South Africa 2007 : The land of Bafana
Day 2
It is so good to spend a night in a real bed. Obviously, it is not as if
we had previously spent 6 months in the forest, but after a night in a
plane, it is all the same pleasant.
It is 7 am, and the awakening was most harmonious. Just a clipiticlop
caused by the hooves of Fred, the donkey of the pension, on the way
leading to our chalet. After a small shower, we go for the coffee of the
morning, what allows us to make more ample knowledge with some boarders
in freedom: Pala, the blind impala, or Julie, the crippled duiker.
Before breakfast, we visit the enclosures and feed some of the animals,
with Anne-Marie, the Dutch student volunteer. Lulu, the Swiss girl who
arrived the day before, accompanies us to take her first bearings. We
will approach in turn raptors, a caracal, a serval... A very pleasant
experience.
8h30, the breakfast is served. Delicious, as it seems to be the case
permanently in the lodges in South Africa. Fresh fruits in profusion and
various home-made breads cooked on the spot, a delight...
5.
Homemade mielie bread
6. Delphine, Pala & Fred
Just the time to give some pieces of fruit to the couple of squirrels
living in the area, and here we are on our way for a little walk in the
domain, bush-walk style. No worries, no predator is supposed to be
around, well... I think. In fact we were not told about it, so once we
passed the camp gate, we had to be careful. But during our hour of walk,
nobody on the horizon. Just a few footprints, and some herbivore
excrements... however, the sight of bones and a small antelope skull
will give us a little adrenaline rush... and if...?
Anyway, this first contact with the bush will have put us in the long
awaited atmosphere. It is now time to pack our stuff because the road to
the North is waiting for us. We will still have the right to a small
concert improvised by the canine hosts as a goodbye. The smallest one,
Candy, has a very strange particularity... you just have to ask her : "
Candy, can you sing ? " and here she is, in a long complaint, joined by
her 3 companions... I do not tell you the delirium! Impossible to make
them stop... After two minutes which seemed interminable to us,
embarrassed that we were to have launched the slap, a kind employee
nevertheless made stop the massacre, thanks to the magic formula,
accompanied by a small reward for these tenors. It is thus with a smile
on our faces that we take the track leading us to the road to Punda
Maria.
A short stop at the Giyani Shoprite to do some shopping for the lunch
picnic (they look so amazed, they must not often see white people coming
in their supermarket), a kingfisher on the lookout on a bridge, and then
the citrus plantations of the Tzaaneen area as far as the eye can see...
it's 3pm when we reach the gate of the Kruger Park, in Punda Maria...
finally! The Kruger !!!!
7. Citruses of the Tzaneen area
We will cross it from North to South, starting from Punda Maria, in the
North... this North that we decided for once to explore, in spite of the
concerns about the low animal population. But on this side, the period
of June is undoubtedly less ungrateful than the traditional one of
September-October. As soon as we got out of the car to go and fill in
the formalities at the park reception, two big elephants came out on the
road, about thirty meters from the reception... gloups, one of them is a
big bull with impressive tusks! Relaaaax, they disappear as dry in the
thickets and it is there that our first drive begins, with a famous
reception !
8. Punda Maria entrance gate
The purchase of the plan of the park carried out (we collect them,
but it does not matter, with 35 rands, why to deprive itself of a very
pleasant tool, decorated with a bestiary where to make our small
crosses, according to our meetings),
We decide to take the track leading us to the viewpoint of Thulamila. On
the small distance of 3km, we will see loeries, a water monitor, a green
pigeon and some crowned hornbills. For these last two species, it is a
first for us, very pleasant.
9. Crowned hornbill
The weather is overcast, but we are so happy to be here, that it does
not weigh in the least on our enthusiasm. We continue towards Punda
Maria, when at the junction of the main road with the track n60, our
attention is attracted by a tree full of vultures. It is the moment to
redouble attention... we drive at the pace. And, bingo: a lioness fluffs
up at the foot of a shrub; has about fifteen meters of the track.
Finally, we will distinguish not less than 8 lions; not very active,
moving only to go to lie down again some meters farther. The sky
darkens, and the vegetation does not help us to take rewarding pictures.
But the essential is there, in front of our eyes. Barely one hour in the
park, and already the North, qualified of so ungrateful, offers us 8
feline apparitions.
We stayed there for a good hour, moving from time to time a few meters
according to the comings and goings of our new companions; they looking
for the best place, we looking for the best angle.
Back to the camp of Punda Maria, and drive on the two loops of clay
encircling this one. We will see nyalas, more common in the North of the
park than elsewhere, a big kudu and a nice herd of buffalos. But
already, it is time to return, because in June, the doors close at 5:30
pm... a little shopping, in the enclosure and we can take our aperitif
in terrace quietly... A ritual which we cannot do without. To put back
in shape the notes and first sorting of the photos are obviously in the
program. The reservation at the restaurant of the camp is at 6:30 pm
(that also we do not manage to stop ourselves): beef with curry for
Delphine, and grilled steak for me. It is then that the digestion pushes
us gently towards our bed, because tomorrow, first morning drive, the
alarm clock will be early!
