South Africa
It was obviously coincidence that we'd booked our holiday to avoid the worst of Storm Dennis (and I hope to goodness that everyone has stayed safe and secure - the little news we've heard over here has seemed pretty grim) and even more of a coincidence, according to Mrs M that we arrived on Valentine's Day, but here we are anyway.
We arrived at Pretoria (or Tshwane as it's now been given its African name) after a long but comfortable flight and taken on a quick tour of the city, including, of course, stopping off at one of the many statues of the country's great man, and then off to our hotel for an overnight stay before setting off for the Kruger National Park the following morning.
En route we stopped at what is now a rather tacky tourist attraction - a village called Pilgrim's Rest which was established during the country's first gold rush in the 19th century. The bar at the hotel started life as a church in next door Mozambique before being brought and rebuilt in the village. Some enterprising local youths dress up as scarecrows and dance for a few coins from visitors (all rather sad in some ways.)
Then off up to the mountain top to a spot called God's Windows for some amazing views of the veldt, some 1000 metres below - an awesome site.
And finally on to the park itself, hoping for a good night's sleep until we found put we had to be up at 5am for the first of two day's game drives!
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So, up we got at 5am, collected our packed breakfasts and headed off for our jeeps. The National Park, named after Paul Kruger, is huge - about the size of Wales, in fact - and home to an immense gathering of wildlife.
We were incredibly lucky really to spot elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffes, impala and zebra at close quarters. But also (sadly out of range for pictures on my tablet) a rhino with its baby, a hippo who kept us amused by bobbing his/her head in and put of the water, giving just enough time to get cameras out before disappearing back under the surface again and even a leopard resting up in a tree - a rare sighting apparently. (Just around the corner was the carcass of some unfortunate animal lodge in a tree which apparently is where leopards take their prey to stop the hyena stealing it.) But the highlight of the day had to be a very handsome pair of lions curled up sleeping under a roadside tree totally oblivious to us all gawping. (You have to look closely at the final picture to just distinguish them!)
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Today we were up at 5am for our second day's game drive which was even more rewarding than yesterday with several large family groups of elephants, giraffes and zebra. Also another pair of lions "chilling" right by the roadside. And then the driver got very excited because he spotted some footprints of a lioness and one of his colleagues driving by told him there'd been a sighting of one on the move. So he swung the Jeep round and followed his colleague to where 4 similar jeeps were stopped. But it wasn't a lioness - we were treated to the unforgettable experience of a male leopard striding along the road before heading off into the grass and "marking" his territory! (He's there in the fourth photo - honestly!) and on the way back to the lodge we came across this deceptively cuddly looking hyena curled up in the road and, a little later, a group of about a dozen zebra and 10 giraffe coming back up from the river to cross the road in front of us.
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When families of elephants cross the road, they do so in single file, making sure the smallest are in the middle and waiting for each to cross before the next one moves. They pay no regard to any traffic,(And to think some people complain about having to queue on arrival at club sites before moving forward!)
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Fabulous, totally fabulous.👍🏻
Thanks for sharing, M.
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Great to hear you've having a fantastic time and thanks for posting. Carry on enjoying yourself!
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the Elephant song from Jungle book came into my head while looking at those
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Stunning photos and experience M, must be amazing seeing the wildlife up so close. Are they using proper Jeep jeeps?
Keep the photos coming please😁
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Colonel Hathi's March
Hup two three four…
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yes that's the one
...you forgot to say stop...
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Great pictures Moulesy, Enjoy your holiday.
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Great photos of the wildlife, M. Hope that the rest of the trip goes as well. You did right getting away when you did, leaving us to suffer the consequences of Dennis. 😉 Look forward to hear more about your holiday.
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I must admit I was worried when I saw the photo in your first post of the people in front of the coach. I thought you and Mrs M had taken the diet a bit too far but then I thought "No. doesn't sound like the Moulesy we all know and love..."
Nice cuddly creatures M.. Keep your distance though.
Enjoy the rest of the trip.
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Today we've flown down to Port Elizabeth - it must have been quite a fashionable place in Victorian/Edwardian times but appears a bit down at heel now. Still, we did come past the St George's cricket ground where England thrashed the Proteas just a few weeks ago and on to this rather moving monument commemorating all the horses and mules killed during the Boer Wars. Some interesting "pavement art" as well.
Then to a very swanky hotel right on the waterfront, sadly just for the one night - don't want Mrs M to get too used to this! We start our journey along the famous "garden route" tomorrow, including the deepest bungee jumping in Africa (observing, not participating!)
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Brilliant, keep them coming
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That’s a poignant equine memorial. My grandfather fought in the Boer Wars - the later one, I think.
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Today we've moved from Port Elizabeth along the coast to join the "Garden Route" to the small town of Knysna. On the way we passed some spectacular scenery including the coastal point where the Storms River meets the Indian Ocean. Some huge waves crashing against the rocks - a bit like the headland at Newquay, except that it's baking hot and totally civilised!
We took the walkway around the mountain edge to get to the other side of the estuary - you have to cross 3 rather precarious suspension bridges to complete the route!
Then on to the Bloukrans Bridge which is the highest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere and the highest single arch concrete road bridge in the world. The obvious place I suppose for a spot of bungee jumping - if you look very closely at the picture of the bridge you'll see me on the end of the elastic - well, I would have done it but we just didn't have the time!
Finally arrived at Kynsna where we have a very pleasant room at the hotel overlooking a small marina and the lagoon.
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More great photos, M. The gorge looks a great place for kayaking. I think I'd rather do that than jump of the bridge.
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Mmm, looks just like the bridge to the island at Newquay 🤣🤣
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totally stunning photos M
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It does sway a bit, Tinners. I bought a porcelain coffee set there back when it used to be an art and craft gallery.
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Today has been a "rest day" inasmuch as that we didn't get up until 7am!
We took a boat across the lagoon to the nature reserve on the opposite side. At Knysna the Indian Ocean is squeezed by two massive headlands so that a perfectly calm lagoon is formed, in contrast to the rough seas outside. The views in both directions from the summit are fantastic. On the walk back down you pass a couple of impressive sea caves.
In 2017 the area was devastated by huge bush fires (not to the extent of the recent Australian ones, but still resulting in many lives lost) and the evidence is still clear to see with hundreds of blackened tree stumps throughout the reserve. But nature is doing what nature does best and the the area is slowly being recolonised including this spectacular looking candelabra lily.
We spent the afternoon back at the hotel relaxing - tomorrow we move on to Cape Town for 4 nights with a full range of trips and activities there.
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I wonder what the red plant is Moulesy? I don't recognise it. Nice to see more photos, one of my Uncles lived at Knysna for a few years before moving on and eventually returning to the UK. Heard a lot about it and other places over the years.
It's sunny in our part of the world just now after more heavy downpours and strong winds.
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