



After lunch, three of the ladies went into Malelane to shop for groceries while Vic, Ted and I turned on the TV and watched cricket. Alison and Chris went to the camp laundromat to wash and dry clothes and peacefully read during the process. A
couple of hours later, when
the ladies had not returned, we called them and found out they had missed the Berg-en-Dal turn and had carried on merrily up the H3, past the Renoster Pan and Afsaal Picnic spot where we had been that morning, only realizing they were
“lost” after a further 10K. Of course, being gentlemen, we made no comment when they finally found there way back to the lodge. The lodge had an expansive courtyard with a built in braai and so that evening, that’s what we did. It was a nice relaxing day.






There is a dam at Berg-en-Dal and the end of the lodge yard overlooked the dam, but dammit, it
was completly dry! However, we did see a big elephant chasing baboons down the dry dam floor! The Park was so dry, only big rivers had flowing water in them, but all the tributaries that flow into them were dry, consequently, we decided we would have a better chance of seeing more game if we followed a big river and decided to go up to Skukuza and follow the Sabie River down to the Lower Sabie Rest Camp where we would have lunch. Due to time constraints, we agreed that the
80K from Berg- en-Dal to Skukuza would be a “non stop” journey unless we had a “cat” sighting. So we made good time and had a pit stop at Skukuza. Just outside Skukuza, as we were following the Sabie River, a wild dog came running across the road towards the river. I got him on video and Alison and Chris got photos. A few miles later, we saw a crowd
of vehicles on one side of the road and the driver of a vehicle coming toward us stopped to tell us that there were six lions on the side of the road! This turned out to be true, but
Chris who was in the other vehicle only saw the four females and didn’t see or was at the wrong angle to see the male and the additional female. They all just lay there and paid no mind to all the fuss and moving of cars, etc. that was going on all around them.







We finally tore ourselves away and went for lunch at Lower Sabie--what a lovely restaurant in such a great setting overlooking the dam--plenty of water in there and plenty of action, including an elephant crossing the Sabie River. Chris & Linda missed the elephant as they were in the gift shop buying two wooden giraffes. I will say no more about this for the rest of the blog as Chris is paying a sizeable sum to keep this story from being published on the WWW!


We continued on our way and saw



3 comments:
WOW, WOW - what incredible sightings you had! Now, I can't wait to hear the story behind Chris and Linda buying the two giraffes - it sounds like you might be hassling people for shopping! That is so awesome that you saw the wild dog and very cool lion sightings. We still have only seen lion on a kill in the far distance. You got the bloodied ribs and everything.
Love, Melanie, David and Indigo
M,D&I,
Glad you liked the blog on the lion sightings. What about the poor rhino in the pool? All I can say about Chris & Linda's giraffes is that they are named Berg and Dal, and are safely back in their home in USA. Other parts of the story can only be told in private! Note that I have added pictures to the previous blog as I find them and remember things that have happened. I am hoping to catch with another days posting "manjana".
Dad - gosh, the plot thickens on the story. I am hoping for the best for that poor rhino although he looking shockingly thin. What an experience though. It was tricky how you added the rest of the story to the same posting - some people might not realize that you continued it the way you did. I love how you are putting the descriptive writing on the pictures - how do you do that? I'll go back and review the other posts to see if I have missed anything you added. Did you guys read the card at the campsite? What have Chris and Linda thought of SA? Love, Melanie
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