Bush Day 15

The last full day of the bush adventure has come to an end. Tonight I wrote in our visitors book and for the first time ever, I struggled to write. It was not out of emotion, lack of things to write or even writers block but rather for the fact that in the last 15 days I have seen so much and had so many experiences that I felt like I wanted to just edit my blog postings a bit to include certain things and sightings that I could not blog about and then just print the blog and paste the pages and pages into the book. But no, I had to do a summary that included loads of scratching out as I corrected my facts. This was definitely one of my most entertaining trips yet!

I just wish that my friends could have been here. (Being a public space, I will not use names.) I think that in each of your own ways, you would have loved to have been here this way and you were all missed.

That said, moms friends were quite something! I have spent a few days gaining insight about mom and her social life. It was quite fun to be around these ladies and when the elephants trumpeted, they definitely added humor! 

An interesting thing about leave is that in the first week you are still wired and stressed. Week 2 you start relaxing. I definitely found this. If my 2 adorable dogs were here, I could  handle another week here but, I miss them so am ready to return home to get cuddles from the kids. 

So today... This morning I had a slow wake up and only woke up at 6. I then dozed and pretended to sleep until 6:25 when I gave up and went to make coffee. I took my iPad and a book thinking I would have at least an hour before the others woke up but surprisingly, they all woke up within half an hour of me. (Do people not sleep late on holiday anymore? Or is making coffee at sunrise the new trend? Or... Did they just not want me to do housework...)

Anyway, the gals got carried away looking at photo albums and I snuck off to do my core exercises and then shower before the workers came to do the stuff we needed around the house. I was the wise one because when the guys came, I was showered and ready for the day and the others weren't! 

Once the guys had covered the umbrella, cleaned the braai and done some general work around the house, they left and the others could get ready for the day. Whilst they all got ready, I bonded with our outside table and landie and oiled the beautiful railway sleeper wood. 

As soon as everyone was ready we headed out on a drive with our first port of call being the office. Not far from the office we came across a few elephant in the road and knowing how grumpy the elephant have been lately, there was no way I was going to even try pass them!! So, we turned around and went the long way around, up Kudu Drive (where we found more elephant) and down Mica Road (which is just up the road from where we had been with the elephant earlier). We had a pleasant drive after that and only saw one more herd of elephant.

At home we had amazing eland burgers and relaxed before mom and I started the pack up process. 

This evening we headed out to North to meet up with friends and try see the lions. However, as we approached the spot we were meeting at, we found a tree in the middle of the road!! Unfortunately we didn't have any rope to pull the tree out the way and although there was a way around the tree, the one bit would have been tight and mom was not happy with me trying out the 4x4 capabilities of another one of her vehicles (in my defense, I am pretty good when it comes to 4x4 but she was concerned about a rock so I backed off). Fortunately our friends arrived on the other side of the tree and told us the view point was in walking distance so we grabbed our drinks and walked the last short bit.

We had a really nice time at the viewpoint and I got to meet a friend of moms who I have heard loads about (she is a Nikon fan) and I had her and another tannie tell me how much they have heard about me.... 

On our way home we had one vehicle warn us of elephant on our way back. Seriously!!??! For us, there were 2 ways home: the seriously long route or the route which they said we must not go. I opted for the route with elephant on it. Yes, getting revved is not fun but today the elephant were mellow and quite honestly, as cautious as I am, there elephant cannot keep dictating where I drive and where I don't drive.

The rest of the evening was mellow and for the first evening in a while, I am about to switch off my lights before 10! (It's not even 9:15!)

Once again, this was a special trip and I think mom and I needed the break before the next chapter begins for us. (Maybe next year we will need another long bush trip!)

I may blog tomorrow but, at this stage I have a few adventure ideas but the next 3 months are going to be busy helping pack up my childhood home so no adventures will happen unless they involve the dogs. On the cards for next year though, I am tossing up between a ride or 2 and a run. So let's see what happens. But for now, I am mellow in my bushveld dreams....

Ok, bushveld dreams did not last long because just after bedtime the bush exploded with the magnificent sounds of a roaring lion. There is nothing quite like that sound!! The rest of the night the bush was very awake with the sounds of hippo, lion and jackal and then in the early morning the fish eagles and birds a

Bush Day 14

Every day when I write in my notes which day it is, I feel like I am typing a letter like a castaway.. Whilst out driving today I realized how boring my typing has been so, I am going to try write properly tonight.

Last night I got carried away reading and playing tile rummy so ended up only going to bed well after 11. I woke up at 5, dozed a bit but at 6:20 I was over the pretend sleep so I got up to make coffee. I had this perfect morning planned: coffee and email followed by core exercises and maybe a bit of extra exercise and then reading on the deck. All before the other 3 woke up. Haha! The one who had partied the hardest woke up before 7!!!! At least I got through the coffee and emails part... Mom was the last to wake up and we all ended up in her room with our coffee. I ducked fairly quickly to continue my planned morning and managed to get half way through my core exercises before I heard "where is Di?". I quickly finished and got busy with getting ready for the day. 

I know not everyone is brave enough for our outside shower, but personally that is my daily treat here. There is something so awesome about it.

Anyway, after getting decent for the day, I settled down to a very important task: tile rummy. I am becoming more of an addict than I was all thanks to one of mom's sisters who showed mom and I the iPad app.

Once everyone was ready, it started raining so we had to wait until the irritating light drizzle stopped before I could bring the Landie around and we could head out. Part of everyone's getting ready was the one friend who is a hairdresser giving the other a quick trim - first time ever we have had salon services here!! The drive itself was fairly quiet. We did the river road on both sides of the river then went to try look at a view point but it was overgrown so we found another spot and had a drink (I really need to attach a wine bottle opener to the keys). We then meandered home.

The drive home ended up having some entertainment. At one of the dams we came across 2 elephants. The one kept trying to chase a Black Stork away but he bird kept coming back. Elephant charges, stork backs off, elephant stops, stork comes back.... Eventually the elephant moved off and his friend was left to defend the dam. This guy also tried to chase the stork but this stork was clearly over these 2 and started moving towards the elephant. The poor lumpy got a bit nervous and it looked like he was trying to hide in the bush!! 

For lunch, one of moms friends made us a steak starter that was yum!! It's called "mashonshan" (spelling??) which is apparently Sotho or something for "picking". It's basically a rump steak that is scored into cubes without going all the way through. You then rub chilli and garlic salt and the. Just seal the outside on a hot fire the cut it up and serve as a starter. We didn't have chilli or garlic salt so she used my homemade sauce which I think is mild with some mixed salt. It was super yum!!! Only thing I would do differently is use a hotter chilli sauce (normally mine is a lot hotter but that was a bad batch that was too mild). Half of us found it mild, the other half found it a tad hot.

After he starter I made us a quick braai and we had a late but yum lunch which was followed by a siesta. I opted for some tile rummy followed by reading and watching game.

5pm came and only one of the others was awake so I grabbed mom's infamous mask which I had brought with the intention of giving my brother a fright. I then went to her room and told her it was time to go for a drive. I then put the mask on and walked into her room. She got a tiny fright.

Our drive was quiet. We had hoped to see hyaena, leopard or something but only saw general game, elephant and jackal. At Hide Dam we came across 2 hippo which were out and we had to wait quite some time before they moved out of the road. We then slowly headed home. As we were going down this one steep, concreted road we were all talking a bout what we would do if we came across an elephant on this road. This has always been something I have been nervous of and considering one elephant was near there when we headed out, I knew he was somewhere close so I knew the odds were good it could happen. As I saw the end of the concrete I felt relieved that it was not there. But then, I heard someone say "elephant", then a trumpet that was so loud I knew it was right by us! I did not know if it was just a trumpet or a charge cause no one was talking, so I accelerated and got over he next 2 bumps so fast that I know that had my brother been on the landie, I would have been told my fortune in 20 different choice words!! As I accelerated we all packed out laughing at the humor of it all - we had just been talking about finding an elephant on that road!! I turned the next corner and stopped cause someone had wine on them. Turns out that she had been taking a sip of her drink when the elephant trumpeted and she got a fright which resulted in her having red wine all over her face! As I pulled out my phone to take a photo, I was asked by someone to please go as we needed to get home. I obliged and we made it home safely.

Dinner was a simple meal of cheese and biscuits which we enjoyed whilst watching the genet below the house.

I cannot believe tomorrow is our last day here. It really has been a special trip and although it took a while for my body to wind down, I am finally relaxed. 

Tomorrow we have some packing up admin as well as some serious lion finding that we have to do. Until then, I am off to dream of elephants....

Bush Day 13

Cannot believe I have been here 13 days!! I have relaxed so much - I had forgotten what chilled feels like. 

I woke up nice and early - seriously wish I could sleep late but I do actually enjoy the quiet time. Anyway... There was no orange sunrise thanks to the clouds - the weather has turned and we have gone from super hot to cool, cloudy and windy.

Made myself some coffee and shortly there after, one of moms friends woke up so helped her sort coffee. Mom followed shortly after and we sat and relaxed in the lounge until the other friend woke. We then sorted breakfast, I did core exercises and we started the day.

Our drive took us past the office and a few dams but the game was very scarce.  We saw some elephant but fortunately very far away. Had some good vulture sightings (cape and bearded) which was nice!

The afternoon was spent having lunch, reading, playing tile rummy (yes, I am an addict) and snoozing.  

This evening we had a special sighting of a nyala bull drinking from the little pond at our entrance. This was followed by an evening spent around the fire in the lapa.

As I type this there are 2 hippo having a massive fight. Think we are in for an entertaining night with these 2.

Bush Day 12

Just thinking back to yesterday's walk and what we learnt from the guide... Did you know that you can burn elephant dung - it will keep mozzies away. Also, if you boil it in water and then just drink the water it can help heal a multitude of ailments. 

Today was a busy admin day. I started my day by doing my usual: dishes. Seriously love doing them! (No sarcasm.) Yet at home it's a hated chore. After breakfast and core exercises, I did stock take of all tins and drinks and checked expiry dates. Sadly, by the end of it I smelled like a brewery from all the beer I had to open up and throw down the drain. I found it interesting how the one brand (one I personally don't like) when it expires, it nearly explodes when opening yet the other brand (that I like) doesn't. After that I sorted the Landie and then helped mom with a few things before we headed to camp to fill the Landie and wait for her friends to arrive.

Oh wait! Whilst we were doing house admin, the elephants came down. Was unusual for them to come down so soon but it was so nice to see them. 

Anyway.. So we sorted Landie and the admin mom needed to do at the office and fetched the gals. We spent the rest of the morning / afternoon relaxing on the deck.

At 4:30 we headed out for a short sunset drive. We went along the river road but had to turn around half way because the grumpy lumpy was near the road and we could hear him give the vehicle in front of us a good talking to! We ended up having subset drinks on the causeway and then did a very short drive on north before heading home. Fortunately no lumpy incidents today!

Wind has picked up again tonight and I suspect a change of weather is coming. Best part of the wind: no bats flying around!!

Bush Day 11

Dreamt of elephants - must have been thanks the the one that went off with his trumpeting all night. Woke up at 4 and dozed until just before 5 when I got up to make us coffee. Today was walk day! At 5:50 we maneuvered around and through the tree to our Landie and then drove off to Olifants North. On our way we were treated to Grumpy Lumpy giving us a trumpet but he was far in so no stress this time!

The walk was guided by an unarmed but knowledgable ranger named James. He took us along the ridge above the old airfield, stopping at various trees, dung and spoor to explain things. Although we didn't see much other than antelope in the distance, the walk is scenic so that makes up for the lack of game. Although: I think it would be so awesome to come across lion or something on the trail! The only thing about this walk is that it is an out and back route which could be improved if they made it a loop. Other than that, it was a nice walk which we all enjoyed. 

After the quick 2.6km walk, we went to friends of mom for brunch where we spoilt to a full breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausages, toast, pawpaw, onions etc. We then chilled on their patio for a while until the heat started and we decided to head home before it got too hot.

Spent the rest of the afternoon watching the elephant, fending off monkeys, reading and snoozing. The afternoon was ended with 2 games of tile rummy before packing up for a short drive.

Our intention with the drive was to go up to the top dams as we had not been there in a few days but someone called in elephant from there so we opted out of that. Fortunately for us, we came across a huge herd of buffalo at spaghetti junction so we watched them then headed to the airstrip where we had a stunning sighting of them. We then meandered past a few dams before slowly heading home.

Whilst eating dinner, we were treated to a huge civet which came to visit. They really are beautiful!

I called it an early night at 8pm as I wanted to read. Plus, we had a log day today and our next visitors arrive tomorrow.

Bush Day 10

This morning was D-Day for the bank. Mom and I headed to Standard Bank to finally try sort our stuff out. Fortunately for us, they felt like being helpful today and we came right. After the bank, we went for brunch followed by some shopping (coffee, milk etc) before returning to the reserve.

Spent the afternoon relaxing on the deck and watching a herd of elephants on the other side of the river. Was interesting to watch how a bunch of baby elephants were being looked after just 3 adults in an almost nursery school fashion. These 3 herded the babies to the water, and then guarded over them whilst alternatively taking turns at getting water and having mud baths.

As we were about to get ready for a drive, a lone elephant came and munched at the trees around the house. Was great for a few photos but mom was not too impressed by him breaking branches by the house. Eventually he moved off and we went off on our drive. 

The drive was fairly quiet. We saw the usual Impalas etc but with way more steenbok. It was almost like there was a steenbok on every plain. On the way home it got dark so we started shining with the spot lights - I multi tasked with driving and shining - and we were fortunate enough to come across a pride of lion in the road. Within seconds of seeing the lion, an elephant came out of nowhere and started mock charging us with full trumpeting sound effects! Both spotlights had been on the lions so we had not seen him. Mom urged me to drive faster but there was no where to go! I was already quite close to the lions tails and much closer and I would have become a part of the pride!! Fortunately the elephant gave up and kept quiet. We had a great sighting of the lion before they ducked into the bush near the causeway and we lost sight of them. 

As we drove into our driveway we realized that the elephant from earlier had left us a not so nice surprise - a tree pushed down in our driveway! And Murphy's Law, I was wearing slops. (I am normally so paranoid about wearing takkies on drives but for some arb reason, I didn't.) We had to bundu bash our way around and through the tree to get to the house and we had to abandon our Landie where it was. Then: when we got inside and started preparing dinner we realized the gas had run out so I had to switch over to a new bottle and relight everything. Fortunately the excitement for thee evening was over and we were able to enjoy our braai in peace.

When I went to shower, I could hear the elephant in the bush nearby. Poor elephant spent the night being grumpy and trumpeting lots. Definitely not a happy lumpy.

Bush Day 9

Before I start the day... For those following the blog at the moment, I am sure you have noticed the delay in postings. The reason is that I type at night then post the following day when I have signal. Then the blog site sends the email out the following day. So apologies for delays! Visit the blog around lunchtime every day for the latest updates.

Today I woke up with Bertie Bat squeaking with the sunrise so I decided that since it was cold, I would get up. I did the dishes, made my pics smaller (for posting), tried posting but signal was terrible, then I did my next core workout before mom came in to make breakfast. Not long after, the other 2 emerged and we had breakfast and packed them up. 

I drove them to the office and got them off safely before heading home and helping mom get ready before friends from Olifants North arrived for a drive and lunch.

The drive this morning was way better than yesterday!! Plenty general game but the veld really does look bad. There is a shimmer of green but that is superficial. There is so little actual grass and the tall grass you see around is not the edible stuff. We are in for a very long winter. 

Mom had made a really yum chicken pasta salad along with rolls and a pea salad which is one of my favorites. 

After the visitors lefty we settled down to afternoon time - ie reading and sleeping time. I have so enjoyed my 20 to 30 minute naps!! They are so refreshing despite my not sleeping deeply that I wake up feeling great. After snooze time, mom did some sewing whilst I played games on my iPad. We had some impala, nyala and waterbuck visit the front of the house - shows how quiet just 2 people are!

Sunset came and we watched the moon rise and mom said I had to get some photos so I played with shots of the moon and then of the colours on the river bed before we settled down to a sunset drink. The bush just had sounds of bugs and the river with a bit of lion far away followed by the sound of a leopard a bit further down the river. 

Dinner was left overs followed by us laughing at how it was 7:30 and we were both ready for bed. An hour later we were locking up. I came and read and started typing this whilst downloading something to my phone. (I know... I should be on it less but wanted to listen to something.)

Just as I was typing up the last paragraph or 2, I was treated to roaring again. The lions are definitely closer and I am guessing that tonight they may pass in front of the house. I am hoping they roar from in front of the house - the sound of lions roaring close by is one of the most amazing sounds.

Bush Day 8

Got up early again and sorted a few things out in the kitchen (dishes, filtering water etc) whilst having coffee. When mom woke up I made her coffee and then we started making Sunday's lunch as well as breakfast for today. Breakfast has been pretty much the same thing: toast, fruit salad and yoghurt. But it's nice and simple and fairly healthy.

After the other 2 woke up and we had breakfast, I showered and then had some not so friendly words with the bank before we headed out to dump the rubbish and fill the landie before heading out on a short drive. 

The bush was insanely quiet and if it were not for a few Impala and a bit of other general game, we would have seen nothing - we are definitely in for a bad winter. 

At home, mom and I whipped up a quick lunch of tacos before everyone settled into their own after lunch routines and I headed out to the club house to try charge my one spotlight. Whilst waiting for the battery to charge, I seized the opportunity to look at some of my pics I have taken. There are some good ones!

Later in the arvie mom and I prepped a quick dinner of cheeses and biscuits and the 4 of us headed out on the last drive for the other 2. Once again, the veld was fairly dead and we eventually headed to a spot with a table where we could enjoy dinner. Half way through our meal, I heard the Impala that were down the hill run and I told the others and by brother said he also heard it. Well, this had my bro on the Landie pretty darn fast! And, dinner was ended quite quick as well. 

Driving down into the plain, we spotted something that looked like it could be a lion. Just as I was going to radio it in, we realized that it was an Impala! (Later on in our drive we found out that a hyaena was in the area we had been so that was what had likely spooked the impala.)

Night ended nice and early since the other 2 have a long day of driving back to Jozi in the morning.

I will post some pics in the next day or 2 to Facebook when I get a gap. 

Bush day 7

Woke up before my alarm so was up and dressed by 4:30am. Went to the kitchen and made some coffee and got the coffee, tea and rusks ready for the drive. After prepping everything and doing the dishes, I sat with my day text and yearbook and relaxed to the sounds of the bush whilst waiting for the other 2 to wake. 

Once they were awake, we headed out toward the airstrip where I knew we could get a good sunrise. We got to the airstrip in time to get the last of the good colour. And from experience I decided to leave it at that - the actual sun rise is not so exciting. Fortunately for me, I spotted "something" on the next plain and decided we needed to go there. On arriving I was surprised to find 2 lion right next to me! The vehicle watching had not called it in or warned me so I drove within meters of these lionesses before I spotted them. We ended up having a fantastic sighting of them as they half heartedly attempted to hunt - either they were pretty useless at hunting or they really were not trying because with the amount of game around them, it should have been very easy hunting. After a few failed attempts at the impala, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe, they gave up, had a quick play time and then headed deep into the thicket where we lost sight of them. After that great sighting, we did a short drive before heading home.

For the majority of the rest of the day we relaxed, did some maintenance for mom, attempted to do banking (stupid app gave issues again) and just in general did as little as possible.

In the afternoon we headed out for a short drive to try find the lions again and were successful at seeing them (another unit called them in). After a quick drink at the bridge, we headed home to braai. I had quite a bit of fun playing with my new ultra wide angle lens and macro lens at the lapa and I ended up getting a few really nice shots. 

Bush day 7

Woke up before my alarm so was up and dressed by 4:30am. Went to the kitchen and made some coffee and got the coffee, tea and rusks ready for the drive. After prepping everything and doing the dishes, I sat with my day text and yearbook and relaxed to the sounds of the bush whilst waiting for the other 2 to wake. 

Once they were awake, we headed out toward the airstrip where I knew we could get a good sunrise. We got to the airstrip in time to get the last of the good colour. And from experience I decided to leave it at that - the actual sun rise is not so exciting. Fortunately for me, I spotted "something" on the next plain and decided we needed to go there. On arriving I was surprised to find 2 lion right next to me! The vehicle watching had not called it in or warned me so I drove within meters of these lionesses before I spotted them. We ended up having a fantastic sighting of them as they half heartedly attempted to hunt - either they were pretty useless at hunting or they really were not trying because with the amount of game around them, it should have been very easy hunting. After a few failed attempts at the impala, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe, they gave up, had a quick play time and then headed deep into the thicket where we lost sight of them. After that great sighting, we did a short drive before heading home.

For the majority of the rest of the day we relaxed, did some maintenance for mom, attempted to do banking (stupid app gave issues again) and just in general did as little as possible.

In the afternoon we headed out for a short drive to try find the lions again and were successful at seeing them (another unit called them in). After a quick drink at the bridge, we headed home to braai. I had quite a bit of fun playing with my new ultra wide angle lens and macro lens at the lapa and I ended up getting a few really nice shots. 

Bush Day 6

The sunrise was a warm orange but no where near as impactful as yesterday. After doing the dishes and a few other jobs that others said they would do but I was awake so I did then, I settled down with my book in time to see mom was awake so I made her coffee.

Just after making the coffee I realized we were under siege by monkeys! They were attacking from all angles. We fended them off and chased them away but in the process I woke Gareth and his wife up. Oops.

Since everyone was awake, mom and I started making breakfast and cleaning up so that we could go for a drive. After my morning exercise, fruit salad, showers etc us kids hit the road whilst mom held the fort - in case of further monkey invasions. Our drive took us to where we had seen the lions and leopard, then onto the bridge that goes over the river and then to the damns. Overall, it was a very quiet drive.

After the drive, we relaxed at home and tried to escape the heat. 35 degrees Celsius and no aircon is a tad warm! Even the elephants were feeling the heat since twice we had a herd come running down to the river.

Around 4pm we headed out on our evening drive. Drive was not overly exciting as there was little game around. Although one unit did see the lions up on the Madrid side. 

Ended up having an early night in preparation for an early morning drive.