I left Joburg well before sunrise yesterday and had a reasonably easy, but long journey to Kruger. The weather was bright and sunny with a couple of clouds when I arrived.
I stopped off at Sable Hide which is situated on a dam and one can sleep there overnight when the Park closes, but you need to pre-book. Surprisingly, the first mammal I saw was NOT an impala!
There were three lions surveying the territory on the dam wall (too far for a decent pic) and nervous impalas drinking water, but the lions were doing what they do best . . . "lion" around!!!
I chatted to two elderly couples in the hide and turns out they're also staying at Tsendze for three nights - so I'd made my first new friends.
There were quite a few fires around, but I suppose it is typical of the winter and they don't seem to raze the trees but only the moribund (bet that word has some of you reaching for the dictionary!). The lilac-breasted rollers and forktailed drongos were having a feast on all sorts of insects escaping the fires.
I finally arrived at my campsite at Tsendze and faced the daunting task of erecting my tent. OMG, I was petrified of making a hash of it all as I had a number of neighbours who look like seasoned caravaners and campers. To my great relief it took me about 40 minutes to put it up, arrange all the guy-ropes and hammer in all the tent pegs and set up my stretcher bed, took a photograph and then took out my chair and had a well-deserved beer!!!
My new friends came past and were suitably impressed. By now the sky was overcast and looking ominous.
Sometimes it must be better to be a tortoise with your home on your back.
(Notice the cigarette butt!! People can be such pigs)
Well it DID rain last night and as I heard the wind pick up and the first drops land on my tent, I wondered if I'd done a good enough job with the guy ropes and pegs or if I'd end up sleeping in my LSP. Why did I doubt myself?!
All was well this morning and I had a decent night's sleep.
It's still grey, very overcast and windy and not much game to be seen so I came back to my tent to do this blogpost. The wind is picking up again.
Till next time . . .
3 comments:
Hey! hello mr. giraffe! rain on the first night out and giraffes as a welcoming committee? sounds like an auspisious beginning.
Cheers to a great start!
Here I am following on your heels! I loved the giraffe, too, and the tortoise. But I KNEW you could set up your tent and sleep deeply, even in rain and storm. Will you be seeing Val? Take care and stay away from the SEEMINGLY tired lions!!
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY of course!!!!
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