Day 111 (Feb 19th)We woke to a sunny morning, and after a shower and brekkie, we set off for our day's drive.
As I got into the car, I had a call on my cell, which was a lady from Home Affairs in Pretoria, to tell us that our "missing permit papers" were now at Phalaborwa for us to pick up!!!
Good news in one way (at least our visa extension was now official) but we were no longer in Phala, but 200kms away!!
Klystron asked us how long we thought that it would take to drive up through the park and out through the Phala Gate and back!!! I could not believe how kind and generous he is!!
After much discussion, we decided that it would take too long to drive up through the park and back, but we would leave very early the following morning, and drive up the R40 to Phala, sort out our papers, and then take a leisurely drive back down through the park.
It is lovely to have such good friends!!
Anyway let's get back to this day!!!
We have never really explored the areas around P' Kop, so it was a nice change to travel along the many dirt roads in that area.
Elsa is a "mine of information" on matters of the bush, and it is a pleasure to travel with her and learn so much.
Sightings were not brilliant, but we did see a "lifer" for me.............a Broad-Billed Roller.......too quick for a photo sadly, but nevertheless an exciting spot by Elsa.
We also saw a cute but shy little bushbuck, a few Kudu, an Ellie, a Giraffe and several Southern Ground Hornbills.
We drove down a river loop at one point, and saw a large tree with a "growth" on it.
Elsa explained that it was a Gall, which is caused in response to irritation by an alien
organism like bacteria, fungi or insects.
We stopped at the new Day Visitor's picnic site near P'Kop, for a welcome break.
The photos that have been posted on the forums seem to be just of the parking area, and I think that has put some people off, but the actual picnic area is very nice, and we enjoyed a snack lunch and a drink.
We continued on our journey with even less sightings than before lunch, so decided to return to Burchell's, where we had an early sundowner, before preparing for a lekker braai.
We looked very hard for our little visitor from the previous evening, but he was nowhere to be seen. We did however hear a bushbaby cry (another first for me!!)
A generous measure of Amarula each, helped to make us ready for our beds, and that early start the next day!!!
To be continued..............
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Thank you for your TR and lovely Pics 
