elangeni
Getting to Kruger a day earlier than planned was an extra special bonus for me.  At something past 11 o’clock this morning we arrived at Malelane Gate and I joyfully went into reception to announce myself. I was just bursting with smiles and enthusiasm and didn’t mind at all that there was a queue. As I entered a lovely, young, tall, woman greeted me and handed me the indemnity form to fill in. She also helped me do it! What fantastic service!  I then stood in the queue for not more than two minutes. The young lady who processed me seemed a bit serious at first. “I’m a day early,” I said. “Please, can I book another night at Berg en Dal”  She stared at the computer screen and then did the necessary.  “We drove here very fast so we could have an extra day,” I enthused.
This seemed to tickle her.  “You need to have as much time as you can get it seems.  You’re here for a month!”
“Yes,” I replied. “We took four days to get here so we must make it worthwhile!”
She laughed. ” Seri-ous! Then you must have a wonderful time! If you come so far from the southern tip – then you must stay long!”
I left Malelane Gate in the best of moods and rejoined The Earl in the car. Oh, the joy that filled my heart as we drove into the park at last.
Now when you’re towing a caravan you can’t reverse or manoeuvre the car to the perfect position when you come upon a sighting. And nothing too exciting happened in the beginning.  First up were warthogs then a few interesting birds, impala and the usual stuff. Then we noticed two cars staring into the bush. We pulled up next to the first one and he shrugged his shoulder and said, “We’re just looking. We haven’t seen anything!”
The Earl pulled away and then I yelled, “Stop! Reverse! Leopard!”
“I can’t reverse,” he said
“Okay – then go forward a fraction and look back.”
He did and we had an awesome sighting of an alert leopard under a tree.  Then she started to move. We could not reverse or turn around to see where she went. But at least we’d seen her. And it was just 200m outside Berg en Dal Camp’s gate!
Well, not half an hour in the park and already a leopard on our list! It was certainly a good omen.
After checking in at reception we chose a suitable campsite and settled in.  It was a cool 25 degrees C, it was overcast but it only started to rain when we’d finished setting up. The drizzle only lasted a few minutes.
Later in the afternoon, we went for a drive. It’s not usually very productive in the afternoons because of the heat but being overcast and cool we were lucky to see a number of birds and animals.
Emerald Spotted wood-dove
Wattled Lapwing
Dark morph Jacobin cuckoo
Grey Hornbill
Red-billed hornbill
Warthog
Mother and baby elephant
Go Away Bird
In the evening we braaied Texan Steaks for dinner.
It was an awesome start to our trip.
Gecko goes to Kruger – Getting There – Day 4
We planned to take it slowly to get to The Kruger National Park but this morning we were awake at 04:00.  Dawn had broken and we could not get back to sleep. So we decided to just get up and leave. Our plan was to stop and camp in Ermelo but we were making good time and after our breakfast stop at Ventersburg we decide to change our route and go to Elangeni Caravan Park between Waterval Boven and Nelspruit. This would mean we would have plenty of time the next day to shop in Nelspruit and get to Berg en Dal in good time.  There would be no problem getting in a day earlier than planned.
The weather was warm but we did have a spit and a spot of rain along the way. Some of the roads were good but on others, we had to dodge the potholes.  Welcome to Africa!
There is not too much to report about today as most of it was spent travelling the through Free State.
We arrived at Elangeni Caravan Park at 17:30.  It is a really beautiful spot among leafy trees and next to a trout-filled river.  At first, we were the only campers there but half an hour later two girls from London arrived in a hired campervan. They had already done Blyde River Canyon and The Kruger National Park and were on their way to Storms River.
I cooked a chicken casserole in our electric Remosca Pot for dinner.
Adventuring into Retirement 