After the morning after fry up at one of the trout dams I said goodbye to the rhodes mates and set off towards Nelspruit with Gene's parents. I got to Nelspruit without trouble, and some interesting conversation about forestry with John, Gene's dad.
Once there though I started feeling a bit off colour. I met up with the guy who was going to give me and 4 brits a lift through to Kirkman's Camp, in the Sabi Sands. Kirkmans is a private game reserve in one of the richest game areas of the Kruger Park, the Sabi Sands. Murray, a friend of mine from school days is the head game ranger at Kirkman's, and it was because of him that I had the opportunity of a life time to experience a luxury game reserve.
I was staying in Murray's staff lodging (he quickly whipped up a bed for me to sleep off the rest of my hangover - very understanding). It was simple, but right in the middle of the bush which made it luxurious beyond measure - were else do you get to see hyenas running past about 10 metres away while you're having a braai, and have to make sure your shoes are inside at night to avoid them walking off. During the days I slept and read, only to be disturbed by the odd meal and game drive.
The game drives were awesome, off road driving like I've never experienced. And of course the animals. The rangers found them all and extremely close up, I could've touched most of them. We almost ran over the pack of wild dogs we found on my first full day. I saw Rhino, Baboons, Giraffe, Impala, Leopards, Wild dogs, Hyena, Elephant, Owls, Amarula treas, Russet Willows, Sausage trees, Chameleons, Lions, Buffalo, Smaller antelops, Bats, Moths, Monkeys and if I sit long enough I think I'll remember a million more! I was also treated to a bush breakfast (all laid out in the middle of the bush, with cooked breakfast and croissants), and on the evening game drives we stopped for sundowners with biltong, nuts, dried mango and our choice of ice cold drinks - there is really nothing like a ice cold beer as the sun goes down over the bush!
At night we'd braai or just have some beers and talk. It was really magical. After 4 days it was time to move on again though, and Murray again came through, organising me a flight to Joburg from only 15 minutes down the dirt road.
Once back in the big city, I was amazed at how we have managed to confine nature to these small spaces between civilisation, but as soon as we reach the pinical of civilisation, we take the opportunity to rush back to the wild (admitedly, this time in a 4x4).
In Joburg I went to visit Greenpeace SA and managed to squeeze in a beer (or 3) and pizza with Phil at Jolly Rogers before I was picked up by Chris and Ciska for some great thai food and a comfy bed in there new house, gaurded ably by Larry the Beaglador.
(sorry, photos just wouldn't do it justice - and besides, I didn't take a camera!)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment