Usually, when we travel with our grandchildren the Earl and I are the first up. It’s then several calls before the kids get themselves into gear. This trip, however, we have had no problem getting Simon up early and this morning when I opened the caravan door at quarter past six, he had already packed up his tent and was waiting for us at the picnic table! Grandpa hadn’t even opened his eyes yet. But with little else to be done but hitch up the caravan we managed to leave camp by half-past seven.
The weather was slightly cloudy but pleasantly warm. We drove slowly through the park and left via the Colchester Gate.
The first creature to capture our attention was a grey heron on top of a tree.



We did not expect to see elephants at the waterholes this early on a cool morning but were rewarded at Marion Baree. Some of the elephants were already heading into the bush but some remained to play and chat.



We were just about to move on when the Earl saw a few buffalo coming down the road. They were making their way to the water hole.






After watching the buffs and ellies we continued on and enjoyed seeing large herds of zebra and red hartebeest.





We reached to exit gate at around quarter to ten and then went to Taste of Africa in Colchester for breakfast.


They were very busy and so service was a little slow but the breakfasts were excellent and the coffee good.
It was around quarter past two when we got back to Plettenberg Bay. They had had rain while we were away and it was very misty when we arrived. But it was good to be back with the family. We will spend two more nights here before returning to Struisbaai.
So, Addo did itself proud until the end. Glad you saw buffalo – they haven’t been around on my previous trips – and it is wonderful to see it looking so green.
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It is amazing how sometimes you just don’t some of the usual animals. We missed out on the lions, saw plenty of surricates and a surprising number of scrub hares. The buffalo were in pairs or small groups.
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I have seen a couple of Scrub Hares along the country roads here too, which is unusual.
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The Heron photos are great Helen 🙂
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Thanks Bushboy – He was quite amusing
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Enjoy your time on the Garden Route!
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Thanks Dries – Very wet here at the moment!
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I saw the news reports yesterday and this morning, scary stuff!
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Love your pictures of the heron … and once again enjoyed the animal ‘conversations’!
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Thank you.
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Ek is baie lief vir Addo. Geniet dit!
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Dit is ‘n baie mooi plek and nie te ver te ry nie 🙂
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Jaaaa 😁
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Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag. Ek hoop die olifante gee vir jou ‘n ekstra mooi vertoning vandag.
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Dankie Toetsie. Ek is terug in Plett saam met die kinders nou. Sushi 🍣 vannaand
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Lekker!
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