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Road to Maloutswa November2012


Road to Maloutswa February 2013


Mopanie drive Feb2013


Den Staat Feb 2013


Wish the elephants could see how beautiful everything is now.

Txs for posting giraffee
The hide gave me a fright
so much water
And the best hide ever imo
Can only hope that within a few months it will be repaired again

Agree Bert. We got a huge fright when we thought worst scenario - a bit of mud on the shoes. I could just cry! The hide is why we go. A Very special place.
Would be the best if it could be restored to what it was before, but the pan is really huge. Stretching far past the fenced tree project camp all the way up in the gully past the entrance gate. It’s going to take a long time to shrink, which is not really what I want. All that water in the pan is a beautiful sight and once the animals return they will appreciate it for sure.

Thank you so much for posting these pics giraffee! Wonderful to see Mapungubwe looking like a paradise again!
Would love to see it with my own eyes though!
Where did all the elephants disappear to? There were so many of them beginning of January!

Botswana if it rains in Bot they move north. In January they all stayed close to the river now they have water they move away again come the dry season all our old friends will be back.

Did you watch the secret lifes of elephants on sabc 2 yesterday? Same story they move to were the water is.

We'll be there in June July then it will look completely different.

Maybe I can twist hubbies arm and go up before that to get a sneek peek.

Just came back from a first visit to South Africa. We spent two weeks (felt like two months) and visited Marakele, Mapungubwe and Kruger.
Went back to work last week, but I am still mentally absent , I want to go back!

Mapungubwe is a beautiful place. We heard about the floods in January, and saw some pictures. Terrible. But it is remarkable to see how quick nature recoveres. Exactly what Giraffee said, it was green and lush, beautiful.
Although we could see flooddamage everywhere. The tree top hide, several roads still blocked by water.

We spoke to several people about the floods, they were still very emotional about it. Made me cry too. It's awful to hear about what they and the animals went trough. I hope that they too will recover soon.

We too didn't see any elephants, not one, while we were driving our own car. We did a sunset drive with Johannes, no elephants. However, on our first night there (9.00 pm on feb 16th), at Leokwe Camp, we heard sounds, quite close to our terras. Turned out to be elephants, three or four of them. One came up to our terras to see what was going on, heard the nervous giggling I presume. She emerged out of the dark and she stood and watched us for what seemed to me like an hour, from 4/5 meters away. She was huge! Very very impressive.

We are planning our next trip. I'm afraid we can't wait until next year. So maybe we will be back in Mapungubwe this november. I can't wait to get back!

Katja G, a very warm welcome to the forum.

I am pleased that you enjoyed your visit so much. Sounds as though you have been touched very deeply by this special place.

Hiya Katja. Very happy that you enjoyed your first Mapungubwe visit. Her magic also got to us with elephants visiting on our first trip. You were so lucky to see those Elies. In past years, after the rains, a couple of herds always remained behind when the rest moved north but maybe because of the water most of them have moved on.
Staff saw a couple of elephants early mornings near Tshugulu on the ridge but we could not find them. We did manage a flat tyre . I’m sure like NetEk says they will be back.
It’s a very special place and the people equally special, proud and dedicated.
November sounds perfect .

Naomi you would not believe your eyes. It’s so beautiful and green and all those broken trees and bushes have disappeared completely. It is as if they were merely pruned and trimmed. Even the debarked thorn trees are green and look fine so far.
The Njala trees look especially happy.

Some last images from after the flood.

Many Impalas died. Critters have scattered bones all over the place.


The road next to the river now is mostly deep sand. see how high the water was on the fence.


Maloutswa Hide parking area.


Thunderstorm over Leokwe on our last night.

Thanks for the images, Giraffe.

So sad about the impies

Hi Katja G! Would love to see some of your photo's!

Thanks for posting some more pics Giraffee! Very sad about the Impi's though. I so wish we could go for a quick visit! Cannot believe the monstrosity of a barbed wire fence survived the floods - would have been a blessing if that was washed away!!
When we were there beginning of January the Limpopo was flowing very strongly despite the dry conditions. It is hard for me to imagine that the elephants were able to cross the river, especially as we saw many little ones. But they are amazing animals and must have their places to cross safely.
Love the pic of the thunderstorm!

Wow what an amazing thunderstorm photo!!!

Thank you so much for the update photos............

Thanks for the pics.

SIL found a kudu when she was there that wad caught by the flood seems his horns were caught in the branches..very sad ... but then the Hyenas need to eat as well.

the fotos are a pleasure.
Lion Queen the storm was quite a spectacle. It kept circling and circling, getting darker and darker with some lovely thunder. I'm sure that all involved in the flood, bless them, were trying their best to pray the rain away but eventually it rained a much needed little bit.

Sounds as though you have been touched very deeply by this special place

Jep! South Africa felt like coming home. And coming home was a shock! And still is.
I've tried to upload pictures, haven't been very succesful so far