Rhino poaching

South Africa has the largest population of rhino’s in Africa. In large parts of Africa rhino’s are extinct already. The reason for this is poaching. In Asian countries, especially China and Vietnam, people believe that the horn of the rhino has medicinal value and they are willing to pay a lot for that. In Yemen they want the horn to use as the handle of their ritual dagger. Until a few years back South Africa managed to protect its rhino population very well

Lions and Easter-lunch

Friday evening around 6 o’clock we were just at the dinner table when Nicolus, our bar- and handyman, came running in. “Lions at the waterhole” he shouted and we jumped up. Armed with our camera we went outside as silent as possible since we didn’t want to scare the lions. At the water hole we saw a lioness and from the bushes a lion appeared. A bit further in the bushes we thought we saw more

Kruger Park

We have a lodge in a private reserve just outside the Kruger Park, so where do we go when we want to get away for a few days? Right, to a lodge just outside the Kruger Park!

With the kids and Corné’s parents we went this week 2 nights to a lodge close to Komatipoort, in the south east corner of the Kruger Park. Since we heard from guests that is are a lot of road maintenance between Hoedspruit and Hazyview, we decide to take the longer route via Graskop. We drive through the mountains and the beautiful panorama route to this nice village where we stop for coffee and a waffle. Then we drive to Nelspruit, where we have another stop. We do some quick shopping in the mall and have a warm lunch so we don’t have to cook tonight. The last drive is from Nelspruit to Komatipoort where we arrive late afternoon. The kids have been great in the car and can run around on the little piece of grass in front of our bungalow, while we take our things inside. We eat bread on our veranda with view on the Crocodile River and have a glass of wine. The next morning we take it slow. We get some groceries in Komatipoort and have lunch in a resort close by, where there is a play area for the children. That evening we have a braai (BBQ) and when we sit on our veranda after dinner it starts raining. We get a text message from Tinyiko, our staff member who takes care of the lodge and the dogs, that it is raining in Balule as well. The next morning it is time to go home already. We get up early since we want to drive home through the Krugerpark. We enter the park at Crocodile bridge  and drive via Lower Sabie, Tshokwane and Satara to the Orpen gate. Although we don’t see that many animals we have a nice day. We do see three of the Big Five; elephants, buffalo’s and a lion, and other game like giraffes, zebra’s, impala’s, waterbuck etc. I especially enjoyed the herd of elephants with the baby’s. Late in the afternoon we get home so the children can play outside a little before it is time to shower and go to bed.

We had three nice days and are ready for the busy weeks ahead.

Regards from the bush,

Miriam

Just another day at the (bush) office

As usual I get up at half past six. I help Niels to get dressed and at seven we leave for school. During the 6 kilometres long drive to the gate of the reserve we see impalas, guinea fowl and a jackal. The guinea fowl run in front of the car for a while as usual before they dash of into the bushes or realize that they can fly. Doves and hornbills fly up from the road when I approach and a squirrel runs off into the bushes. Once were on the paved road we see vervet monkeys at the side