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| keith | Posted on Jun 1 2008, 10:11 AM |
Giraffs are really big when they are in the road in front of the car! We stopped for lunch at Olifants camp and ate at the lookout - decided there and then that it would be a great place to come back to. (see RSA 2004)  We also realised that three days was not enough, so in 2002 we spent 5 days, but, not enough again! In 2004 we spent seven days and then an extra 4 days - now that was fun. But then I read of a British guy, who planned a month long trip to South Africa, first stop Kruger... and stayed in the Park for the whole 30 days !! |
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| keith | Posted on Jun 1 2008, 10:06 AM |
...the blue cranes were camp residents and rather assertive, especially when they could look Ryan in the eye. We stopped at a roadside handcraft stall, and at the back the elephants and other animals were being created.  We entered Kruger at the Phalaborwa gate and travelled to Skukuza for our first nights accomodation. We stayed in a very comfortable 'safari tent'  This was the communal kitchen.  The next day we packed up and drove to Letaba camp as a long game drive.  Glossy starling   This was quick work to get this python disappearing into the grass.    Very quickly we learnt that this was not the best way to see the park - a new camp every night, too much packing. |
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| keith | Posted on Jun 1 2008, 10:00 AM |
After a couple of days at the falls we travelled back to Cape Town for a few days, then packed up the little hire car and drove to Plettenberg bay. Where Margaret and the crowd had set up for the holidays.    Took a trip up the local river and generally relaxed.  Then off we travelled northwards. We stopped at the Addo Elephant Park for one night and added it to the list of places to go back to. Next, Golden Gate National Park.  And a drive up into the indurated sand dunes   Next through the border into Swaziland with a few arguments on who should and who should not have visas, and into the Mlwani Reserve, where the hippos frolick near the restaurant!  And we slept in grass huts. Very pleasant actually - except for .....  |
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| keith | Posted on Jun 1 2008, 08:50 AM |
Anee, Ryan, Ashara and Dijo drove north towards Springbok and Namaqualand. Lucy was left with Grandma Evans. Picnic at the side of the road. We stopped at the Kokerboom forest reserve. These trees are actually aloes, but grow large here.  We stayed one night in Springbok and visited the Gobias Nature reserve.  This reserve is mainly for desert plant that grow on the granite gneiss. There are some larger animals.    We took a gentle walk up the hill.  The next day we drove on to the Augrabies National Park where we stayed in one of these huts built straight on the rocks.  The massive Orange River passes over the falls, which are nine metres wide at this point. There is a canyon in this picture!  We were there during low flow time.  |
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| keith | Posted on Feb 10 2008, 05:12 AM |
| (NOTES these are pre-digital pictures, scanned from prints then reduced in Photoshop) By 1995, after nearly 10years back in NZ, we had saved enough money to take a trip back to South Africa. Due to time contraints we travelled there in drips and drabs. Ryan went first and spent quality time with his Grandparents, then Ashara and Dijo travelled over. Qantas did not fly to RSA at this time so we went via Singapore. Ryan flew Auckland - Singapore - Johannesberg - Cape Town as he was flying unaccompanied. Dijo and Ashara took the train from JHB to CT.  Cape Town, not much had changed, the mountain is still flat.  The old area on the slopes above the city, cobbled streets from the early Dutch settlers  We visited Kirstenbosch and admired the view across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains.  This is the view from Rhodes Memorial looking north to the hinterland of Cecil John Rhodes the great imperialist.  Children have to ride the lions when they visit.   Lunch at Delmein Winery with Anne E.  And a trip to Llundudno beach with Felicity (FEL)  ..to admire the cold Atlantic waves.  |
