Mpumalanga - Potholes, Three Sisters and God's Window

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19 Oct - the newbies board Priscilla, our overland truck, for the first time...there's so much room now that there's only 13 of us rather than 22! Two seats to myself to stretch out, what luxury!

We spend the day driving through the Mpumalanga region in South Africa. We stop off at a gold mining village called Pilgrim's Rest for lunch. It's like something out of a Western film. In the afternoon we stop off at Bourke's Luck Potholes - yet another remarkable geological phenomena on my travels...surreal cyclindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water. Next is a stop at the 3 Rondavels viewpoint (also known as the Three Sisters, not to be confused with a certain drinking establishment in Edinburgh's Grassmarket!!!!), each of the hills / rondavels is named after the Swazi chief's three wives.

We camp at Blyde River Canyon, there's a tent pitching demo for the newbies. Great dinner round the campfire. What a difference having Janet on board, the food is still great but she adds a few feminine touches such as candles, pre-dinner nibbles, games, etc.

20 Oct - drive through breathtaking scenery to God's Window. 15 min stroll to the viewpoint, good to stretch the legs.

We arrive at the main entrance gate to Kruger National Park mid-afternoon. I persuade Charlie to join me in a Savanna on board to celebrate being in the home of the Big 5 at last. Set up camp, quick swim to cool off then dinner before heading out for a night drive. Bit of a disappointment, we see lots of hares, impalas, civet (badger cum meerkat thing) and a hippo family (not in the water - running in the bush, what a funny sight!). On the way back though there's an impressive heat storm to keep us awake. Very hot, sticky night in the tent.

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Photos

Pilgrim's Rest
Great name for a shop!

The Three Sisters
But not as you know it...

God's Window
What a view...