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Thanks for taking the book through for me!

Remember that on this occasion we were all trained guides...... It probably made a big difference to our behaviour and response.

Hi EJ, thanks for letting us into your world

It must be amazing to be soooo close to Nature

What a fantastic experience EJ. You are one tough 'cookie'! I am too old to have even considered doing something like that, even if I was qualified to go along. Sorry we missed you in November. We only got near Malelane after you had left for Letaba. Maybe next time.

This thread will be neglected for a while as I am travelling outside SA until the New Year. Have a great festive season whatever you are doing, and whoever you are with.

Hi EJ. Thought you have been a bit quiet for a while. Hope you enjoy your travels and have a Blessed Christmas and I look forward to reading this thread in the new year once again. Regards, D.

OK - I am back home! Was fetched from Nelspruit on Monday afternoon after getting an airport shuttle bus from ORT, and got home early evening after a short stop in Malelane for a few groceries. Had a wonderful time in Oz and NZ - dune-boarding, luge riding, hiking, helicopter and jet boat rides, etc - now to go through the photos and notes and look at maps etc to make sense of it all! There was little time for that while I was away......kept on the go all the time.

The caravan was still standing, although 2 roof tent poles had broken during a heavy rain storm - just unable to support water which had pooled on the roof. I have managed to sort out a temporary repair job for now. Also put another tarpaulin over the caravan and tent which is a little larger than the previous one and actually provides a little shade on the sides too.

I was welcomed back into the park by a herd of elephants between the Malelane bridge and the reception area (and dismayed to see folk walking towards them!). Also saw impalas and warthogs, and giraffes near camp.

Yesterday I drove to Skukuza to do some admin tasks, and returned via CB so I could collect my post from Komatipoort. Although I could not treat it as a game viewing drive I still saw a lot......big herd of rhinos, elephants several times, impalas, warthogs, zebs, wildebeest, steenbok, giraffes, and several car-jams that I simply got past as quickly as possible!

Marula season has just begun, and the fruit is beginning to bounce on the caravan with increasing frequency! Guess I will soon have to start bowling practice by throwing them over the fence to discourage ellies and other animals from coming in. But it is very hot (yes, OK they have give me a 'very warm welcome back'!) so anything like that will wait until the sun goes down and it gets a little cooler.

I am already appreciating the shower tent and DC shower pump I got late last year - quick cold shower is great to cool down.

Welcome back EJ, Wonderful to hear from you again, I've missed your reports. So glad you had a great and memorable holiday, it sounds as though you managed to get every ounce of fun and excitement out of it. Look forward to some more game-drives and camp comments, hope the ellies wont be a nuisance over the marulas, or, at least, not until you get back into your stride!

Nice to have you back where you belong !! Hope the staff kept the grass cut around your van or else you may not have found it !!.

With all the bowling practise you will be getting you could become a professional cricketer

EJ
Welcome back!
Hope you soon get into the Kruger swing again -- looking forward to your TR again

Welcome back EJ. We all missed the game drive reports and other interesting Kruger bits. Bet you didn't see great wild life in Aus and NZ as we have in Africa. But so happy you are back and will soon be in the swing of things bowling marula fruit over the fence! Hope you have a great 2013.

Welcome back EJ. Hope you had a fabulous 60th birthday! It was great meeting you the night before you left. We had tremendously awesome sightings around Malelane.

Daron

Welcome back EJ! Glad that you enjoyed your well deserved holiday!

Ecojunkie

Lots of marulas going over the fence......!

Yesterday afternoon I was fed-up and decided I needed to get out......so drove to Matjulu waterhole. It was quiet, but did see impalas, zebs, giraffes, elephant, and tail-ends of warthog and rhino. Also stopped in at BnD for short chat with a friend.

Today still overcast and damp at times, and still cooler. At least I have fixed my portable aircon, so no more dripping water on the floor when I need it again.....

It must be wonderful to be able to just go for a drive in the Park whenever you feel like it Eco Junkie!

I know it cannot always be moonshine and roses, but the pro's outweigh the con's by far, I think?