Living My Dream Day 252 (Satara Day 9)
Its another Good Morning to all again! I had such a nice time around the fire with VVSG and when we looked again it was almost midnight! M was not feeling well and went to bed..This morning VVSG is checking the tent of the caravan to see if I could use it incase the awning tears some more..so Im sitting here blogging while he is sweating away!
Quickly to the comments….Thank you all for your concerns about my mouth..much better this morning..I even ate some steak last night! Thanks to VVSG and M for bringing meds! Knikkie Im sure it must be the same 3 lions, they are seen by many ppl walking around the camp! GemmaT it was the exact same giraffe kill…It was amazing to be so close to those lions watching them eat. This is all that is left …notice how green the grass is around it..remember in August it was only sand and very open!
Liza Opperman, congratulations!!! Hope its another bundle of joy!!! Ruth (Jhb) sounds like your husband is the same as mine….Prefers the Sea!! Wes and Liz, nice chatting to you too while waiting for the leopards to come out! Hope you have many more sightings around Balule! Maureen the 1st March Im moving camp from Letaba to Shingwedzi…maybe we meet somewhere on the road! Kitwebun, I saw that man driving off the road, almost to under the leopard tree! Idiot…I could also not take a pic as he was around the bush….but, I did see another man taking one. This same man, I was told by click click , drove off the road, around all the cars to right ontop of lions in the road! I truly hope that someone reported him for this behaviour! Also a warm welcome to all the new readers, and again thank you all for reading and your comments!
Before I forget, as promised the pic of Girivana Dam!
Many people were packing up and leaving yesterday, including Marty and Fam…always sad to meet great ppl and then come back to camp and they are gone! Marty and Fam I thank you all for the lovely gift of the book and also for the can of Blue Stratos..(I can now once again, smell Engel when I go to bed at night)!
I think that the animals also packed up and left with all the visitors! Sightings were real slow. The sky was once again covered with clouds and maybe I looked more into the sky than into the bush! Such a treat to see so many clouds. In Doha its a great occassion when we can see a cloud! The fam here in S.A always think Im grazy when we land and I tak pics of the clouds!
Today I drove up the S90, then the S41 Gudzani road, and down the S100 back to camp in time to meet VVSG and SO. The first sighting was this Black Backed Jackal that came running towards me!
A big herd of Buffs far away in the bush and some Giraffes, Zebra and Impala. Gudzani East WH is bone dry! Not sure if its one of those that they have closed down! But the spruit was full of water and its real strange to drive the same roads a few months later and see the change. In August I found a lone Sable here, today, just water and even a lone Hippo!
The S100 today was basically what its know for by many….just a dust road! No animals insight for the first 10km! Then a few Impala and another big herd of Elephant. I took this pic with the clouds as it just felt so eerie!
Got back to camp, took a pain tablet and shortly after VVSG and SO arrived. Got the meds from them, and it really helped a lot! They went for a drive while I had a snooze (well actually, I slept!) They woke me at 4:30 and we went for a drive together. Pass Nsemani Dam, onto Girivana and back down to camp. Again sightings very slow..but we saw another Impala carcass in a tree….hopefully when I drive there today I will see another leopard!
We arrived 3minutes late for the gate and it was closed! VVSG had a bit of a chuckle with the guy at the gate and he opened for us! Many more ppl coming from behind! I started the fire as we had a braai with steak and lambchops. VVSG really enjoy his vegs, so I made butternut, potatoes in foil and a spinach and mushroom “bake” . It was real nice to be able to eat something solid again!
A nice eve and I really had a good sleep again! Now its time to finish off and get ready for a drive! I once again thank VVSG and SO for coming around, bringing me some supplies and most of all the meds!
Until tonight
Hope you all have a super day!
Martie
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January 10th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Martie – Good morning and I am so pleased to hear that your mouth is feeling a lot better – Thanks to VVSG and SO for bringing the medication.
Satara camping area must be quietening down now that schools start soon – Hooray!!!!!!!
Maybe the animals will start showing themselves again now that there is less traffic on the roads. Have a great day and hope you get to see the leopard that pulled the Impala carcass into the tree.
Fondest regards,
norms.
January 10th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Hi Martie
Well we on our way back home to Dbn. Had a nice relaxing time at Marloth before the long haul home. We had to catch up the last few days blogs. What a pity we missed the Leopard finally going to eat (S100). All in all we had a wonderful trip, 7 leopard sightings (9 no) and 9 lion sightings (39 no). Not close to last years record of 87 no lions. I know Kruger is more than just cats but I really love seen them. I still have to tally our bird sightings to see if we improved from our last trip.
Having had the privilege to sit at both the Nsemani and S100 Leopard sightings waiting for them to climb and eat, it made us understand how much time you spend waiting for that perfect pic. the most we managed was 2 hours. Not easy with little ones. Thanks again for your hospitality!! It must be so tiring for you. I am sure Balule will be very relaxing and give you a slight break.
Cheers for know!!
January 10th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Hi Martie,
What good friends you have in VVSG and Mari. Glad your mouth is much better and that you can eat normally again. We readers of your blog know how you battle to bring the blog in the north of the park especially as the service is so slow and you have to spend hours on end getting it through to us, so we appreciate it all the more. Hope you have good sightings today again. God bless. Delene D.
January 10th, 2010 at 8:29 am
PS Martie, It was at Gudzani East Waterhole where we saw the lioness take down the Zebra. Perhaps now the spruit and dam are so full they not pumping water into the WH. Delene D.
January 10th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Hi Martie
Missed a couple of blogs and just caught up. Loved the wild dogs – we missed them this year.
When I visited you on 6 Jan – I was not feeling that well. It started the day before that in the evenings my temperature went up and I felt awful and then the next morning I would be fine. When we arrived in Kokstad yesterday my temperature was 38.6 deg C. SO dragged me off to the doctor and to my great relief it’s not Malaria – but tick bite fever!
I’m now on some very effective medication and feeling much better today!
We’re spending another night in Kokstad which is a great relief.
Hope you mouth problems are sorted out soon.
January 10th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Good Morning Martie, so glad to hear your tooth is better. Thanks, I hope so too, a bundle of joy! Let’s hope we see that Impala kill with a leopard today. Enjoy your day and glad or you the Kruger is turning back to “normal” again, but I sure dont wish to be there in June this year! Enjoy your Sunday.
January 10th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Hi Martie,
Glad the mouth is easier and you are able to eat properly again.
Thanks for another set of beautiful pics, love the Girivana Dam and ellies with clouds pic.
Enjoy futher,
Take care
Regards
Elsa
January 10th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Hi Martie, so glad you are feeling better today and that you had a good catch up on sleep, thanks once again to VVSG & SO and hope M is better today. Just love the scenic pics and the jackal, the ellie pic is great. Have a good drive and see lots now the holidays are over. Regards Chrissie.
January 10th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hi Martie -So glad to read that your mouth is feeling better and you can eat again, thanks to VVSG & SO who seem to be such wonderful friends to you. The best is that you did not try blogging at midnight and wisely had some sleep which is something you really need.
Such a gr8 picture of the Jackal and the scenery pic with the elephants, the clouds and the dead tree is beautiful. Likewise it was good to see the pictures of the dams full of water. I particularly like the Girivana dam with beautiful reflections.
I am sure you are going to find it more peaceful now that the school holiday crowd are leaving – Kruger is always full – I struggle to get bookings in the rondavels and tents but then the caravan and camping sights can take a lot more.
I hope you as I am typing this comment you are sitting taking pictures of the Leopard by the Impala in the tree – is there a chance that you can improve on the excellent pictures of LITs and LOGs that you have already blogged ?
January 10th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Good Morning Martie. Glad to hear your mouth is feeling better. I like the pic of Girivana dam. It is really a great photo. One thing’s for sure, you’ve really mastered your in photography skills in the time you’ve been there! The one of the ellies is also nice. It’s really becoming diffifult lately to choose a photo for my desktop background! I almost change it every day now! hehehe Keep on taking great pics, we readers are all really enjoying them. Just like you, I also love the clouds. Hope Kruger gets some more rain. My husband and I are visiting Kruger in April. It would be nice if everything is still green and the dams and rivers are full. Hope you have a nice day with some more great sightings! Greetings, Cashandra
January 10th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Martie
Great to hear you are better!
What does Nsemani dam on the Orpen road look like? We are curious as it gave a a great lion and leopard sighting in Aug. Can we have a picture please?
Blessing
DAS
January 10th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Hi Martie – Back from holiday and we have now caught up with your Blog – Thanks – Very interesting.
Now, we would like to thank Karen and a very nice gentleman who told us on Christmas Day where we could find you to say hello. But alas it was not meant to be – We could not find you and your daughters. Unfortunately we had a prior arrangement and had to leave. BUT we think you might have been the lady on the back of a Safari vehicle and 2 young girls sitting in front of you as we entered the Camp at Skukuza and the Guide asked us whether we saw the LOG (which we did not).
We agree the service at the Restaurant at Satara leaves a lot to be desired and Management should look into it!!!!!
We were disappointed at some of the Camps (Chalets) at Mopanie & Letaba but we will not go into that now.
Thanks again Karen. Martie enjoy the rest of your stay.
Bernard & Ann
Henley On Klip
Gauteng
January 10th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Hi Martie, thanks again for the great pics, the elephants and that dead tree is so beautiful!!!!!. I’m very pleased that your mouth is better, there’s nothing worse than feeling ill when you are away from home!!! VVSG and M and really great friends to you!!!!! Have an absolutely wonderful day and I hope you have good sightings and a relaxing day!!!! Take care Martie, until your next blog!!!
January 10th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Hi Martie, only second time commenting but read every day – absolutely enthralled by the daily blogs and pics. makes me relive every trip we’ve ever had to Kruger! Have booked for Kgalagadi later this year – my SO and I agree that whenever we leave Kruger we can’t wait to get to Kgalagadi and whenever we leave Kgalagadi we can’t wait to get to Kruger – the two Parks are so different that they complement each other. You would love Kgalagadi – no elephants! although somehow one misses the adrenalin rush of the possibility of bumping into one! Keep well, we need you healthy to keep blogging. Kind regards,
Sandy, Durbanville
January 10th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Hi Martie
Glad to here you are better now. Not nice to be sick in Kruger. My friend Christa got sick on year when we were in Kruger and Valllie and I had to go to Hoedspruit for meds, felt very sorry for her. Love the pictures of the clouds with elephants. I also love to see them in a distance. Holiday is over and start working tomorrow-very depressing!!!, but glad to have a job.
Have a nice time!!!
January 10th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Hi there, glad to hear that you took a break from the blog last night and relaxed with Neels and Mari, hope she is feeling better today and that your gum is healing – thanks to your visiting “healers”. Your sitings of a couple of days ago were really special, the LIT with the kill, meeting up with Lions again and the eagerly awaited Wild dogs. The Kurri…….bird looked very contented in your hand. It is wise of you to skip doing the blog occasionally in order to get rest. You have to contend with slow connections when downloading your photographs before even starting – first you comment on the comments and go to great lengths to answer readers queries before you even get started on the days activities ! No wonder it takes up so much of your time. Take a break occasionally otherwise you will burn yourself out and your health will suffer. Hope you had a rewarding, relaxing day with no stress. xxx
January 10th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Hi Martie
Good to hear your mouth is better – hope it stays that way. What wonderful friends you have found in VVSG and SO.
Have a great day tomorrow
January 10th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Hello , Martie ,
Just caught up again with your report : happy new year , good healthy and best wishes for you and your family
You already had many wonderful sightings but i hope you will have many others next weeks .
January 10th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Howdy Neighbour(I can say that because we’re still with u in spirit)
Let me start by thanking u so much for the delicious dinner & the priviledge of spending the evening of your anniversary with u, Annette & Angie. U seem to have made gr8 friends such as VVSG & Marie – I’m glad they could come to your resQ with the absys in your gum.
Our spot @ Balule is very peaceful, but missing the good company & friendship we made with u @ Satara.
Enjoy your last “Around KNP for 80 days” – I think your feat of 1 year is quite an achievement – I think you’ll B able to have some more R&R, especially @ Balule – my vodacomcell has no signal, but the MTN modem seemed faster than Satara, which will help with the time taken to blog.
It was really gr8 to finally meet u in person over the last week, it’s quite weird, reading someone’s blog, when u finally meet them in the flesh – it’s like meeting an old friend.
Best of luck with all the future sighting & trust Kruger will reward your efforts & patience
MBRL
January 10th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Hi my dear, just a quick one… to say so so glad meds are working. & hope you have a supa sightings day tomorrow . lol JenE @ Cullinan
January 10th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Hi Martie,
So relieved your mouth is feeling better!
I agree with what Marty said, it truly feels like meeting an old friend… or a celeb!
Glad you got some rest in – you deserve and really need it!
The sightings down in LSabie is also extremely quit.
Saw lot of Rhino!
Thanks to VVSG and Marie for bringin you some meds!
Have a superb evening
January 11th, 2010 at 7:41 am
[...] Blogging At SANParks (yes, There Is More To Parking!) » Blog Gudzani East WH is bone dry! Not sure if its one of those that they have closed down! But… [...]
January 11th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Hi Engel, the Girivana Dam and photos really looks great. Are you losing your elephant fear? I see you stopped long enough to take the photo of them. Also very glad your mouth is improving. Please carry on taking medicine. I’m a little busy at work preparing for upcoming trip to South America. Looking forward to it. Luv and miss you. XXX
January 11th, 2010 at 8:28 am
I’ve got a pic of the idiot driving through the grass on the side of the road to pass all cars as we were watching the 3 male lions approaching the buffaloes. The lions were on the road between the cars. Why do some people have to break the rules all the time?
lovely photo of Girivana dam… in August I was watching the baboons playing on the dry ground there…
June 25th, 2010 at 10:18 am
Great post!