Leaving the Hoatson farm at midday, it does not take long to reach Upington, do a quick shop, and then proceed to Augrabies some 130km’s west. Travelling through the vast expanse of the Kakamas table grape vineyards, one is so…
A good friend of my eldest son, John in Somerset West, is Dave Hoatson who I have frequently met. The Hoatson family has recently moved to the Northern Cape where father, Bruce, is farming on the banks of the Orange…
Whereas Nossob disappointed a little, Twee Rivieren is just full of life and interest. With the temperature again soaring, we move back into our chalet taking note of a pair of Rock Martins nesting under the eves. The following camp…
Mata-Mata up the Auob River is a lovely camp but our time is limited and it is either that or Nossob. I choose the latter for two main reasons – the amazing Cubietjie Quap and Marie se Gat. Sadly both…
Monday, 29th We arrive at Twee Rivieren at midday in 39℃ heat. It is difficult to imagine how anything can survive in this harsh landscape, but survive they do and actually flourish. I first came to Twee Rivieren as part…
This has been the year of the great move. For someone born and raised in KZN then some major adjustments could have been expected but……… there have been none. I have not had the slightest twinge about possibly making the…
First of all, another apology as my website goes on the blink – apparently because it is overloaded with photos. I have finally got it going again. Saturday, 4th Today I am moving to Lower Sabie some 90kms distant. But…
Sunny and clear with a drift from the north, perfect again for the S100 Nwanetsi River road. The sun rises at 6.03am today and the scene is just magnificent. The leopard up the sycamore fig should be just a memory…
Wednesday, 1st After a couple of beautiful sunny days, today dawns miserable with a chilly south wind. I need to do some running repairs on the Quantum so seize on the bad day to head for Phalaborwa, some 120kms distant.…
The Day of the Leopard This morning I choose to go down the S100 river road, not because of yesterday’s leopard, but rather because of the weather. Clear and bright with a drift from the north to clear the dust.…
Apologies for the late report. Satara has now a reputation for having either weak or non-existent coms – especially over the weekend when no one is on hand to correct it. Friday, 27th On another bright and hazy day, which…
Wednesday, 25th Biyamithi calls so at 6am we are out the gates travelling west along the H1-1 and then turn down the main H3 road towards Malelane. The sky is hazy but cloudless making for really golden early morning light.…
Monday, 23rd High cloud and calm weather greets me as I exit camp at 6am. I cross the Sabie and Sand Rivers and take the Maroela Loop S83 and then push on to Salitje S30. I fear that this blog…
The following three days are similarly quiet with a chilly, south wind blowing. These conditions are not conducive to good photography (or game viewing) and I have drawn from my library of photos to illustrate sightings. Friday, 20th After the…
Such are the laidback ways of the Skukuza faithful, that when I arrive at the gate at 5.45am, I am first in line. At Satara I would have had ten cars ahead of me. I set off at a brisk…
Much has happened since I last left Kruger on 1st March 2021. Joining Renette in Johannesburg, we made our way to Somerset West in the Cape. To cut a rather long story short, we both had full knee replacements done…
Photos of Shingwedzi Camp from my library Saturday, 28th February – Shingwedzi Another 28mm of rain falls during the night and I leave camp at 6am. Immediately, I am aware that the river next to the camp is angry. It…
Thursday Afternoon, 25th Shingwedzi is the most beautiful of camps spread out amongst the Mopane and Palm trees, At midday word has it that a European Nightjar is roosting in a tree outside Chalet 46. I hasten there and who…
Wednesday, 24th Whilst I have the opportunity I would like to get to Shingwedzi, some 180Km north of Satara. But first it is a lovely, misty, golden morning – too good to waste travelling with the caravan. So, I shoot…
Monday, 22nd It is blustery and raining as I join the gate queue at a gloomy 5.30am. The Satara faithful are undeterred by the weather and a long stream of car lights pass through the gates. But photography is my…