4 January 2018

I think The Earl and I have created two monsters.   On this trip we’d decided that we would consider the needs of our young grandchildren.  We would not stop for every little bird nor have long discussions deciding on its exact species. We would not travel too slowly, nor stay out too long.  We did not want our grandkids to become bored.  We wanted to encourage them to love the natural world and were determined not to put them off with our fanaticism.    We need not have worried.

Stop Grandpa – look at this bird – is the constant cry we hear.   And when other inconsiderate tourists race past in front of us and spoil a sighting it’s lucky they can’t hear the indignation coming from our kids.  “What’s wrong with these people? Why don’t they ask what we’re looking at?  Why are they chasing our birds away?”

Not everybody wants to look at birds, we explain.

They don’t know what they’re missing comes the reply!

Now they want to create a sign to put on the back of the car – Warning!  Grumpy old man in driver’s seat and uncaged grandkids in the back seat.  Will not be held responsible for what they will do to you if you disturb their birds!  Pass slowly and at your peril!

They rule the outings – Go slower, Grandpa.  Okay you can put your foot down now.  Stop – Did you hear me – I said STOP – there’s a bird!  Why are you moving – we’re not done yet.  Wait I want to get the photo!

No – they’re not bored – they have us in fits of laughter with their comments and teasing.  And clearly they are enjoying the wildlife and birds as much as we are.

Now Grandpa is a strange specimen – if he comes upon an elephant unexpectedly he has a nervous breakdown and gives them a wide birth.  But if he sees then in advance he has no fear about coming up quite close.  Experience has taught him to read their mood – but the grandkids don’t know this.  So when Gramps gets too close, there is pandemonium in the car.    “You’re too close!  He’s  going to charge.  I’m going to die!   Go grandpa, go!”   Grandpa just laughs and of course we are all perfectly safe and he just like to wind the kids up!

Look at that long tusk!   It’s right next to Shan’s window!

Today though we had a wonderful experience with a large herd who milled around us.  They are such gentle giants and as long as we respect them they respect us.

Giraffe are a favourite with Shannon and me.  They are such elegant long-necked beauties. Today we found them lying with their legs folded under them while they held their long necks up.   They were surrounded by zebra and impala and all the creatures were getting along just fine.

The zebra were in frisky mood and tussled with each other.  Clearly the young males were trying to prove to each other who was top of the pecking order.   It was lovely to see the interaction.

We met Nick and Dawie at Afsaal for breakfast this morning.  They were in for a day visit and made us jealous because they’d seen lion as they entered the park!

But we were delighted to find a strange bird walking in slow motion across the road.  We’d never seen one of these before.  Dawie helped us identify it.

Back at Berg en Dal the kids and I did the Dam Walk.  We saw Egyptian geese, hippo, crocodile, terrapins elephant, water thick-knees and a marabou Stork.

We ended our lovely day with a short drive after 4 o’clock and returned to have a braai before turning in for an early night.  Tomorrow we head to Skukuza.