See our new blog for May and June 2011

Final Blog Post

The last couple of days of our holiday will be spent in very much the same way. We are leaving on Monday 12 July to take our caravan back to storage in Nelspruit where we will spend the day cleaning the caravan, fridge etc as well as disconnecting the battery and emptying the water tanks. we should leave Nelspruit around midday and should be back in Cape Town on Wednesday. I will update the fuel and accommodation costs when we are back for those interested.

We want to thank everyone who has followed us on our travels and commented. We hope you have enjoyed our trip with us as much as we have. We hope to meet up with all of you again.
To all the wonderful people we have met and our neighbours who have camped next to us at various times, we hope to see you again at some time in Kruger, thanks for the fun we have had and the exchanges of sightings around the camp fire. We have booked Lower Sabie for May 2011 and Satara for June 2011. I know that the "Vrystaters" and the Retiefs will be there at the same time. To the Sanparks Forum members around the world thanks for watching. we know that many of you were following in the background from reports by members we met, proudly displaying the "Yellow Ribbon".
To the Sanparks staff we have met, the attendants, reception, shops we have only received excellent service well done.
Our Family and our pooch, we will see you soon, we miss all of you.

Our routine for the next couple of days.
At about 08h30 head for the Spa, Sauna and bathe in the Hot Water Spa.
After that head for the main warm pool, do a couple of lengths (short).
Brunch and then play putt- putt, bowls or something less strenuous.
We are in the heart of the citrus growing area and have visited some farms where we have bought some goodies like dried fruit, canned tomatoes in various flavours, and some Atchars.
Bags of Oranges, Naartjies and Avo's for R1-00 3 times the size of the ones you get at home.

Activities for kids Spoon race in yellow arena



The sign says "Happy Days"
"B & B 4 the Birds"


See how some of the campers decorate and plant flowers. these people come and spend the 4 months of winter here and make themselves very comfortable. We have seen lounge suites, office desks with computers and printers, display cabinets, full double beds, large flat screens in the caravans side tents, all this for R1500 which is the monthly rate including lights and water, sewerage and rubbish removal

Last of the Photos taken in Kruger for 2010





























Hyaena looking at hole in fence



Dwarf Mongoose scavenging around our van.









Honey Badger next to our site, note hole in fence.

Day 86 Eiland Spa (1 of 7) July 5, 2010




New Co-ordinates
S 23.66066
E 30.67151

Elev. 510.45m

Happy Birthday Lettie

It was no point in leaving to early for the Eiland as we could only check in after 12h00 and it was only a 2-hour drive from Maroela. I went to the service station to get the tyres pumped, on the way back I spotted two Wild dogs. Rushed back to fetch Lettie and followed the dogs for a while. At last, we have seen the Dogs that everyone has been seeing around Maroela. Hooked up the caravan at about 09h30 and headed for the gate.
Just outside the gate right next to the road, lay a Buffalo carcass, which had been partly eaten, apparently Lions caught it during the night; Vultures were now all over the carcass.
What an exciting last night and morning in the park, it is like golf, just when you think you have had enough something happens that brings you back again and again. I already can’t wait for next year.


Arrived at Eiland Spa at about 12h30 to be greeted by Corrie and Leonora who guided us to our site no A67. What a great private site we have. Set up camp for a 7 day stay.
On arrival our booking was handled very efficiently, They already knew the colour, make and Registration number of my car, in minutes I was booked in.
The ablutions are fantastic and the showers are better than my own home.
We all went to the restaurant to celebrate Letties Birthday.
There is a lot to do here, 3 big swimming pools at different temperatures including an indoor Hydro. Tennis, Squash, Mini Golf, Golf, Table Tennis, Horse Riding, Pool.
For the kids there are trampolines, a super tube and entertainment all day.
We will explore it fully tomorrow.

Day 84 and 85 Maroela (11+12 of 12) July 3 & 4

Lions had taken this buff during the night, it lay just outside Orpen gate outside the park.


Day 85

Happy Birthday Kim

Went out early we had coffee at Bobbejaankrans where we heard a Leopard coughing in the riverbed, we spotted it on the opposite bank and were happy to share it with a group of overseas tourists who arrived.
The Jeep Jockey told us that they had seen the Wild Dog on the way in this morning.
Returned to camp to pack and get ready to leave tomorrow.
We had an exciting evening with the Honey Badger arriving early allowing us to take some close ups of him/her. Lettie stayed well clear this time. We also heard a Leopard cough repeatedly very close by. Fish and chips for our last evening at Maroela.

Day 84

Decided to take a last long drive before we leave, traveled down the tar towards Satara
Turned onto the Girivani road onto Timbavati for breakfast and returned to camp via Satara straight down the tar. General game no cats spotted.
We did a leg of lamb with roast potatoes in the stainless steel braai, turned out fantastic, yum yum.