Friday 27 March 2009
Sorry about the spelling mistakes, this keyboard is so small and it is really easy to hit two buttons at once! I will try and take a little more care in future.
The baby chameleons were absolutely the cutest little things - only about not even an inch long and difficult to spot too! Also the snakes (sidewinders) are quite small (well fortunately the ones we saw were) and they can bury themselves so quickly. But the quickest to disappear back into the sand was the skink (or legless lizard) which seems to just dive into it and - gone!
It is a really wonderful tour and so interesting to boot - Tommy our guide makes it all funny and great fun. I would recommend this tour to all of you who have not done it before - gives a great insight into the small things that live in the desert and all too often we all pass by without seeing them.
Hope you are all fit and well.
Love to all xx
Well today we went on the 'Living Desert Tour' which was awesome. We saw about 8 chameleons in the end; 3 baby ones and the rest adults. Also 3 snakes, skinks, scorpion, gekco, beetles, all manner of plants and small animal life.
We all got to hold onto the bigger chameleon which has very tickly feet on your arm and the softest touch when the 'poke their tongue out to grad the worms placed on our inner elbows for them.
It was an extemely interesting and enjoyable morning. We are off to the Skeleton Coast tomorrow and will be driving up to Terrace Bay - neither of us has driven the road North of Cape Cross so should be great fun and hopefully heaps to see.
Love and hugs to all xxx
Thursday 26 March 2009
Well we had a lovely dinner at The Tug with Beth, Craig & Noami last night, was great to catch up on all the news and see how they are all getting on.
We have decided that we will not do very much in Swakop, except a Living Desert Tour tomorrow which we are really looking forward to, Beth will hopefully be able to come with us as well.
It will be nice to relax for a day (today) and just have a wander around to see how much the town has changed since I was last here.
Well hope you are all fit and well? Love and hugs to you all xxx
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Well we are now in Swakopmund. We drove from Windhoek to Sesriem on Monday for a 2 night stay at Desert Camp - Jackie what a fabulous place thanks for the recommendation. And it was fantastic going into the park, we walked up into Dead Vlei which I haven't done before and it was great.
I couldn't believe all the vegetation around and we saw loads of springbok, ostriches and a few oryx as well on the way in. All in all a great visit. We had a good trip through to Swakop today and arrived about 2.30pm. Once again thanks Jackie Brigadoon is a lovely place! We are off to dinner with Beth, Craig & Naomi tonight to the Tug so should be great fun to catch up with them all.
We will have to ask if they have any recommendations on what to do tomorrow - maybe a scenic flight somewhere?? Will have to see how much it costs.
Hope you are all fit and well. Oh Dad & Kerri apparently my flight from Sydney to Brisbane the time has changed, I think it departs half an hour later now. It is still the same flight number so maybe you will have to phone and see closer to the time.
Love and hugs to all xxx
I couldn't believe all the vegetation around and we saw loads of springbok, ostriches and a few oryx as well on the way in. All in all a great visit. We had a good trip through to Swakop today and arrived about 2.30pm. Once again thanks Jackie Brigadoon is a lovely place! We are off to dinner with Beth, Craig & Naomi tonight to the Tug so should be great fun to catch up with them all.
We will have to ask if they have any recommendations on what to do tomorrow - maybe a scenic flight somewhere?? Will have to see how much it costs.
Hope you are all fit and well. Oh Dad & Kerri apparently my flight from Sydney to Brisbane the time has changed, I think it departs half an hour later now. It is still the same flight number so maybe you will have to phone and see closer to the time.
Love and hugs to all xxx
Monday 23 March 2009
Well we have just had a fabulous weekend with Jackie, Bossie, Kayla & Caitlin. The drive out to the farm was great and there is alot of wildlife around. Although we didn't see it, Jackie & the girls saw a cheetah on the way out about 20km from the farm.
We had a lovely peaceful time and a great braai on the Saturday night. Sunday morning we had a good hearty breakfast before making our way back to Windhoek. We then stayed the night with Jackie and the girls last night (Bossie had flown to SA to buy some stock). We had a lovely braai at Jules place - thanks a million!
We are now just waiting for our final bookings to come in before heading off to Sesriem for 2 nights around the sand dunes.
Hope you are all well love and hugs xxx
Friday 20 March 2009
Well we made it to Windhoek yesterday late afternoon, it took less than we thought as the road through Botswana is a very good tarred road and everything went well. We spent one night about halfway across at a place called Kang which has a small campsite at the rear of the garage.
We are staying at Chameleon Backpackers which as alot of you will know is owned by Jackis & Bossie friends of mine so was great to catch up with them. I think it has been about 4 years or so since I last saw them! Anyway the brakes on our vehicle and trailer were a bit shot so fortunately they have a fantastic mechanic at their workshop who has put things right for us today. We will be feeling alot safer when we drive out of here on Monday/Tuesday.
So tomorrow is Independance Day here in Namibia and we are off to stay with Jackie, Bossie and the girls out at their farm tomorrow - should be great fun. We are taking some of the champagne to celebrate with!
We are both fit and well if not a bit on the tired side - it takes its toll all this travelling, so have to have some totally relaxed days in the itinerary where you don't do anything.
Hope you are all well and sending love and hugs to all xxx
We are staying at Chameleon Backpackers which as alot of you will know is owned by Jackis & Bossie friends of mine so was great to catch up with them. I think it has been about 4 years or so since I last saw them! Anyway the brakes on our vehicle and trailer were a bit shot so fortunately they have a fantastic mechanic at their workshop who has put things right for us today. We will be feeling alot safer when we drive out of here on Monday/Tuesday.
So tomorrow is Independance Day here in Namibia and we are off to stay with Jackie, Bossie and the girls out at their farm tomorrow - should be great fun. We are taking some of the champagne to celebrate with!
We are both fit and well if not a bit on the tired side - it takes its toll all this travelling, so have to have some totally relaxed days in the itinerary where you don't do anything.
Hope you are all well and sending love and hugs to all xxx
Wednesday 18 March 2009
Well I think my money is about to run out and sorry that you got the dogs photo twice, got a little excited...
Will get back to you all once we reach Windhoek in a few days time. We will probably spend a couple of days to recharge the batteries (ours) and do a little bit of work to the trailer brakes as we seem to have almost burnt them out during our time in Lesotho.
Love kisses and hugs to all xxx
Will get back to you all once we reach Windhoek in a few days time. We will probably spend a couple of days to recharge the batteries (ours) and do a little bit of work to the trailer brakes as we seem to have almost burnt them out during our time in Lesotho.
Love kisses and hugs to all xxx
Pafuri Camp
Well we went to Riverwalk Mall last night and got all of our food supplies on board. I think it will take a few days to get across the Kalahari to Namibia so we will be camping for a few days.
I don't think I will have acess whilst we are travelling across, so you will all hear from us again once we get into Windhoek.
All of you take care and we are sending love and hugs to all xxx
Tuesday 17 March 2009
Phew, well I have got alot to catch you all up on! Sorry we have been in areas where there is no access, but that is what this trip is all about, going to the more remote areas where not many people go.
I think I left you last when we were had finished at Rhino Post and Plains Camp. From there we went to a fantastic little SANParks camp called Tsendze Rustic Camp - no power and no generators allowed. It was fantastic and we felt like we were the only people there. Only 2 other people were staying that night and we didn't hear them or see their lights or anything.
We went out for a game drive around the Capricorn Route (like you told us to Trevor) and we got almost to the end when a cantankerous old bugger of a bull elephant in musth decided to chase us back down the road....he must of chased us (in reverse) for a good half mile or so - very scary! So we had to turn around and go back rather quickly the way we came.
We then drove on up to Pafuri Camp in the very north of the park for a 3 night stay. What a fabulous part of the Kruger so different from the rest. Loads of baobabs, fever trees and a beautiful gorge. We went on 2 really excellent walks with Callum and had great excitement on the last walk. Firstly we were walking up a gorge and elephants came the other way so we had to make a scramble up the side of the gorge before they saw us. We were up safe and watching them below when they all did the bunching thing around the babies and then they were absolutely silent trying to scent the air with their trunks. Awesome to watch and then they got our scent and all started thundering back the way they came with loads of trumpeting.
So we then had to take a diversion over the gorge and around another way back to the car. At one stage we had to cross some very long grass to get where we wanted to go and Callum (our guide) stepped over what I thought was a stick, but was in fact a huge snake. I did realise in time and backed up very quickly, it was a Snouted Cobra and it reared up and had his hood out and all. Fortunately these snakes prefer to save their venom for killing food or when absolutely necessary so it slunk off in the grass. Callum was rather white and told us after that it was the largest snake he had seen whilst walking. So all exciting stuff on the walks. We have been loving it. (They could leave the snakes out of it though)!!
From Pafuri we went to Maspungubwe National Park for 2 nights which is a brilliant little park and camp. It also has heaps of history to it, but unfortunately we didn't know until after we left.
We then headed towards Mashatu Tented Camp in Botswana. Pont Drift was not passable so we had to cross the Limpopo at the Platjan border which was about one and a half foot deep and a little scary. We then started making our way to Mashatu by the shortest route on the map and duly got stuck in the river as there had been alot of rain and no bridge.
It took us about 2.5 hours to get out and we eventually had to winch ourselves out. We turned around and went a long way round and arrived rather late, but in time for the game drive. Once again we had a great wild dog sighting - the pack is about 26-30 dogs and it was just the best!!!
We could only stay one night so they booked us into Nitani Private Game Reserve for 2 nights which is part of the same reserve. It is an absolutely fabulous place - each chalet has its own private plunge pool and the guides are great and the owner gives a really interesting talk about the area geologically and all the history - we had such a great time that we stayed 4 nights in the end. What a lovely place to relax, it feels like home.
Today we left and headed to Gaborone where we will stay one night and then head out along the Trans Kalahari highway towards Windhoek.
I will get back on later tonight and try and get some photos on.
Loads of love to you all xx
I think I left you last when we were had finished at Rhino Post and Plains Camp. From there we went to a fantastic little SANParks camp called Tsendze Rustic Camp - no power and no generators allowed. It was fantastic and we felt like we were the only people there. Only 2 other people were staying that night and we didn't hear them or see their lights or anything.
We went out for a game drive around the Capricorn Route (like you told us to Trevor) and we got almost to the end when a cantankerous old bugger of a bull elephant in musth decided to chase us back down the road....he must of chased us (in reverse) for a good half mile or so - very scary! So we had to turn around and go back rather quickly the way we came.
We then drove on up to Pafuri Camp in the very north of the park for a 3 night stay. What a fabulous part of the Kruger so different from the rest. Loads of baobabs, fever trees and a beautiful gorge. We went on 2 really excellent walks with Callum and had great excitement on the last walk. Firstly we were walking up a gorge and elephants came the other way so we had to make a scramble up the side of the gorge before they saw us. We were up safe and watching them below when they all did the bunching thing around the babies and then they were absolutely silent trying to scent the air with their trunks. Awesome to watch and then they got our scent and all started thundering back the way they came with loads of trumpeting.
So we then had to take a diversion over the gorge and around another way back to the car. At one stage we had to cross some very long grass to get where we wanted to go and Callum (our guide) stepped over what I thought was a stick, but was in fact a huge snake. I did realise in time and backed up very quickly, it was a Snouted Cobra and it reared up and had his hood out and all. Fortunately these snakes prefer to save their venom for killing food or when absolutely necessary so it slunk off in the grass. Callum was rather white and told us after that it was the largest snake he had seen whilst walking. So all exciting stuff on the walks. We have been loving it. (They could leave the snakes out of it though)!!
From Pafuri we went to Maspungubwe National Park for 2 nights which is a brilliant little park and camp. It also has heaps of history to it, but unfortunately we didn't know until after we left.
We then headed towards Mashatu Tented Camp in Botswana. Pont Drift was not passable so we had to cross the Limpopo at the Platjan border which was about one and a half foot deep and a little scary. We then started making our way to Mashatu by the shortest route on the map and duly got stuck in the river as there had been alot of rain and no bridge.
It took us about 2.5 hours to get out and we eventually had to winch ourselves out. We turned around and went a long way round and arrived rather late, but in time for the game drive. Once again we had a great wild dog sighting - the pack is about 26-30 dogs and it was just the best!!!
We could only stay one night so they booked us into Nitani Private Game Reserve for 2 nights which is part of the same reserve. It is an absolutely fabulous place - each chalet has its own private plunge pool and the guides are great and the owner gives a really interesting talk about the area geologically and all the history - we had such a great time that we stayed 4 nights in the end. What a lovely place to relax, it feels like home.
Today we left and headed to Gaborone where we will stay one night and then head out along the Trans Kalahari highway towards Windhoek.
I will get back on later tonight and try and get some photos on.
Loads of love to you all xx
Friday 6 March 2009
Hi everyone, well this is a quick one to let you know that we are both well and having a fantastic time. We have just had 4 nights at Rhino Post Camp and Plains Camp (Isibindi) which have their own concession beside the Kruger N.P.
We had three good walks which were great and also some fabulous drives. They surprised us last night with a bush braai which was just the best. We were the only two clients at Rhino Post. We also had an awesome sighting of a male lion on our game drive whop performed perfectly for us. He did the big roaring for us 3-4 times while we were only about 2m away.
We are heading up to around the Mopani region for the night and then onto Pafuri Camp for three nights. Not sure if I will manage to get any access further up so thought I would do a quick note to you all
Hope your all well and love to you all xxx
We had three good walks which were great and also some fabulous drives. They surprised us last night with a bush braai which was just the best. We were the only two clients at Rhino Post. We also had an awesome sighting of a male lion on our game drive whop performed perfectly for us. He did the big roaring for us 3-4 times while we were only about 2m away.
We are heading up to around the Mopani region for the night and then onto Pafuri Camp for three nights. Not sure if I will manage to get any access further up so thought I would do a quick note to you all
Hope your all well and love to you all xxx
Sunday 1 March 2009
Just to let you all know that I have been crying this afternoon! It has taken me 15+ years to see them, but this afternoon we had two awesome Wild Dog sightings!!!! We also got stuck twice, but who cares. This is the biggest smiley face you can imagine.
Will try and put on some photos after dinner.
Love to all xxx
Will try and put on some photos after dinner.
Love to all xxx
Well we left Hazyview around 8.15am and started to make our way to Kruger. Took the road towards the Paul Kruger Gate and then turned off to enter Sabie Sands through the Newington Gate.
Roads are not too bad and then had a 17kms drive through to Ulusaba. Saw some fantastic birdlife along the way and a lovely relaxed drive in. Got to the meeting point and then Trevor (Savage) arrived to pick us up. Martin has had Trevor as a guide twice before and he is the reason that we choose to come to Ulusaba.
Got to Safari Lodge and settled in and then had a lovely lunch. Met Trevor around 3.50pm to discuss our cameras and have a wee lesson on how to use them properly before heading out on the game drive.
Saw Wild Dogs tracks which we followed and Sam (our tracker) found them in the riverbed, we had gone to check the other side and managed to miss them completely! We drove around for quite some time trying to locate them, but to no avail. Typical I guess I will have to wait some more before finally seeing them - I am definitely patient when it comes to wild dog.
We then took off to find the lions and we got 4 females lying about and then playing, drinking and then finally moving off. We then got 3 big males down the road a bit which were pretty awesome.
Saw some good birds and an Eagle Owl and a few scorpions on the way home. Had a lovely dinner and then off to bed.
Got the 5am wakeup call and then the rain started .... it kept going and going... and going... and going... in fact it is still going and it is almost lunch time now. The camp is set on the banks of a dry river bed which has became a river this morning and quite an amazing thing to watch.
We are hoping that the rain will ease off a bit this afternoon so that we can get out for a drive. We decided not to get wet this morning (as we have done so many safaris no need to get soaking wet) and Trevor gave us a good session on how to get the best and most out of our cameras.
Will let you know how the afternoon pans out later today.
Love and hugs to all xxx
I will try and put some photos on later as well.
Roads are not too bad and then had a 17kms drive through to Ulusaba. Saw some fantastic birdlife along the way and a lovely relaxed drive in. Got to the meeting point and then Trevor (Savage) arrived to pick us up. Martin has had Trevor as a guide twice before and he is the reason that we choose to come to Ulusaba.
Got to Safari Lodge and settled in and then had a lovely lunch. Met Trevor around 3.50pm to discuss our cameras and have a wee lesson on how to use them properly before heading out on the game drive.
Saw Wild Dogs tracks which we followed and Sam (our tracker) found them in the riverbed, we had gone to check the other side and managed to miss them completely! We drove around for quite some time trying to locate them, but to no avail. Typical I guess I will have to wait some more before finally seeing them - I am definitely patient when it comes to wild dog.
We then took off to find the lions and we got 4 females lying about and then playing, drinking and then finally moving off. We then got 3 big males down the road a bit which were pretty awesome.
Saw some good birds and an Eagle Owl and a few scorpions on the way home. Had a lovely dinner and then off to bed.
Got the 5am wakeup call and then the rain started .... it kept going and going... and going... and going... in fact it is still going and it is almost lunch time now. The camp is set on the banks of a dry river bed which has became a river this morning and quite an amazing thing to watch.
We are hoping that the rain will ease off a bit this afternoon so that we can get out for a drive. We decided not to get wet this morning (as we have done so many safaris no need to get soaking wet) and Trevor gave us a good session on how to get the best and most out of our cameras.
Will let you know how the afternoon pans out later today.
Love and hugs to all xxx
I will try and put some photos on later as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
