Day 7

Day 7

I awoke at 6.30am. It was still dark; but the dawn chorus had started. I wish I knew what they all were though. The ibis are very loud, and roost on our roof. Bryony is not impressed.

I got up at 7pm, and threw on some clothes over my pj’s and crept out as Bill & Bry were still fast asleep. I took the car to the far side of the resort where the river is at it’s widest and where the hippos are supposed to graze. On arrival, I initially saw some semi submerged rocks which I thought may have been hippo. Then I saw the guard who advised me that they actually return to the deeper pools about 4am, and the best time to see them is from 5pm as the sun is going down, until 4am, during which time they sometimes leave the river and graze on the grass and paths nearby.

I then drove back to our chalet, for a hot cup of coffee, it was still very chilly as the sun was rising. Both Bill & Bry were still sleeping soundly, so I enjoyed an hour or so’s peace and quiet, birding from our patio.

Lovely brekkie of fresh melon, yogurt and toast, before heading back to Hazyview in search of a launderette, washing deposited and to be collected on Monday.

Then it was time to make our first venture into Kruger National Park. Each person has to pay 180R to enter the park. Entry is rigourously vetted, identification etc is required, and the gates are closed at 5.30pm at this time of year. Therefore you have to ensure you are close to an exit gate before closing time. Not the easiest thing to managed as there is sometimes between 50 & 100km between the gates.

Entry formalites completed, inc a search of the car for weapons, we headed into the park. Twenty minutes in we came across our first spot, a lovely dark male giraffe majestically grazing on acacia trees and quite oblivious to our presence. A great start to the day, and fired us all with added enthusiasm- as if any was needed. During the next hour, we added several species of antelope to the list, including Eland, Gemsbok, Kudu & Impala. Surpirisng how quickly you can become blaise about antelope.:)

A couple of hours passed by before anything really exciting was seen, although we did divert to a damm where I saw a “Secretary Bird” several vultures, and Egrets.  We continued to drive through a good deal of scrub and scorched vegetation following bush fires, when I suddenly saw a dark shape in the long grass, imagine how thrilled I was to suddenly see my first ever Warthog. He was a magnificent male beast, and I couldn’t believe my luck. They are now quite rare and are on the endangered list. Hundreds of photos later I reluctantly ageed to drive on. However I couldn’t stop smirking. That was just a degree or two below our White Shark sightings on my “wow” list.  By now lunch time was well past, and the cloudless sky was giving us 30c on the thermometer. No elephants to be seen anywhere, starting to think that they would now be resting until after sundown. Suddenly though we came across a family of four giraffes, including a juvenile. A lovely group to see, and restored our hope that we might see more even in the heat of the afternoon sun.

Not long after we came to Sabie rest camp, and stopped for a quick drink and a bite to eat, by now we were approx 70k from our exit gate, and had just over an hour an a half left before 5.30pm.

Shortly after leaving Sabie Camp, I saw a big fat grey shape in the grass, and it was our first White Rhino, Yay J.  and then we came across a family group of them, including a baby one- aaahhhhh.

There then followed a big solitary male rhino, grazing right next to the roadside. A stunning beast with a large ivory tusk.

A herd of Zebra followed, plus more and more antelope.

We reached “Phabeni” gate at 5.10pm and headed quickly back to the resort.

 At 5.30pm we were down by our river again, and there he was!! Our first hippo, gloriously wallowing in the mud. A perfect end to a grand day of our own safari.

Supper was cooked by me on the braii with steak kebabs, spicy lamb chops, Bry’s green salad, and JC Roux’s finest sauvignon blanc.

Can tomorrow beat today? It's going to be tough act to folow