Sunday, 21st April I am afraid that beautiful Bergendal suffers the same fate as Crocodile Bridge. Being close to a major Park entrance gate and the Bergendal camp itself, the limited road network quickly becomes choked with traffic – something…
Friday, 19th April David and Steph with Callum (4) and Sophie (1) are coming down from Jo’burg to spend the Easter weekend with us. Renette and I snatch a dark, cool morning drive along the Mlambane River before returning early…
Wednesday, 17th April Last night I arrived at the petrol station at 5.50pm to find that the attendant had already knocked off. To compound the problem he is late for work again this morning and when I finally fill up,…
Monday, 15th April One more try in the early morning light finds me up on Pretorius Koppie watching the sun weakly rising through the haze. I then take the Fayi Loop (S8 & S14) anti-clockwise and really creep along trying…
Friday, 12th April Renette strongly feels that her place at present is in Johannesburg. Given the grief experienced by the Jones family and with young Callum’s birthday party on the 13th, a ticket was hastily booked for Renette to fly…
Wednesday, 10th April Today we are taking a breather and taking care of our admin and housekeeping. In calm partly cloudy weather we head for Hazyview past Shabeni koppie, along the S7 and S3 road and exit the Park at…
Monday, 8th April With the gates opening at 6am, it is too much to expect to be the first car along most roads. With our time now limited at Skukuza we decide to do our last trip down the beautiful…
Saturday, 6th April Late last night we received the traumatic news that Renette’s beloved Auntie Toppies had suddenly passed away in Johannesburg. She had been her normal bubbly self at the wedding in Cape Town two weeks ago so the…
Thursday, 4th April Today we bid honeymooning Gareth and Sarah farewell as they begin the long trip back to KZN. It is a lovely clear day today but I am afraid that we have other matters to attend to. I…
Tuesday, 2nd April Rather predictably, a strong south wind comes through at about 9pm last night, the temperature drops and a light sprinkling of rain falls. At 6am it is dark and dismal as we leave the gates to head…
Monday, 1st April Lake Panic needs very special conditions to get optimum enjoyment – dead calm air and bright light. Today the camp gates open half an hour later so at 6am and with all the conditions favourable, we head…
Sunday, 31st March Yesterday I felt that the Skukuza crowds held the upper hand so today I am determined to correct that. Renette has much to do in camp so at 4.30am I am first at the gate by myself…
Saturday, 30th March Today really shows Skukuza in its contrasting colours. We arrive at the gate at 5.03am – 8th in the queue. At 5.30am we head out with a long line of cars in front and behind us. Some…
Friday, 29th March Today is a day with a difference. Steven and family are packing for home and we are packing to move to Skukuza. However, it is clear and still and Steven and I snatch two hours at Sunset…
Thursday, 28th March All six of us on board today as we leave camp at 5.30am at the head of a queue. With another overcast sky and sunrise at 6.10am all is dark as we turn left and head for…
Wednesday, 27th March More light rain falls during the night and Steven and I are dutifully at the gate in the dark at 5am. At 5.30am we take off up the Sabie River road H4-1 headed for Nwatimhiri (S21). The…
Monday, 25th March Since flying to the Cape on 14th March, our brief visit there culminated with the most beautiful marriage of our third son, Gareth to lovely Sarah on Friday, 22nd March. It began on the 15th with the…
Wednesday, 13th March At first light I am hard at it packing up and at 6.30am I leave the camp set for Lower Sabie. In clear weather have an uninterrupted two hour trip the highlight of which was the magnificent…
Tuesday, 12th March First out the gate again at 5.30am and despite the popularity of the road, I am trying the S100, S41 northward and then back to camp from Gudzani East. Under a partly cloudy sky, I turn onto…
Monday, 11th March I am at the gate at 4.55am and the sky is completely clear but by 5.30am as I leave camp, thick clouds are racing up from the south – as usual. I am really set on tracking…