Blogs from Hoedspruit, Limpopo, South Africa, Africa - page 4

If you go to Paris you visit the Effile Tower, if you visit London you go to Buckingham Palace. So it is only right that when in south Africa I go visit Kruger Park. Paul Kruger became President of South Africa in 1883 after the first Anglo Boar war.During his time as President he instigated legislation to conserve wildlife. In 1893 the area between Sabie and Crocodile Bridge was proclaimed the Sabie Game reserve, from which the present Kruger National Park has now been developed. Kruger Park is 380km long and on average 60km wide. The Park house all the Dangerous 9 (Lions, Buffalo, Elephant, White & Black Rhino, Hippopotamus, Leopard, Hyaena & Crocodile) as well as many species of Birds and of course Giraffe, Monkeys, Mongoose & Zebra. This park is a natural reserve as ... read more

Up to date at last!! This was a nice early morning start leaving camp at 5.45am!! So off we set in the combi for about half an hour and then we arrived at a fancy lodge. Walk with the wild is when you get to walk through the bush with a lion cub. So we arrived and waited for the other people to arrive, we helped ourselves to tea and coffee while we were waiting. While waiting we went over to meet the cheeta who was hand rendered but is allowed to roam free, she was eating some meat next to the pool, you can't touch her when she is eating. She sometimes comes on the walk with you as well but she didn't today. Anyway once everyone had arrived off we set with the ranger ... read more

Oilfants River. We got set away from our camp this weekend because there was some friends of the owner coming and they are from the church. So we went away for the weekend to be out of the way. So we went to stay at a big camp site which is right next to the famous Oilfants River. So off we all set in 2 cars and everyone crammed in and an hour and a 1/2 later we arrived. We all got unpacked and then set off to explore. We went down to the river and sat there for a while, the views where great and we were told that there were crocs in the river, but we didn't see any! Then we went off in search of a shallow area of the river and had ... read more

Thought I'd send another update now before I go to Kruger at the end of the week just in case I don't get chance to do another one before I leave on Monday (but will try and update you on Kruger and Panorama Route- and maybe my last Friday out in Hoedspruit- if I can!). It's been another action packed few days as always! Firstly on Sunday we did rifle handling which was pretty cool with a .22 rifle, I managed to not hit any of the targets (not even the paper surrounding them!) but did it in the fastest time anyway (if it was based on speed and not accuracy I'd definitely win)! Oh well, guess I'll not be the next GI Jane after all! Then Monday was town day where we get to go ... read more

So into week 3 and there is still no letting up on the fun and laughter that is making this trip so enjoyable. Had a bit of a mad weekend, mainly involves a couple of drinks and Mel making me laugh so much my sides are now hurting. Wednesday night must be the highlight for me so far. The camp was split into 2 groups and sent of into the bush to sleep in one of the hides within the reserve. Myself, Mel, Stuart, Suzanne & Nicola were sent to the Zebra hide which over looks a watering hole. Once settled in with our mattress and sleeping bags, we started to play a couple of games of card and a few beers on the sitting area of the hide when after about an hour the giggling ... read more