04 June 2011

New Site Satara

Sunrise 3 June Before canvas up
Sunset after Canvas up

Co-ordinates of our new site S24.39223 E31.77506

Quintin and Celeste, Kim and Peter, the add-a-room is up and waiting for you.

This is a view to show you what you can look forward to, great big site at the fence. Looking forward to braai with the Hyenas patrolling alongside, we have already seen a variety of game from the fence. This is the best site we have had in all the years we have been coming to the park.

Nothing really exciting on the game watching side, will do some serious spotting next week. 
Satelite dish is up and will be enjoying the sport this weekend

I also want to congratulate Smug's on winning the "Ryder Cup", I saw the results on CNN, this is despite not having your number one player (me) available, well done!
I also want to wish you all good golfing and friendship on your tour to the Wilderness, I am so sorry that I am missing the tour. I will be watching the local press for the results and any misbehaviour at the taverns and nightclubs.


02 June 2011

Waiting Patiently

At last, we move tomorrow to our site against the fence which we have been waiting patiently for 4 nights to be vacated. Coincidentaly the present occupant's were at Letaba the same time as we were last year. They know Bill and Yvonne as well as Pat and Gale we were all in a larger together and had a lot of fun.
We have already moved a few things across, table and chairs, gas bottles, dish washing rack, all to secure the site and make sure nobody sneaks in on us. We will be hooked up and standing by at 06h00, they plan to leave at 06h30.


Our Temporary site, nice but have to get to the fence to show the visitors




Sadlebill with juveniles on the S90



30 May 2011

Satara 30 May to 30 June 2011

Steadies up at 05h45 on the road at 06h00 in the hope of getting there early to get a good site at the fence.
Arrived at Satara at 07h50 only to find the fence sites occupied with no one leaving, drove around hoping that someone would pack up. Got a great site with a lot of privacy in front of the Frenkel cottage.
We took a walk along the fence and asked when people were leaving, a great site is going open on the 3 June which we have secured and will move some of our things on Thursday and the caravan on Friday.
We have put up very little and only unpacked the essentials, but hey if we have to wait for 4 nights to secure a good sight for the rest of the month. Quintin, Celeste and Natasha are joining us from the 9th June for 5 nights,  Kim, Peter and Stella are Joining us from the 21st June until we leave when they will stay on for a while and park the caravan, so it is important to get to the fence. We cant wait to see our family and grandchildren.

We took a late afternoon drive to Nsemani dam, at the dam on the side of the road we found some Lion, A bit further on there were more Lion lying in the middle of the road causing a huge traffic jam. Every thing happens at Satara.
Met up with the Vrystaters who we had not seen since last year, also went to greet our neighbours from Lower Sabie who had moved up earlier. It is amazing that every year the same groups of people all meet up somewhere in the park, nothing planned just passionate about nature and conservation, after a short "how are you " the conversation quickly changes to bush tales and sighting reports. Great to meet up and see everyone again.
Satara does not have 3G like the other camps and is still working at the snail pace 2G so the uploading of pics is going to be limited to the really special ones as it takes forever.

29 May 2011

Our last daty at Lower Sabie.

Left camp at 6-15am to go for our last morning drive.  As we turned onto the road from camp, a few paces down we saw these two Hyena's carrying a piece of meat, stopping to nibble on it every now and then...the one grabbed and started to run away with the meat and the other one running and whining behind him.














We drove on pass Sunset Dam towards the S21 to go and have our coffee and rusks at the little pan for the last time....but we never got there :) 3,5 klm from Lower Sabie these Lions came running onto the road, we had them to ourselves for at least an 1/2 hour before another car came. The Lions were on the hunt...they first chased a Buffalo but it managed to run away from them....then they saw a Kudu, chased it but it ran towards the river into the reeds. They then decided to carry on strolling towards Lower Sabie all the while looking for prey. They then decided it was rest time and veered off towards the river edge and lay down while looking around for prey. We had our coffee and rusks while they were resting.  Wow what a nice "last" morning drive at Lower Sabie.









Lion early morning protest march they had the right to the road

We came back to camp at 8 and started to pack. Nonnie decided to go and look for them while we were packing. She saw one of the males take a impala..she is sure that they took down more impala's as she could hear the destress call of the impala's.

After we packed and showered we took a last drive to go and see if we could see them again. They were resting on the other side of the road now' all huddling together. Maybe we will hear them roaring tonight.

Had supper at the Take Away. Nothing to rave about....a bit dissappointing :(

Leaving early for Satara tommorrow.