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baby giraffe
We got a tip off about this little fellow on an adjoining property and luckily it paid off. He's only about a week old Well here I am again. It has been a quiet three weeks on Campfire, as most of the game seems for a while to have deserted us. We have spent a bit of time working, mostly erosion control and clearing the firebreak around the fence. People have come and gone, but I have stayed and I’m now the old timer here in more ways than one.
We had a trip out to camp by the Oliphants river, which was a pleasant change, but the expected hippo and crocodiles stayed away, so I photgraphed lizards and dragonflies instead.
On 13th, we came back from the camp and after lunch we went to a neighbouring propert and helped to move the pump from one borehole to another, which entailed about a dozen of us marching through the bush with seventy metres of pump and hosepipe over our shoulders. After that we helped in the marking of new tracks through the bush. It’s important to the game lodges that their portion of the bush is divided into reasonably small sections, say half a mile by half a mile, and then their clients are able to see the game without the land rovers having to
Baobob
We had lunch at a place called the Baobob. The Hoedspruit giant is there. Unfortunately, it is so big it looks like a small wood. This is a smaller and prettier one crash through the bush. It was very interesting to talk to a game lodge owner and see the different perspective they have compared with Campfire, which is concerned with education and conservation. Letitia and Adele insist on quiet areas where the game can retreat to to get away from people and Campfire is designed not to crowd the animals.
Friday, we had an interesting trip to the reptile park. We had a good look round, but then we got the guided tour from the snake handler, who showed us the various deadly snakes and put them on the lawn in front of us. He then walked all around them, while we sat a safe distance away, to demonstrate that they are not out to bite us and that the majority of snake bites are caused by the stupidity of people, who see a snake and mistreat it. We then were treated to handling a baboon spider and a thin tailed scorpion. They kill their prey with massive pincers rather than a sting, so their venom is milder than a bee sting, which is why I felt comfortable enough for the snap you see, although when it tried to disappear down
Coo! Look at the view
On the panorama trail again the neck of my t shirt, I started to fidget a bit.
On Saturday, I was left alone on camp, while everyone elsewent drinking. I was watching th goggle box at nine o’clock when the earth started shaking. The two big male lions were right outside the fence, showing just who owned this bit of the bush. The two big dogs kept quiet and huddled a bit closer to me, but the tiny one, Lola ran outside to bark at them. I lost intersest in the telly and retired to my caravan, my faith in the electric fence suddenly became rather less than 100%. Luckily for my beauty sleep, the next set of roars was some distance away.
I seem to be getting scrawnier, so I have now started running again. Just around campfire for twenty laps or so, running outside the fence is not allowed or wise. I would have to get quite a lot fitter to outrun a lion.
On Friday, 22nd went for another expedition to the Kruger. Saw loads of elephants, including this delghtful fellow hiding in the bushes. Also my first Ostriches in the wild, although they were too far away for a reasonable picture.
Bridge over the waterfalls
This is the most elegant of three bridges spanning a set of waterfalls. After we left the Kruger we started on the long drive to White River, where we were to stay for the night. In South Africa, they have a peculiar system for cross roads, even on high speed roads, where each driver has to stop and give way as they see fit. Which is ok if everybody sees the signs, hidden by the sides of the road. Our driver, who shall remain anonymous, didn’t see the sign on the strange road in the dark. The result was a sixty mph bang in the side of the car, luckily with no injuries and surprisingly little damage to either vehicle. After half an hour, we were on our way again.
Sunday, 24th,we had shooting practice and weapon handling. Very interesting and fun, as we shot at three targets at up to forty yards away with a .22 rifle.
Wednesday 27th., we all had a freezing cold early start for a one hour drive on the bakkie to a grouind breaking project to artificially inseminate cheetahs to help with their declining numbers in the wild. Temba was being examined and having blood samples taken to see if the procedure had worked and she was
Adele and Gerad
A beautiful view, but Gerad had been drinking all day and our hearts were in our mouths. indeed pregnant. The cheetah was darted amidst lots of hissing and yowling and the the examination seemed to show that she was pregnant, but the blood samples are needed to confirm this.
The less said about Wednesday evening the better. I’ve never seen United look so outclassed.
Friday, we went for breakfast in the bush and an early morning game drive to celebrate Adele’s birthday. It was the first drive with Debbie from Yorkshire, and luckily, the game seems to have returned, with Elephant, waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and buffalo all being spotted. Unfortunately, the lions are noisy at night, but invisible by day.
And so on to June, at the end of which, I fly off to Oz to meet upwith Anna, which I am looking forward to enormously.
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eww
oh my god i was nearly sick when i saw that hairy fat spider, that is disgusting, i'm glad i wasn't there. hey dad, my tan is nearly catching up with yours! xx