Tour and Travelogue to KNP Game Reserve S Africa - Part 6

I thought I would add a bit on the accommodation and amenities in the park for those who are interested.

The park caters for all kinds of people and has accommodation to suit all pockets. Most of the camps are built on the bank of rivers and so you have a constant view of animals coming down to drink water. They have left the vegetation in place so most of the trees are very old.
There are various types of chalets, some have a kitchen and some not although each has their own bathroom and whether it has a kitchen or not, each has a refrigerator. All have linen and blankets on the beds plus towels. They vary in size from 2 - 4 beds. Larger ones cater for families with a separate kitchen, diningroom, lounge and 2-3 bedrooms. THERE ARE NO TV’s or RADIOS in any, with an extremely strict rule of no noise after 10pm. Those with kitchens are fully quipped with cutlery, plates, pans, pots, kettle etc.
Each chalet is airconditioned and also has its own barbeque area with chairs and tables outside. Cleaning staff come in every day to keep it immaculate.
Some of the camps have them decorated in true African colors and designs. All the windows and door have mosquito netting on them.
Each camp has a wonderful camping area where you can put up your own tent or camper. Each site has once again, it’s own barbeque facility.
In the camping areas, there are spotlessly clean communal bathrooms with toilets, showers, basins and baths.
The kitchens have hot and cold water, washing up basins and a small two plate stove in case you want to make something for yourself, with boiling water for your coffee always available.
There is a tented camp within the main camp too. Each has two beds in them with a bathroom at the back. Once again linen is included and a barbeque facility outside with chairs and tables.
A complete kitchen is situated on the balcony and is fully equipped. This might be a tent, but they are beautiful inside and VERY comfortable.
All camps include a shop with a restaurant where you can have a five course meal or a smaller shop for takeaways which include curry and rice, hamburgers, breakfasts and pizza. In the shop you can buy anything from toothpaste, cameras, food to make your own meals, books, clothing and gifts.

There are information centers next to the reception area where interesting facts and photographs are displayed on the various animals found in the park.
Most camps now have swimming pools. I usually go out early mornings and come back in by about 11am to avoid the midday heat, then I go and sit in the pool until about 4pm before going back out.
There are garages for fuel in every camp too and most of them have a cleaning facility for your car. If you car breaks down, there is a towing service available.
And so I come to the end of this series about the Kruger National Park. I hope that there has been something of interest to you in the articles and if you every head this way, it is very definitely a place you would want to visit more than any other attraction in South Africa.

Pilansberg Game Reserve - Part 3

Even a weed can be beautiful.
When it was time to leave and come back home, I found this bug in my car...maybe he wanted to go home with me, but I wasn't having no hitch hikers in my car. LOL!!

The elephants were have a dust bath in a dry dam. This helps them get rid of ticks and fleas.

There are many kinds of dung beetles and they come in various colors. Their eggs are in the centre of this ball and they roll it to a place and bury it using their hind legs. When the eggs hatch, they have food available to them.

I came across this female rhino with her young calf. I have never seen such a long horn before.

Springbuck are our national animal. They were first seen by the earlier settlers in this country and are plentiful in certain areas.

This little foal stuck close to his mothers side. When young, the stripes are more brown than black.

The wings on this beautiful butterfly are transparent.

The hippo were catching some sun on the banks of the dam. A few weeks later when I went back, the water was overflowing the wall at the back of the picture.

In the summer, butterflies come in all shades and patterns.

Home away from home - Part 2

Nearing midday, and not having seen hide or hair of an elephant, I am about to follow the example of the animals and head for a shady spot. One of my ideal camps is nearby and I head in that direction. The camp is situated on the banks of a river with a lot of game feeding there and at night, if I am lucky to get a camping spot near the fence, I can hear the animals walking past. There is also a handy pool in which I can lie and soak in like a hippo. Just before reaching the camp, I stop at a waterhole. There are hippo, crocodile and many species of water birds. The crocs are mostly lying on the sandy banks with their mouths open in order for the slight breeze to cool the mucus membranes in them and so cool them down. Crocs are fascinating creatures which can slow their heartbeats down to four beats per hour and this allows them to stay for a long period underwater. I learnt long ago not to trust quiet looking pools in the middle of nowhere. These would be ideal bathing spots in areas such as Botswana where there are no showers or other water. I would sit watching the pool for a long, long time before venturing into the shallows of one to have a VERY quick wash. Mostly I would try to find a place where water runs over a fairly large area of shallow, rocky surface as this would be safest. The alternative is to remain stinky for another day until a suitable place is found or else make do with a portable shower which has hung outside in the sun while driving. A grassy spot, shower hung in a tree, stripped naked, and wow! The luxury of being clean again!

Not much is happening here because of the heat and I will return later, so I head into camp and check myself in for the night. An hour by the pool, a hamburger and coke, and I feel like a million dollars again. I set up camp in a suitable spot next to the fence and need to go for another swim. Four o’clock and I head out to find those elusive elephants. They are here somewhere, I know they are!

Two giraffe are bumping heads in a sparring session. Once again I get fabulous shots as the bush is fairly open here and good for photography. Giraffe have the second longest gestation period of all land mammals, eighteen months. Giraffe and camels have a distinctive walk. Unlike other animals, they move the right side two legs then the left side two legs, where as others use alternate sides. One giraffe is chewing what looks like old buffalo bones which are an additional source of calcium. There is a baby of about a week old. I know if I sit quietly for long enough, it will come closer as they are very inquisitive. Anyone who does wildlife photography knows that the greatest asset in this line of work is patience. I get into position where I am comfortable (using a window mount for my camera), and prepare to wait. The only thing moving are my eyes as I keep track of the youngster and also watch the continuing battle between the two males. Forty five minutes goes by, they have forgotten I am here, but the baby has started to edge closer and is now halfway between its mother and the car. Then I smell it…….the unmistakable smell of elephant! They are so quiet, walking on their toes, that one always smells them first. The giraffe are forgotten and I whip around looking for the elephants. The giraffe flees back to the comfort of mom’s side and I see a small movement behind some bushes. Yes, there he is. A big bull about to pull a branch down off a tree. These mammals must eat in the region of 300kg per day, this includes bark, leaves and grass. What an enormous male he is. I get the camera going. He is about 20 yards away. His tusks are huge and he must be at least in his 60’s. I try to see if he has mates but cannot find another one, but that does not mean they are not there, just that I cannot see them for now. The males are usually loners or with two or three other males. They only join the female herds for mating periods and believe me when I say this is quite a sight to see. On the rare occasions when I have, I actually forgot to take pictures!! He finishes his branch and reaches up for another coming more into the open and closer to the car. I hear something in the bushes on the other side and turn to find another bull not ten yards away coming straight in my direction.

This elephant is HUGE. My car almost fits under his belly! I sit as still as I can, camera forgotten (again) he is closer. I look up into his mouth as he passes right in front of me to join his companion. Camera! Grab the camera! At last I get the shots I am waiting for. He joins the other elephant and the two start grazing on the grass not ten yards away. Thank goodness I have a quiet camera! They sure do smell and as fast as they put food in their mouths, it all comes out at the back. They move slowly away and I start to breathe again. Ten minutes later they are gone from sight, but I know they are still close by. The giraffe have all but gone too and I decide to move on. My first sighting of elephant has been good and hopefully there will be many more before this trip is over.

Part three coming soon……..