Satara 27-28th Feb

Satara 27-28th Feb

Wednesday, 27th February This morning we head down the S100 Nwanetsi River road. The wind is again from the south and we are the only car headed that way. We stop to admire the sunrise at 5.50am and whilst having…

Satara 26th Feb

Satara 26th Feb

Tuesday, 26th February I must change tactics with my blog. Up until now, I download the day’s photos every evening and then write the blog. Last night was a case in point where, after wine with the Germans, I am…

Satara 25th Feb

Satara 25th Feb

Monday, 25th February We pack up camp and leave Letaba at 6.30am. It seems almost sacrilege to criticise such a beautiful place but we are not sorry to leave. Letaba just does not have the beautiful roads of the other…

Letaba 24th Feb

Letaba 24th Feb

Sunday, 24th February Lightning and thunder waken us in the early hours of the morning but little rain falls. When we leave camp at 5.30am huge thunder clouds hang in the morning sky with the odd roll of thunder. We…

Letaba 23rd Feb

Letaba 23rd Feb

We went out yesterday evening for an hour before sunset and after I had sent out yesterday’s blog. We crept along the river road upstream from the camp taking all the little loop roads. It was a balmy, golden evening.…

Letaba 21-22nd Feb

Letaba 21-22nd Feb

Thursday, 21st February We are keen to see the Balule Campsite on the banks of the Olifants River so leaving Letaba at 5.30am, we take the river road (S46) south. We have not seen many sunrises of late because of…

Letaba 19-20th Feb

Letaba 19-20th Feb

Tuesday, 19th February Every camp in Kruger has its own peculiar appeal. Satara’s is the big game feel of the savanna, Punda’s is the historic remoteness and the Luvuvhu whilst Shingwedzi’s are the magnificent river roads and the camp setting.…

Shingwedzi-Letaba 17-18th Feb

Shingwedzi-Letaba 17-18th Feb

Sunday, 17th February I am afraid that Vodacom is out of action for the weekend, delaying my blog – but we have a plan. Despite the early morning drizzle we are going to go through to Luvuvhu and Punda Maria…

Shingwedzi 16th Feb

Shingwedzi 16th Feb

Saturday, 16th February Vodacom went on the blink yesterday evening and I was not able to complete my diary. We went down the very damp Kanniedood road and in a thicket we heard a most familiar song. A little investigation…

Shingwedzi 14-15th Feb

Shingwedzi 14-15th Feb

Thursday, 14th February As forecasted, the rain begins in the early hours. Quite gently at first but at 8am is pelts down leaving the campsite awash. It is pointless going out in this weather so we shelter until about 10am…

Shingwedzi 12-13th Feb

Shingwedzi 12-13th Feb

Tuesday, 12th February At the gate at 5-30am reminds of staying at Shingwedzi some twenty years ago. We returned home and a week or two later I read that the gate guard at Shingwedzi had left his window open during…

Shingwedzi 11th Feb

Shingwedzi 11th Feb

Monday, 11th February At 5am we begin our very slick packing and at 6am we leave behind our ellie lined waterhole. Punda has been terrific and we are determined to return as soon as possible. Bright, crisp and sunny we…

Punda Historic Snippets

Punda Historic Snippets

Punda Maria – A Brief History In 1903 the area between the Luvuvhu and Letaba River was proclaimed as a wildlife sanctuary – The Shingwidzi Reserve. In 1926 this was consolidated with the Sabie Reserve in the south creating the…

Punda 9-10th Feb

Punda 9-10th Feb

Saturday, 9th February It is a clear morning as I leave the gates at 5.30am with no other car in sight. The sky is clear and the forecast is for a dry, hot day. The sunrises at 5.41am and by…

Punda 7-8th Feb

Punda 7-8th Feb

Thursday, 7th February There is a light drizzle today as we set off to the Luvuvhu River. I am specifically after the Racket-tailed Roller, the Three-banded Courser and the Lemon-breasted Canary. I have been told that the Roller has been…

Punda 6th Feb

Punda 6th Feb

Wednesday, 6th February Today is cloudy and cool so I decide to spend some time down at the Luvuvhu River. Renette understandably elects to stay in camp. At 5.30am I am the only car at the gate. I must mention…

Punda 5th Feb

Punda 5th Feb

Tuesday, 5th February The weather forecast has it spot on and at midnight the rain begins beating on the caravan and the wind is tearing at the awning. We arise at 6am with a light rain falling and everything soaked.…

Satara-Punda 3-4th Feb

Satara-Punda 3-4th Feb

Sunday, 3rd February This is our last day at Satara as tomorrow we move to Punda Maria in the north. The excellent Nwanetsi River road (S100) has not been good to us this trip so we decide to give it…

Satara 1-2nd Feb

Satara 1-2nd Feb

Friday, 1st February Out we go at 5.30am following a string of cars who find this a better time to rise. They all peel off along the way and we reach Sweni first in partially overcast weather and cool south…