The 16th April saw us driving south to Middleburg from Pretoria, to pick up our brand new Mobi Lodge Caravan! Since undergoing chemotherapy it has become very apparent that I am no longer strong enough for the erecting & taking down our 40 kilogram domed tent. It was a fantastic tent & we loved using it, but we had outgrown it as it were. The obvious option was an off-road caravan & after quite a bit of research we chose the Mobi Lodge Continental Caravan.
We arrived around 9 am for the introductory tour & trying to learn a lot about our new home on wheels, which we hope is going to take us all over southern & maybe central Africa. It took around four hours (much longer than we expected) & then we were back on the road driving to Sabie Park.
Leaving Sabie Park.
We spent most of the evening & the next morning packing the caravan for our little trip to Kruger. This was to be a soft opening so to speak. A twelve day trip to an area we know well, with nice camping sites with electricity to make our life easier. The idea is for us to get to know our caravan well, before we go in more remote & adventurous journeys.
We enjoyed a nice run up north on the main tarred road to Satara Camp. We selected our campsite, un coupled & let the fun begin! Delana used the caravan movers to place the caravan exactly where we wanted it. This proved to be quite easy to do.
Then we set about levelling the caravan & getting it set up. The awning proved to be a bit of a challenge, but eventually we succeeded & enjoyed the rest of the afternoon making sure things like hot water systems, battery management systems were all working fine.
Our first evening in our new home!
The next morning we were up quite late, after enjoying a very comfortable nights sleep! This camping malarky is actually quite easy! We drove along the Orpen Road stopping at Nsemani Dam where a couple of Marabou Storks were idling away. It is a very pretty spot & we spent some time here watching Impalas coming to drink & Hippos playing in the water.
We conducted a slow drive arriving back in camp just before 11am. We didn't see a great deal, but it was a lovely morning out & about. The rest of the day was spent in & around the camp.
On 19th April Delana stayed in camp, because she had a virtual meeting with Water Affairs Department & her team of water specialists.
A waterhole on the Sweni Road.
I undertook a game drive down the Sweni Road returning on the tarred Orpen Road. It was a quiet morning for game, but I did see a pair of Saddle-billed Storks displaying atop of a large flat-topped tree. The rest of the day was spent in camp, catching up on my blog.
African Wildcat
In the evening we had a very welcome visitor in the form of an African Wildcat. This individual is used to people & scavenging around the campsite.
Dawn from Satara Camp
We were up early on 20th April for our morning game drive along the S100 to N'wanetsi Picnic Site & we returned via the tarred H6. It was a beautiful morning as we negotiated the twists & turns along the river.
A pool along the N'wanetsi River
There are some magnificent trees along here & even though we didn't see a lot of game, the drive itself was very worthwhile. The highlight being a pair of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers on Blue Wildebeest. We did come across two Lionesses, but they were deep in cover & it wasn't worth taking a photo.
The view from the Sweni Bird Hide
This is a very pleasant place for viewing Hippos & Crocodiles. It is a little off the beaten track & therefore doesn't get many visitors. We spent most of our time photographing a female Hippo with a very small baby. She was so protective of it, often keeping it close to the reeds.
The viewpoint looking east towards Mozambique.
Delana cooked me a delicious breakfast & then we walked up to the viewpoint, which was as lovely as ever. We returned to camp & Andrew & Jacky arrived for a chat. They will be accompanying us for the next five days of this trip.
The Timbavati River
Up early on 21st April for a drive along the S39 Timbavati River Road. This is a very scenic, intimate gravel road, which twists & turns alongside the dry river. Our first sighting of note were a pair of Kori Bustards & later we came across a young male Lion lying asleep, which finally sat up & took a look around. He was very relaxed there sunning himself in the early morning.
Kori Bustard
Young male Lion.
Bronze-winged Courser
A pair of Bronze winged Coursers were very confiding & we watched them for some time.
We then drove on to the Timbavati Picnic Site, where we met up for an outside brunch with Andrew & Jacky.
Waterbuck
Hooded Vulture
Delana & I then went a little further north to the Piet Grobbelaar Dam, where we enjoyed a herd of Waterbuck among other common plains game.
Lions.
On returning to camp, we came across three adult male Lions on the main tarred road. They were quite playful with each other, but unfortunately kept partially hidden in the bush. It was a nice ending to our game drive.
In the evening we enjoyed a braii with Andrew & Jacky & Rob & Beth Meyers also turned up. It was a nice social evening.
The next day was a travel day. We packed up camp & headed north to Letaba Camp, our home for the next five nights. Just a kilometer outside of the camp gates, we came across the three male Lions that had been roaring periodically throughout the night. Unfortunately they were fast asleep, so nothing happening there!
White-headed Vulture
Yellow-billed Oxpeckers
A little further north, we came across a large herd of Cape Buffalo crossing the road. This was a breeding herd of around 400+ animals, with its attendant flocks of both species of Oxpecker & around 70+ Wattled Starlings.
A mixed Vulture flock
Further on we saw a Cape Griffon; three Lappet-faced Vultures & seven White-backed Vultures drinking from a small water trough at the side of the road.
We met up with Andrew & Jackie for lunch at the camp restaurant, overlooking the Letaba River. It is a stunning view from here, complete with common wildlife species grazing below.
Then it was time to set up camp again (which we did more efficiently than last time) & Delana & I lazed around until sunset, when we visited our friends for an evening meal.
The Letaba River
Barred Owlet in camp.
Had a bit of a sleep in on 23rd April as we decided to stay around camp for the day, doing chores like the laundry. It was pleasant walking around this very shaded & scenic camp. We had up to seven Hooded Vultures circling overhead, which were soon joined by 18 White-backed & two Lappet-faced Vultures.
African Wildcat
Large-spotted Genet
We then planned our route for the following day with Andrew & Jacky. A Large Spotted Genet visited our campsite, which was entertaining.
On 24th April we drove north along the main road & then drove the Tsendze Loop Road. This is an infrequently travelled road & one usually has it to ones self. There are lots of small loops giving viewing down into the dry river bed. On one of these loops we spotted a young male Lion; he seemed to be all alone.
Elephants
On another loop, we spotted a nice group of Elephants digging for water in the sand.
We then drove to Makhadzi Picnic Site, where we enjoyed a cooked brunch with Andrew & Jacky.
The rest of the day was spent in camp. In the evening a large bull Elephant paid us a visit.
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