Monday, 4th December DAY 20

A dark morning with cloud and a moderate southerly wind. At 4.30am up the Sabie road we go passing two separate white rhino in the road which is a little unusual. As we get to the Ntwatimhiri (S21) turnoff the…

Sunday, 3rd December DAY 19

We are fast running out of time at Lower Sabie as we return home on Tuesday. Before we go, we must do that most underrated road – that behind Muntshe mountain (S122). So at 4.30am we are out the gates…

Saturday, 2nd December DAY 18

One of the great joys of Lower Sabie is to sit at sunrise at Sunset Dam and watch the goings on. For photography one needs two things – clear early or late day sunlight and a glassy water surface for…

Friday, 1st December DAY 17

We are at the gate at 4.25am and it is already open and the cars gone. We turn right for Nwatimhiri and pass a car inspecting Sunset Dam. Thereafter the road is ours and we make quick progress up to…

Thursday, 30th November DAY 16

Our visit to Lower Sabie somehow just has not got going. With the weak internet in camp we must go to Komatipoort today to finalise our Simbithi move and do some grocery shopping. But first I leave Renette to get…

Wednesday, 29th November DAY 15

We wish to get a good campsite at Lower Sabie so as soon as it is light, we quickly pack up camp, hook up the caravan and off we go down the Sabie River road (H4-1). Coffee on the high…

Tuesday, 28th November DAY 14

Biyamithi weir is one of those places one can go to every day and never tire of it – such is its beauty. Today is our last day at Skukuza so, with a clear sky, we are heading there. At…

Monday, 27th November DAY 13

A heavy deluge of rain at 3.30am awakens me. With a cold south wind blowing as well, we decide to stay in this dark morning. After tending to my internet requirements, we take off at 9.30am down the Sabie river…

Sunday, 26th November DAY 12

We leave at 4.30am, bound for our favourite – the Biyamithi weir (S114). There is fairly thick cloud after the rain but it does show signs of breaking. After seeing more hyena we reach the weir just as the clouds…

Saturday, 25th DAY 11

Rain starts drumming on the caravan during the night. Like a Charlie, I forgot to put up the rain gauge but as an estimate we probably had about 20mm. At 5.30am there is a little respite so we set out…

Friday, 24th November DAY 10

It is dull and overcast as we set out at 4.20am, this time for a destination that we have not visited for some years – Mpondo Dam (S114/H5). At the Renosters drinking trough we find a male lion in the…

Thursday, 23rd November DAY 9

It is dark, windy and drizzly when we wake so when it becomes light enough, we break camp and begin the trip back to Skukuza (H1-3). All goes without incident but at the turnoff to Leeupan, some lions are lying…

Wednesday, 22nd November DAY 8

We are heading for Satara today but decide to first go down the Salietjie Road (S30) next to the Sabie River. First out the gate at 4.30am, we first coffee on the high-level bridge over the river before beginning a…

Tuesday, 21st November DAY 7

The lure of the Biyamithi Weir is calling and because this is our last day at Skukuza, we are going to make the most of it. First again at the gate at 4.25am, we set out in still, clear weather…

Monday, 20th November DAY 6

After my dull and cloudy day at Lake Panic on Saturday, I decide to give it another try today which is bright and sunny. So at 4.45am I enter the desolate hide and settle down to enjoy this most beautiful…

Sunday, 19th November DAY 5

Usually we travel on to Satara after Skukuza so with the caravan, we never seem to do the route to Tshokwane any justice. Today we are going to follow this road now at leisure. We are at the gate at…

Saturday, 18th November DAY 4

yr.no predicts a clear still day – perfect for Lake Panic. Renette understandably elects to stay in bed whilst I head off at 4.30am (S42). However, the high cloud thickens and yr.no has got it wrong as the morning turns…

Friday, 17th November DAY 3

4.30am is quite a mission for some so we are third out of four when we arrive at the gate five minutes before opening time. The sky is quite clear to the east so we decide to go down to…

Thursday, 16th November DAY 2

Today we have arranged to meet Jenky and Chane down at the Lower Sabie Mugg & Bean for breakfast at 9am.  The rain certainly has been general and all the way down there is evidence of water gushing over the…

Wednesday, 15th November DAY 1

Lower Sabies The period 15th November to 20th December must be one of my favourite times over the summer rainfall area of southern Africa. The heat has not begun in earnest, the rains have begun to fall and the migratory birds are…