Friday 1 May 2015

Today we celebrate Workers’ Day with a public holiday. We thought this would mean less traffic on the roads but that was wishful thinking.

We got up early and then went to have breakfast at the restaurant. While we were waiting for them to open we watched the crested guineafowl pecking about the gardens for food. There were also baboons about and we could hear an angry one barking. I had the camera to my eye when Earl spotted him walk right past me. I wasn’t aware of him at all and fortunately he didn’t try to hurt me

On the way out we found baboon on the road as well as some Nyala.

On the way home through the Durban traffic we stopped off for lunch and to shop for the ingredients I needed for Andrew’s birthday celebration tomorrow. We arrived back at Lauren’s at about 3:30.

I made my dips for the party – tsatsiki and humus but my guacamole did not work out well – it was very bitter. Earl said he would buy more avos tomorrow and I could start again. I don’t think it will be necessary as we really have enough dips for my crudités

Lauren took the kids to the Circus. I was not able to eat supper after eating a breakfast of eggs, bacon and tomato and a chicken salad for lunch. This is Banting! You just don’t get hungry!

Thursday 30 April 2015 Imfolozi-Hluhluwe

We overslept this morning. I did not set the alarm because I thought I would easily wake up! But last night’s coffee caused me to struggle to fall asleep and then once I was asleep I couldn’t wake up!

In spite of this we were out the gate by 6:15. What a successful morning we had. We came across a small traffic jam – two cars and a jeep jockey – the latter on the opposite side of the road. As we approached I looked into the bush and saw two lionesses. But that is not what the cars ahead were looking at – they had 5 lion on a buffalo kill. Wow! There was one male a lioness and some cubs. Earl pulled up next to the car on the left and I managed to see what was happening although he could not see anything. Then a family of Chinese tourists arrived and we reversed to allow them to take our place and Earl pulled in behind the car with the best view. Not long after the car in front of him left and he took its place allowing us a good view of the lions on the kill. The jeep jockey did not move. The Chinese tourists managed to get a good look but could not move past the jeep jockey. At this point more cars started arriving as well as two more jeep jockeys. The car ahead of us left and we were about to follow when a jeep jockey pulled in front of us on the wrong side of the road! I gave her hand signals to move and finally she complied!

As we came into the good spot the male went onto the kill

And looked straight at us

The female was exhausted from chasing and eating?

The cubs were tucking in big time and they all had fat little tummies

We continued on our trip and were delighted to find rhino and other creatures before we returned to Hilltop for breakfast.

After a delicious brekkie of eggs, bacon, creamed mushrooms etc. we made our way to Mpila Camp. The sightings were not prolific but we saw baboons, giraffe, zebra, impala and some birds. After a brief walk around Mpila campsite we did the loop and found rhino, giraffe, zebra and impala as well as some birds.

Back at Mpila we met a couple in the play park where some warthog were grazing. They’d had a fabulous day as they’d been our and about in the area in the early morning – best time for game viewing. The animals are definitely more prolific in Imfolozi.

On our return we found a lioness, some rhino and a single elephant. We also found a hamerkop and a black-crowned night heron in the river.

We saw more rhino than any other creature – encouraging as they are so vulnerable to poachers

This chap was way out of his element

The impala were having a disagreement

African Pied Wagtail

She refused to look at us

All fluffed up

Looking Handsome

Hamerkop hunting for lunch

White-fronted Bee-eater

Well at least we saw one!

In the evening we went to the restaurant for dinner and once again it was excellent. Only this time the staff entertained us with some Zulu dancing and singing which was really fun. What an amazing thing to do. It really impressed the tourists.