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Sigh...

Thanks MM for posting that soothing pic.

There is no doubt that we ALL get that feeling. I have learnt to deal with it much along the lines of what others have posted:

1. I feel a sense of sadness that the time I have looked forward to for so long has passed by so quickly and is already in the past. I often sit in a hide or special spot in a camp, I do not know when the next time will be that I am back in that spot. I think of the last time I was there and try assess how my life has changed since then and I pray that when I return, I will have progressed further and be satisfied with what I have done in the intervening period.

2. I immediately remind myself how fortunate I am to have been YET AGAIN to this special place and feel very grateful.

3. I remind myself that I need to leave in order to return and immediately begin planning the next trip.

4. I also remind myself of what is waiting for me at home.

5. Finally....book the next trip asap!

We wait till we've retired and then come and spend 6 months each year in your most beautiful country!! That means fitting in as many trips to Kruger (and KTP) as we can!!

Crested Val...sounds like the perfect antidote to me! By the way Crested Val, this is not just "our" beautiful country...the beauty belongs to all humanity, irrespective of nationality and so it is yours too.

One other thing I do.... about feeling better about leaving...I tell myself that when the time comes to leave, I should focus on leaving early to get home at a reasonable time and just accept that the trip is over and I actually dont linger....I pack up early, appreciate the early morning and drive straight to the nearest gate and enjoy the drive there....thinking "soon, I'll be on my way IN again."

Bushmad......thank you for that.

Nice, Bushmad!

I agree.

Last day is normally just a "get out and move along" day!

Hey Richprins.....

Thought I was the only one.....the thought process is "I've had a great time, my time has come to leave and leave with a satisfied heart". (Also....let my room be vacated early so it will be clean and ready for the next people whose time still lies ahead of them... .... , this is not a reference to the new check-in times )

I really mean that though...we really do try our best to ensure that we leave our plates, cutlery and room in a condition which we would like to find it and also to leave as early as possible, not only for our own reasons but out of courtesy to the new arrivals AND to the cleaners...."do unto others..."

Jeeze!

Good for you!

I normally sleep as late as possible and leave a huge mess!

It really is one of the emptiest feelings one can ever have, but at least we are blessed enough to have it.

On our last morning, we tidy, pack up and vacate our accommodation to "cruise" around savouring each sighting, be it big or small, until our departure towards the end of the day, so we end up travelling at night to our next destination. My heart sinks right into my boots having to leave Kruger - and I suffer withdrawal symptoms for a few days after each visit!

Ooh, MM, great thread, but very sore subject, if you know what I mean !!!

We generally prepare for the worst the night before departure. Fill the car with fuel. Pack everything, except for one overnight bag to toss our toiletries etc into next morning. We have a long way to travel, so we leave very early the next day.

Then, you guessed it, on the way from camp to gate, we have the best sightings of our entire trip. We can only spend a few minutes at each and, with the camera packed protectively at the bottom of the boot in pillows, we can't prove to our children how good the sightings were !!!

And the camera(s) still get damaged.

Slightly exagerated for effect.

I guess that sinking feeling is part of the Kruger experience in the end when the Kruger days are over and a person has to return to the routine of the daily life outside Kruger . But some of us immediately start planning for the next visit to ease that sinking feeling a bit …

Spot on, Rooies On the way home at the beginning of December everyone kept whooshing past me, until I realized I was doing 70 km/h and my hands were white-knuckled on the steering wheel!! Felt like 200 km/h. Always takes me around 80 kms to become used to freeway speeds again.

fully agreed about the sudden speed

Sigh.. I had the privilege of having that sinking feeling this Saturday past. And I'll still have it for a few more days.

I agree fully on getting used to the speed again. Between Crocodile Bridge and Komatipoort it is 100km/h and I would get up to 70 then find myself slacking again. From Komatipoort, well lets just say 120 feels like im taking off in a jet.

I'll tell you how people from other countries cope. We don't. There is a permanent sadness in my heart for every day that is spent away from paradise.
I brought a friend to KNP the first time this year and she too now has Kruger Depression. A very real condition. You never know how lucky your are to have Kruger on your doorstep until you don't. Hopefully retirement will give us the opportunity to spend more time there.
Until then, it's on to planning the next trip