Monday 30 November 2020
It was not a good start to the morning. I’d been awake since pre-dawn, listening to the sounds of the bush. The cicadas who had been silent all day yesterday suddenly awoke and started their buzzing. As the light started creeping into the sky I got up and went to the ablution. I was looking forward to a nice hot shower and a hair wash. I turned on the tap – Nada! Not even a drop! As you can imagine I was not a happy camper! All I could do was use our bottled water to brush my teeth and give myself a lick and a promise. At least there was boiling water on tap that we could use to make coffee. Don’t, please, deprive me of my coffee first thing in the morning!
I consoled myself with the fact that at least I didn’t have to face the public. I could hide in the car and only the creatures of the veld would see me.
“I’ll shower as soon as I get to Satara,” I told the Earl. He just laughed. Why are these things unimportant to men!
We had our coffee, bade our neighbours who were also leaving goodbye and were on the road to Satara by 5:45.
As usual when towing we only stopped briefly to greet our friends of the veld.



After spotting the Kori Bustard, I called out, “Jackal!
“Where?” said the Earl.
“There,” I replied. “Quite far behind that bush.”
“What bush?”
“The dryish one.”
“Which dryish one?”
“Okay – you see that tall tree way back there? Well keep coming toward the car from there and you will see him.”
But still he couldn’t see it.



Conversations like the above are common in The Kruger National Park!
We continued our journey and stopped for some more special sightings.



When we arrived at Satara we found that our friends, Jim and Maureen’s caravan was still parked in their spot. They were due to leave yesterday but when they returned from their drive we found out that they’d extended their stay till Thursday.
We found a shady spot near them, unhitched the caravan, went for a very welcome shower and then after a short rest went for another drive. We did the S100 which produced all the usual suspects.


The Earl captured an African Hoopoe with prey!

We found three different swallow species in one tree







We also visited Sweni Hide but didn’t stay long as it was rather hot.




We rested at camp until about half past four and then went out along the Orpen Road to see if anything came to the dam. A few elephants came down and there were some lovely ducks.




On our way back to camp we were held up by a road block of elephants. We watched them for a while and were delighted with the antics of the tiniest of the herd.




In the evening we joined Jim and Maureen for a delicious Pork Belly dinner cooked by Jim in their black pot.


It was a simply stunning evening with a full moon shining

And to top it all we had an uninvited visitor.

Funny how easily the bush turns strangers into friends!
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Absolutely – we make new friends in every camp. Jim and Maureen, however, are friends from way back 😃
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And even nicer to bump into old friends in the bush!
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Satara is definitely the place to see an African Wild Cat – glad to know this is still the case. Again, you have posted some interesting photographs.
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Yes Anne – I saw the AC during our last stay too. Our friend Jim got some awsome photos of him.
Thanks for you kind comments.
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Another great day thanks 🙂 your Red-breasted Swallow are like our Welcome Swallows.
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Yes – we enjoyed the Welcome Swallows when we visited Australia.
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