Living My Dream Day 255 (Satara Day 12)
Good Evening again! Wow, I had the most amazing relaxing day in Kruger! Sorry I cant bring you great sigthings, but then…..it was just another day…and I took it very slow! I thank you all so much for the Birthday wishes, not sure how many ppl in the world can say that they had over a 100 wishes on their birthday! I again thank you for reading the blog and those commenting for the first time!
Not a long blog tonight, although I can probably sit here the whole night talking to you all! I left camp at 6:30…first a call from Engel and then JenE…then MIL (jaycee) and as I was on the road from Susan (SIL), then The Chappies….and so many SMS’s coming through…believe me…I appreciated it all…but wanted to run away from civilisation and just be in the bush!
I decided to go to Maroela camp where I will be moving on Thursday to go and see what it looked like, have never been there! It was very overcast and cloudy….another cool day in Kruger, something you dont get very often during the summer months….but then I was thinking……how often during the last month I had driven with my jacket in the car…how often I had to put it on as it was cold! Really did not think I would use it so much!
A quick stop at Nsemani Dam and saw the Comb and White faced ducks…not much else around. Just before the S36 turn off a big herd of Buffs…ppl were telling me that they came running across the road. This is the area of the other 3 male lions that I saw a few days ago….the buffs were really very uneasy, smelling the air, shaking their heads and stamping their hooves!
Its actually very scary to be so close to these beast snorting and shuffing like this! Luckily there were other cars around! One of those Tibby and SO…nice to meet you here with the buffs Ronnie!
This buff it seemed did not have lions on his mind……he was into something else!
Then all of a sudden the drizzle started, how much could I ask for….rain….a herd of buffs…and then as the sun tried to come through…I got my present…a Rainbow! Not a nice pic…the sky was grey, the light was bad, but I saw it! Once again….not many rainbows in Doha…I appreciate it so much when I see it!
Got to Maroela camp and had a look around…not many level stands by the fence…but I think I found one that I would like to park at…that is if I can get the caravan reversed into the spot! Only time will tell….and that is still 2 days away! Made a quick stop at the Orpen shop to buy ice and looked for something to eat….they had prepacked burgers there…but at R22 for a bun with a burger pattie slapped on…not worth it, so I got a packed of crisps…and left!
Took the Rabelaise loop back to camp…and found these, once again, armorous Zebra…not sure if he was trying to whisper in her ear or bite it!
and if she was happy with his advances or saying something else….
That was the last of my sightings for today…A big grades was grading the road and maybe it had much to do with the cats hiding away…..those asking about the roads in the area….most of them are very corrugated….but then…they are trying to sort it out! Some of them, like the S36 and the S100 will always be like they are…because of the traffic on them!
I returned to camp just before 12, played a bit of scrabble with Fathima …decided to make myself a roast pork in the box tonight with broccoli, roast potaoes and carrots…..so took out the meat and then went to have a snooze….set myalarm for 4pm…Im not sure what happened….but I never woke up with the alarm and the 12 messages! I must have switched it off as I was in such a deep sleep!….And maybe you wont believe me now…but I woke up at 6:45pm….. a good almost 5hrs sleep!
I heard voices outside and it was Tibby and SO with another couple….looking at the sunset! I came outside and we had a good chat….really cant believe that I slept that long! A beer later and thank you Tibby and SO for the present of a nice Kruger mug with you signatures and a special birthday message written on it! …and a sunset I missed…and no S100 to bring you the cats tonight…..a day I will not forget for a long time!
My fire is going, but its just too late to try and make that big dinner…so, I will have a sandwich…and I will enjoy it!
Once again, I thank you for all the wishes….and again…sorry I cant bring you any cats tonight…but then…this is Kruger!
Until tomorrow
Sleep tite
Martie
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January 12th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Thanks Martie for the blog as well!!!! I am glad that you had such a good sleep, your body obviously needed it!!! Enjoy the rest of your birthday!!!! Hope you see some nice game tomorrow and have a great drive!!!!! Sleep tight and take care!!!! Till tomorrow!!!!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Hope your birthday was a good one.
Happy days in Kruger to you Martie.
God bless.
Heather Cohoe
January 12th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Martie!!! So glad you had a great Birthday, and what a beautiful present of the rainbow! Thanks for all your hard work in bringing us the blog each day, it has been a blessing to all your readers and fans:) Hope tomorrow brings you some more special treats, which you deserve, and for which we cant wait to read about! Till the next time, all the best! Patrick:)
January 12th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Hi Martie, glad you had a great birthday and got some much needed sleep which is more important than any cats!
Glad you got a prezzie too…
The article in Keur was really cool.
Have a great day tomorrow!
January 12th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Hi Martie,
Yes, your body obviously needed that rest ! You’ll probably be up at the “crack of sparrow” , fresh, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready for action and some great sightings tomorrow !
Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, and we look forward to tomorrow’s blog!
Thanks for the pic’s, as always, they’re terrific !
Much love,
Veronica.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Hi Martie
Happy birthday, hartelijk gefeliciteerd, Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, joyeux anniversaire, χαρούμενα γενέθλια, buon compleanno, feliz cumpleaños, 生日快樂, BAIE GELUK MET JOU VERJAARDAG…….
Sounds like you had the best birthday ever. You got to spend it in Kruger. Hope you can get some sleep in tonight after your longgggg nap this afternoon.
Happy sightings tomorow.
All the best
Marijke
January 12th, 2010 at 11:55 pm
Hi Martie
, sorry its at the end of the day, but we also had a busy one for us. From the sounds of things, you had a gr8 relaxing day, and managed to get your sleep stocks back in order.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for today
We left Balule yesterday +/- 09h00 (after first going on an early last game drive from 04h30 – 07h00) and drove slowly & steadily south, to eventually exist the park @ Malelane Gate @ +/-18h15, a long days drive. Part of the drive out, included the Sweni drive, where you found the wilddog on Friday last week, but we were not as lucky as you’d been.
Although KNP did not reward us with anything amazingly special on the long 250km drive out, we still enjoyed just being in the park as long as possible. I’m missing Kruger already…..
We arrived home just after midnight, and went straight to sleep, and only unpacked and got things ready for school & work tomorrow during what remained of today, after also having a late lie in.
I checked the blog earlier, and read the whole Vrouekeur article, and then got side tracked, and only checked it again now.
I really liked your pics of the zebra, it reminded me of the 3 hours I spent the other morning just parked watching them & the wildebeest carrying on with their day. The amazing thing is that Kruger just carrys on whether we are there watching or not, and I often wonder how many kills are made, young animals are born, leopards sitting in trees right alongside a road somewhere, amazing magic moments take place, with not a single human eye watching!!! (I’m sure there are documentary winning spectacles playing themselves out as I write this comment, and I am stuck here 500km’s away- missing it all)
Our thoughts are with you especially today, on your birthday – hope you had a gr8 one. Thanx for making our time @ Satara so special, and for bring Kruger to everyone while we can’t be there.
twin Marty & BRL
January 13th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Good morning Martie
Avery happy belated birthday!!!
Hope you have an awesome week ahead.
We will hopefully see you very soon. Off to the park in only two more sleeps!!!!
Have an amazing day!!!
January 13th, 2010 at 6:36 am
Morning Martie, thanks for the amorous wildlife and the rainbow, such a calming pic. So glad you caught up on much needed ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ’s. Enjoy your day today although I suppose a lot of it will be packing for your move, have a safe trip to Maroela. Regards Chrissie.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:59 am
Happy Birthday Martie, hope you had a good day and today is even better. Love the photos and as always, you have captured the spirit of Kruger.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Hi Martie,
Can’t hit the city traffic before reading your blog – looks like a lot of amorous animals yesterday! What good pictures. So glad that you enjoyed your birthday, obviously your body needed the sleep more than you needed to find lions. Glad you had a rainbow for your birthday. Supper sounds good, far better than what you would have got in the restaurant! No mention of the bugs, obviously they left you in peace last night. I hope you find the lions on the S100 before moving to Maroela. Have a great day.
January 13th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Hi Martie,
Happy birthday!! You are going to enjoy Maroela Camp. I know you have decided on your site, but have a look at the one as you go into the gate immediatly on your left at the fence. Maroela & Tamboti are the bests camps!!!
January 13th, 2010 at 7:52 am
Happy birthday from everybody espescialy Pieter he wanted to phone and sing to you last knight when i told him “Diit is tannie Martie se verjaarsdag”
I prommised him i will send you a big hug from him.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:00 am
Hi Martie,
Wow…. Marijke knows her languages!!! And you deserve a Happy Birthday in every language.
When you move to Marula Camp, try and stay awake (or blog) till around midnight! I did see a porcupine at the fence there!!!
Maybe you get to see it as well,greetings.Thomas
January 13th, 2010 at 8:13 am
Brilliant article in the S.A magazine! I was moved by your words and i know how hard you worked to make your dream a reality. Every time we see cloud in Qatar, i think of you and of course most days at work!
Glad you slept well and had a nice bday! Next year, we be eating honey cake on the 49th floor! hehehe
January 13th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Hi Martie
Hope you enjoyed your day yesterday, that pic of the rainbow was awesome.
Good luck with the move.
Regards
Glen
January 13th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Hi Martie,
Happy Birthday. Bit late.. but I hope it was a great one!
Regards, Tanya, Pretoria
January 13th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Hi Martie
Thanks so much for your blog and pictures. Sounds like you had a very relaxed, “sleepy” day. This weather is weird, even here in JHB, having to wear jerseys in the middle of summer, crazy!!
Glad you got your rainbow
Enjoy your day
Cheers
Jenette
January 13th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Hi Martie
Maybe no cats but who cares………..wonderful pics of interactions and expressions all part of the wonder of Kruger and I so love you being able to have you share it with us.
Take care
January 13th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Hi Martie and happy birthday for yesterday!!!
Maroela is a great little camp – you will love it. Rabelais dam and road is one of my favourites (I have so many favourites in Kruger!) – have had special sightings over the years there. And of course the Orpen road can be so rewarding. Beautiful pics of the buff and landscape – so much rain and the park is looking stunning! My best and most fave road though, is still the lower Timbavati – so good luck on your travels there – bring us some more cheetah and leopard.
Have a wonderful day, as I sit here slogging away at my desk in Pretoria…….
dreaming of being in the place I love most….
January 13th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Hi Martie
Glad you had a good day.It also seems the bugs left you alone as you didnt mention them once.must have known it was your birthday.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:39 am
M
Happy b/day , and wishing you much in the way of night sounds at Morula .
Andrew
January 13th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Martie awesome photos of the animals – Your comments about the animals’ behaviour always gives me a good giggle – Ha! Ha! You are so funny. Thank you – Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!
Ann
Henley On Klip
Gauteng
January 13th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Happy birthday martie, thank you for the article translation. We read your blog every day, what will we do when you are gone. You inspire us to live our dreams also. Thank you. Lynda and jean
January 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Hi Martie
Trust you feel refereshed this morning after your restful day. Hope all goes well with the move.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Dear Martie,
Wishing you a very happy birthday and all the best for 2010.
Hope to see you soon.
Kind regards,
Marc Taback
January 13th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Martie, We have not stayed at Maroela for some time now, mainly because of the “busses”, hope you don’t have too many tourists. While you are at Maroela please ask the chap running the camp to find and show you the Scops owls that sleep in the trees in the camp during the day. They are too beautiful. Sometimes you can see them at Satara too ………… often on the left hand side in the big trees just before you go into the camp …. maybe ask someone on gate duty if they have seen them.
January 13th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Hi Martie, wish your a very very hap py birthday! I found your blog a while ago, and I have saved all your blogs on word document together with those replies. I have been reading your blogs and stunning pics, and those replies. You take me through this beautiful wild paradise. One thing I want to ask you: you must have taken videos of these wild creatures, some must be breathtaking. I know to load video clips here in SA isgoing to take ages. would you please share those videos with all of us once you finish your year dream life? Kenneth, JHB
January 13th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Hi Martie
thx for lovely pictures rainbow, zebra couple. You will enjoy Maroela Camp our favourite don’t want to scare you
but in Dec 2008 we had a big elephant bull wanted to come into the camp just after six pm guard had to chase it quickly and close the gate not if it would have stopped it and then just stood close to the fence and stupid people
ran up to the fence to took pictures and that annoyed it further but still nightsounds are awesome and a quiet camp
enjoy it sleep tite
January 14th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Hello there, Martie! You may remember staying at Lower Sabie when my friend, Bev, and I came to visit you for a bit. It was lovely meeting you. Sorry I haven’t commented before, but I’m busy teaching 4 year olds at the moment, which is a new experience for me, and I’m bogged down with preparation work! Crazy! It’s great coming home to visit your blog, and to see what you’ve shared with all of us. Your pics are incredible! What camera are you using? I loved the amorous buffalo and zebra! Sorry about all the bugs bugging you, but keep on snapping away and sharing with all of us. Don’t know what I’ll do when your stay at Kruger is over! I may have to think of spending some time there too – I certainly need it! Keep well! Annette W