We do not feel that we have given that jewel of a road, Sweni (S126), a fair trial on this trip. So on a clear, still morning to set out at 6am and at 6.15am find ourselves first on the…
Zombie like and rather gatvol from pills for my sore mouth, we take off down the tarred road (H6) to Nwanetsi. A northerly breeze suggests that a front is hitting the Cape but otherwise all is bright and warm. We…
Day 26. Wednesday, 13th June We are heading down the busy S100 today but first allowing for the pack to get ahead. So at 6.10am we exit the gate but everything is enveloped in a really thick mist. We find a…
Cloudy with a light south wind and we take off at 6am bound for Timbavati. Fast up the main tar road (H1-4) and then after 16Km, we cut across (S127) west to the picnic spot. Bursts of sunshine do occasionally…
Today is Sweni day so in partly cloudy weather with a light south wind, we hurry onto one of our favourite roads (S126). The sunrise does not disappoint. Sweni is one of those roads one could drive up and down each…
We are at the tail of a long queue at 6am at the Skukuza gate. As is the norm in June, it is clear and sunny. With the campsites full it is essential that we get to Satara as soon…
Today we very sadly bid farewell to Bergendal as we begin our journey back to Satara. Our trip here has been outstanding and I wonder why we have never camped here before. We will certainly rectify that in the future.…
The Mlambane road (S119 and S118) beckons but in order to get there before the other cars we must be at the gate first. It is not good manners to leave late and then speed past others who have taken…
We are going to repeat yesterday’s route but try and reach the Matjulu water trough no later than 7.30am. So at 6am we are out the gate and travel along the tar towards Malelane. After 11Km at the T-junction we…
The plan this morning is to go out along the tar road towards Malelane (S110) and then circuit back along the Matjulu loop (also S110) to the water point thus allowing time for the sun to rise above the mountains.…
Bergendal camp is sited in a most picturesque bowl amongst the mountains of southwest Kruger. It is most attractive and the camp itself is lovely, spacious with much bush and modern architecture. But, there is one big drawback about Bergendal…
During the night Renette hears a rustle at the fence and shining a torch finds a civet only meters away. We have been hugely fortunate to get such a good site at Pretoriuskop. We must be showing our age. Today…
Another chilly night but we set off down the Voortrekker road (H2-2) to Afsaal under a cloudless sky. Two pathetic white rhino nervously scamper over the road ahead of us, so different from the placid creatures that they once were.…
So warm was it yesterday evening that I was walking around without a shirt on. Amazingly and without any wind, the temperature plummets and we have the coldest night of the trip. We awake to a still, bright but cold…
Well, this morning we are determined to get to the leopard cubs first so we are at the gate at 5am with no one in sight. Twenty minutes later another car draws up behind us and then the usual line…
We leave Shish at 6am and travel through the grasslands shrouded in wintery, morning mist. This always gives beautiful sunrises as the golden sun breaks through. Our camp neighbours have told us of three leopard cubs north of Ngotso Dam…
We awake early at Shish (Shishingane – Warren’s quarters) and at 6am travel to the Sweni causeway. I’m afraid that my Painted Snipe seems to have disappeared so after a time of coaxing with the bird caller, nothing better than…
In the semi-darkness and together with Warren we drive in the Quantum down to Singita, some 15Km distant. Here we transfer onto one of these open tourist Land Rovers that the lodge has kindly put at our disposal and the…
The internet, or lack of it, at Satara is driving us crazy. We are forced again to travel to Orpen purely to make contact with the outside world. I have been having a running battle with Sanparks for the past…
So as to get prime position at Nkaya Pan this morning we are up early and (wait for it Jenky and Warren) we are first at the gate. Unfortunately, there is a cloud cover so not ideal conditions for photographing.…