Wednesday, 31st July After fifteen lovely days at Lower Sabie, it is time to move on. So under a cloudy sky we hook up the caravan and at 6.40am we are under way up the H10 heading north. Around Muntshe there are puddles of rain water in the road. We stop at Tshokwane for a pie and thereafter begins the long, four hour haul to Shingwedzi. Kruger of course is flat from end to end and despite pulling a large caravan, one can easily maintain a steady 50kph and at 1pm we settle into the Shingwedzi campsite.
The reddish-gold colouring of the Mopanes, the palms and the plentiful Impala lilies make Shingwedzi such a beautiful restcamp and it sure is good to be back. I am going to post a number of scenic photos of the camp and surrounds so as to give you an idea of the beauty of this part of Kruger.
The campsite is full as all the Highvelders and the Capetonians escape the cold of winter.
This evening I do a short drive down the Kanniedood road S50.
Thursday, 1st August I waste no time this morning by leaving camp in the dark at 6am and heading north along the H1-7. After 30km I turn off at the Babalala Picnic Spot and then begin creeping along the 34km long Mphongolo River road S56. Readers may wonder why one would travel 270km north when there is so much to see down south. Well this magnificent S56 road provides the answer. It must be one of my favourites in Kruger with its huge trees and plentiful bird and animal life. And today does not disappoint and my camera is continually in use. With the sun direction perfect and the desolate roads, this is a time to savour. I have a truly wonderful morning.
Shingwedzi is dry and particularly around the rivers, the veld is bare without a blade of grass. But the zebras and buffalo look well nourished so they must be finding grazing somewhere.
I did not notice when I took his photo that on the left is another buffalo which has apparently been stuck in the mud for days. This is certainly a harsh existence with very little food and water.
Today vividly showed that it is not necessarily cats that make for a successful day. I enjoyed a cracking morning of non-stop activity with no help at all from lion or leopard.
This afternoon we leave camp and right there in the riverbed the struggle for survival goes on. Most of the animals are digging for water in the sand.
Friday, 2nd Because of the dry conditions we are sticking to the river roads and so today we drive out along the S52 that runs along the north bank of the Shingwedzi river. With the golden morning sun rising behind us, this road too is absolutely beautiful.
This road leads to Red Rocks, a bare expanse of sandstone.
This afternoon we go down the Kanniedood Dam road S50 just outside camp. In summer this road is thickly vegetated with rich birdlife but in the present conditions of powdery dust, traffic and road corrugations, it is not attractive. So in the remaining days we are here, we will be concentrating on the S56 and S52 roads which are outstanding.
2 Comments
Don Barclay August 3, 2024 at 7:02 am
Great pics, Kruger looking its very best!
Dave McGaw August 5, 2024 at 8:56 am
My favourite camp as well, well maintained and such a pleasure to spend time there. Lovely pics , many thanks Fred. A pity you did not let me know when you were going to be there.