The day starts early in a Game Reserve. By 4.30 you could hear people getting up and getting ready with the coffee and rusks to be out on the road for some serious game viewing when the gates open at 6.00. We were not planning to get up so early but by 6-00 we got up, folded up and packed up and did all the necessary and “poer-poered” and by 8.00 we were also on the road. At about 9.00 we stopped at a picnic site and was surprised to see plenty people having breakfast. Not sure how much game viewing took place from 6-00 to when they got there, but it was clear that this is a stop of note and that making your breakfast there is part of the plan. One thing that is great in the park is that they provide “skottel braais” and gas at several of the picnic sites for the use of the picnickers. It is such a good idea and in 2 places we have seen this being used very well by the experienced Kruger visitors. We are going to do a whole lot better next time.
Today was the day of Zebra, Giraffe, Elephant and Hippo. We saw huge herds of Zebra all along the way. I mean a herd of a hundred was nothing. Giraffes don’t do herds, but we saw several groups of 5 or 10 and any number in between.We travelled along and across several rivers and every one of these rivers are homes to Hippos. I always thought they spent their days in the water and only got out at night to feed, but none of that for modern day Hippos. They bask in the sun all day long and their natural sunscreen contained in their sweat, prevents them from getting sunburned. Creation is amazing, however today we saw a totally PINK hippo. Not sure what that means, but it surely looked strange. The hippo itself was basking in the sun with her buddies and they were not totally pink, mostly they look sort of pinkish on the belly and around their eyes. Maybe this one was like we were when we were young, Coppertone and bikini and a day on the beach at Clifton, regardless of the consequences.
We are securely settled into our campsite in Letaba amongst the Mopani trees. It is a lovely site and the people are so quiet, other than the guy that was listening to the Rugby at full volume in Afrikaans somewhere. Not sure who was playing, but he got yelled at eventually by an English guy who clearly doesn’t support the same team or the same language.
Our meat is on the braai our wine is in our glasses and we are ready for another wonderful night in the bush. Tomorrow we head for Shingwedzi. Hopefully we get out early and make breakfast on the way.
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