Monday, 21st Whereas at Mountain Zebra there was a heavy dew (or ice) most nights, here at Karoo National there is no dew at all – every morning. I suppose the air is just drier. I am out of my…
The campsite is always till fast asleep when we leave at about 6.20am each morning. I think this is because the official gate opening time is 7am – but the automatic gate always opens when we arrive there so we…
So much did we enjoy the Lammersleegte Loop yesterday that we are going to repeat it again. There is a little cloud in the east this morning so the sun appears a little later. This September climate here is just…
You will remember from yesterday that I have determined to hunt down the Dusky Sunbird today. A common bird in the arid regions of SA but absent from my home in the eastern part of the country. I am early…
This morning we are going to keep to the eastern plains so at 6.30am we exit the gate and head for Lammertjiesleegte – a lovely South African name. The rising sun catches some zebra and a Gemsbok on a mountainside.…
Tuesday, 15th This morning is cold as we rise at 5.45am and begin to pack up ready to move to Karoo National. Numb fingers brush the ice from the awning canvas. One delight of this lifestyle is meeting like minded…
Sunday,13th The idea was to spend a week each at Mountain Zebra, Camdeboo and Karoo National on our way to Cape Town. My tooth problem interfered with this and wishing to stay within range of this excellent dentist at Cradock,…
Friday, 11th I am keen to revisit my puddle in the road down on the Ubejane Loop near the maingate. The number of very varied birds visiting there bears further attention. So stocked up with two water containers to top…
6.30am and we are both out of camp winding our way up to the plateau. Here we pause for our customary cup of condensed milk coffee. If you look carefully at this photo you will see a couple of houses…
Tuesday, 8th Leaving Renette in camp, I am out of the gate at 6.30am just as the sun rises. It is bright, still, clear and sunny today and I am heading towards the maingate and then climbing onto the Rooiplaat…
A little trivia – Mountain Zebra National Park was established in 1937 and the Mountain Zebra species was saved from extinction by local farmers who donated land and animals to the Park so that eventually it grew to 28,000 Hectares…
Saturday, 5th The weather forecast tells me that rain can be expected today so I am out of the gate at 6.30am (7am official opening time). Again the sun is playing on the hilltops as I make my way along…
Yesterday Renette spent most of the day bedding down the new caravan. Today she joins me at 6.30am as we leave camp just as the sun’s rays are setting the hilltops ablaze. No ice today – just a heavy dew…
After last night’s wild deluge and wind, this morning breaks still, clear and cold as I spend some time removing the ice from the windscreen of the Quantum. The camp gate only opens at 7am which is a little irritating…
We left Kruger on 10th March little anticipating what chaos the world would shortly plunge into. SA’s harsh ‘lockdown’ caught us in KZN where we remained trapped for the months that followed. However through the kindness of friends and relations…
Sunday. 8th You may remember that we enjoyed time at that pond 20 odd km’s along the Ntwatimhiri S21 road a few days ago. Bright and sunny, we wish to take advantage of the conditions to be there early. We…
Saturday. 7th Bob’s “trail cam” tells us that our late night hyena is still doing his rounds. So despite their assurances, nothing has been done by the Parks management. The baboons roam free, the hyena still visits and the weed…
Thursday, 5th I put the video of the night prowling hyena on my photographic Facebook page (richardgrantphotographysa) and the response has been enormous – probably in the order of over 80,000 hits. Of course Lower Sabie management has been roused…
Tuesday, 3rd Bob, our camping neighbour, kindly rigged up his “trail cam” and after some scuffling in the night we were curious to know what the camera picked up. The following video clips reveal all. So Lower Sabie’s non-existent electric…
Sunday, 1st Crash goes our crockery at 3.50am as a suspected hyena pulls the tray of plates and glasses off the table. Whatever it was panics and backs off into the shade-awning pole bringing the canvas down as well. A…