http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , South Africa , Mpumalanga en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:08:05 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:08:05 UTC Even Alan struggles to wake up for our 4th morning game drive at Lion Sands. Today 5 am seems incredibly early to both of us as we enjoy the comfort of our bed at Ivory Lodge.Once wersquore settled in the Land Rover Enoch points the vehicle towards the river road. Hersquos looking for leopard. On the way we see hippo giraffe waterbuck and elephant but so far no leopard.Then he gets the http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-348729.html Itrsquos quiet this Saturday morning as we drive through the bush. Enoch teases that the animals partied too hard last night. First stop the watering hole with the dead elephant to see if there has been any action. Yesterday the ecologist opened the hide of the decaying carcass so that the animals would be able to eat. Guess who found it first That roar we heard last night was the lonely lion http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-348400.html I love the saying by J.R.R. Tolkien... Those who wander are not always lost... Some are like me in the respect that it seems that we're always looking for something and may appear a little wayward. The truth of the matter is that maybe we are all constantly in search of something some are more extroverted in their pursuit as I am others are more introspective. I've searched and found great b http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-348391.html This is day 2 of safari at the beautiful Mala Mala resort and I've already seen all of the big 5 The elephant lion rhino cape buffalo and leopard. Attached are photos of lioness on a kill and my favorite the giraffes. I'm having a great time Enjoy the shots... http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-348099.html After a 500 am wakeup call Torrance rings the gong on our front wall before placing a pot of coffee through the dumb waiter door in the living room. By 530 am Alan and I have donned raincoats for a wet walk to the reception area where Enoch our ranger and his tracker Sam are preparing the Land Rover for this morningrsquos 3hour excursion.As the rain pours Alan Gail another guest an http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-347427.html I'm writing this after a long day in the Kruger National Park. I have been lying in a hammock listening to the bush and thoroughly enjoying myself. Only a hug from Kris and a cold fruit juice would make this heaven between two treesI awoke this morning at 5am as we had to be at breakfast at 5.15. It was light but raining a bit. Having dressed and packed my day bag I went to the bar and had pine http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-346939.html Wersquove traveled 26 hours and half way around the world to experience Africa. After a night of catching up on sleep in the Sun Intercontinental Hotel at Johannesburg Airport Alan and I catch the charter flight to Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands a property in the Sabi Sands game preserve adjacent to Krueger National Park.When we arrive at Skukuza Airport which is little more than a paved landing s http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Sabi-Sands/blog-346827.html HiI have had a lovely dayWe left this morning at 7am and journeyed to the Bushman's Adventure Lodge on the outside of the Kruger. The journey was long and we arrived at about 3pm. Stopped a couple of times on the way but nothing special. When we got out of the truck it was baking about 35 degrees and high humidity. We Tilly I put our tent up and then we had a welcome to the camp which has http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-344810.html We are now back in South Africa and about to leave for Johannesburg. We spent the last two days in the Kruger area and went on two very different game drives. The first game drive is a night drive one and a half hours either side of sunset in a small game reserve called Thornybush. After the first hour it had already became the best game drive of the tour so far and by the end it was better than http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-344768.html We all thought and hoped we had another night drive today but we didnrsquot. So we were back at the camp by about 5pm. We were feeling disappointed and perplexed with what to do with the time. But it turned out to be an exciting eveningIn one of the trees in our camp was a pair of owls. Irsquom not sure of their name but they were incredible They were tiny maybe the size of my hand http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343708.html Today was another early morning and long day of driving. Seeing animals on safari is all chance and timing timing that you canrsquot control. That was clear yesterday with long stretches of nothing then suddenly something. And it was confirmed today.It seemed we saw far fewer animals. But possibly it was just less novelty Lots of giraffes and elephants. But even impala it seemed there http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343691.html Even after all that driving around earlier in the day we still had more Around 530pm we switched to another truck for a sunset drive. This time led by Thomas a park guide.The first thing we passed was a pickup truck with 4 park rangers two of them carrying massive guns. My initial thought was protection from the animals. But then Michael said they were on patrol for poachers. Someone a http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343338.html Long long long long long long day . . . but a great day.530am this morning which still feels even earlier cause back home itrsquos not even midnight we were off to our next campsite where we left our bags boarded our openair safari trucks and were off.Kruger National Park is massive the size of Israel So even driving all day we only cover a portion of it. But even in only that port http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-343324.html First thing this morning I headed off from the hostel on my 4 day safari to Kruger National Park. Along with me is a couple from Canada Crystal Allan 1st Canadians Irsquove come across a couple from England Claire Andrew a couple from Spain a guy from Finland a guy from Holland and a girl from Germany. Full van.It was a long day with lots of driving and wersquove yet to even see http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Graskop/blog-343321.html Ok i in Nelspuit still but just before i head off on a little adventure.. a trip within a trip one might say Been in Nelspuitkanyamazane for 4 weeks now.. and it has been interesting however the reality of getting up at 5.30 every morning to go teach in school is now starting to drag a little to be honest its time for a little more holidaytravel type experience so im planning a month lon http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-341516.html Ok people this is my second proper blog... it really is a runabout to get to internet properly.. but im here nowSo still in the Township of Kanyamazane its stilll bloody hot and im still 'volunteering' in the school i think i said before how many similarities there are with Mansfield... guess kids are kids and the fun and joveality of school life is universal And in reply to annemarie http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-339317.html Petite histoire d'une journe de visite du village Ndebele situ Bothsabelo. 150 Kms de JoburgCe village est un muse plein air reprsentant la reconstitution d'un village Ndebele. La phase 1 reprsente des huttes circulaires similaires aux huttes des Zulus. Une petite entre servait de protection aux habitants en cas d'attaques ennemies. La position des huttes symbolisait l'anciennet des fe http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Middelburg/blog-336032.html Ok hello everyone that is viewing This is my first opportunity to get on this and write so its an exciting time for meI have been in South Africa for over a week now and its thrown up quite a few experiances. I am staying at the moment in a townshipformer township called Kanyamzani in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The family i am staying with have been so helpful welcoming me lo http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-335064.html i met a couple of americans carissa and liz and we decided to visit kruger national park on the cheap. we rented a car and bought groceries then headed to kruger. there we saw tons of elephants ungulates giraffes rhinos'black and white a huge black python some strange birds. not to forget lions warthogs no they werent dancing but we kept joking about it water buffalo and a hyena. we a http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-332502.html SOUTH AFRICA SIDE TRIPOur group of five left Lesotho for three days at Hueglin's Lodge in White River South Africa to visit with Rotary acquaintances of the Olsons who own the four star lodge. Brian and Frances Hyson met us at Nelspruit Airport designed to appeal to the many safari tourists who land there. It is an impressive thatched roof log beam structure that feels like Ernest Hemingway http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-332282.html Day 6As the final day in the bush comes to a close i am left alone here in the lodge. all the other guests have gone and my plane leaves that dusty airstrip in a few hours. Last night's drive was awesome but the part i wanted to share with you came afterward.instead of driving us back to the lodge to have dinner Charles our ranger took a detour deeper into the bush. Till now i have told you a lo http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-331036.html Bush Telegraph day 4I think the word I have been trying to find to describe this feeling of awe and wonder is RESPECT. When you are faced with an Elephant so huge that if I was to stand I would only reach its knee or you come within 4 feet of a leopard knowing full well that if you went only another centimetre closer it would finish you off in a matter of seconds you start to realisehelliphe http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-330734.html So we arrived at Mpumalanga Krugar airport after a whopping 12 hours flying and 10 hours of total stopover hours 7 of those stopover hours were spent at a Starbucks cafe. Huge contrast from Singapore Kuala Lumpur. From concrete buildings as far as the eyes can see to dry grasslands that span all the way to the horizon.Vicky's uncle leant us his bakkie aka ute and sent us off to th http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-330676.html Day 3 Welcome to my blog. This is the first time i have managed to get to a computer and feel that i have so much to tell already but before i do for any of you that wish to unsubscribe to this i wont take it personally For those of you happy to stay i look forward to sharing my journey with you. Its only day 3 and already its been an adventureI left on Wednesday night from Heathrow and flew http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-330350.html We finally have internet. We are staying in White River South Africa at httpwww.heuglins.co.zaaccommodation.htm cut and paste into your browser to see an excellent accomodation.We will be heading home tonight have a 10 hour flight to Amsterdam 3 hour layover and 10 hours to Seattle.We had an exciting visit to Kruger National Park yesterday that started with part of our group being in a http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-329623.html It is around 10pm and wersquove stopped at Ultra City a gas station complex near Middelburg en route from Nelspruit to Joburg for coffee and cigarettes for the men a Kit Kat for myself. After resting a bit in the Steers adjacent to the gas station we meander back into the parking lot towards the Pajero which has suffered unbelievably two flat tires at the hands of two fat nails on our trip t http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Middelburg/blog-327376.html I Spit Poop and Other StoriesThursday morning I put on my swimsuit grabbed sunblock and my book and headed to the pool at Sefapane. Halfway between my hut and the pool I noticed that it seemed very dark for 9am. Did I read the clock wrong I looked up to see an overcast sky and it honestly took a moment to process. There hadn't been a visible cloud since I arrived in South Africa 9 days ago a http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-323173.html The guy jumps out behind a wall as I walk through the parking lot on a stop made through Neilspruit on our way from Joburg to Mozambique. Gimme your bag. My eyebrows come together on my forehead in that way to say Areyoufuckingkiddingme Gimme your bag and he pulls out a gun. Ohshithappyto.It was over before it even began. MOTHERFUCKER screams over and over in my head.Ever http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Neilspruit/blog-323090.html 5am. Somone is knocking on the door to my hut. I opened the door to see two large security guards with a clipboard and just as panic began to rise one of the guards said Wake up call in that delightful South African accent. Time to get ready for our first drive into the Kruger National Park. As a side note I've been here long enough now that I'm starting to talk to myself in a South African http://www.travelblog.org//Africa/South-Africa/Mpumalanga-/Kruger-National-Park/blog-321959.html