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It was supposed to be a nice holiday, slightly different from the others, but it turned out to be a wonderfull adventure in a country with natural beauties (included animals) beyond compare.


The first impact with the ferocious animals takes place in the Table Mountain National Park


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The view from Table Mountain leaves us breathless and I can still smell the perfume of the yellow flowers.


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Cape Point shows itself in a very windy edition but definitely beautiful with the view on Cape of Good Hope and Diaz beach. It is easy to imagine the trouble in which a sailing ship could end up in on a stormy day



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On the way back this friend tries to look like the fynbo and succeeds !


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This other little guy has found a nice beach for the whole family and lots of friends with kids and grandparents.



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Luckily we decide to immotalize this

cheetah because it is the only one we see close enough to recognize it as one. We do not know it yet, though.

Next Sanpark stop is Wilderness National Park. A deliciuos place, Wilderness; Beaches, Lakes, trails and rivers


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Doing a trail, all at a sudden, in the middle of nowhere the trail seems to have been washed away; luckily we find this self sevice bush ferry and we can proceed on the other side of the river.


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On the way to The Kruger National Park we stop at another park but alas, it is not a Sanpark……..
to be continued.............

Crocodile Bridge seems a bit wet. One bridge has almost disapeared under water and the other isn’t too dry either. I wonder which is the new bridge, the one washed away or the one under water!


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First Kruger animal while we are having a Full breakfast at 5pm under the trees outside the shop and


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a very good one, the breakfast.

At 5am we are on the road and our first sight is waiting not far away: a family of lions. i.e. first only females and grown cubs obviously waiting for something

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but what?

For his Majesty of course


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He makes a quick count and control and lies down - but by himself - Noblesse oblige!

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One of the youngsters looks at him with…. With what? Awe, love, envy?


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to be continued..............

Now, where were we................. Oh yes, we have just left the lions.

Luckily some way from the lions this little impala



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and what to me looks like Ecojunkie's Button family


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En passant a nit “chick”


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and what I call a vulture tree


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Even if slightly uncombed the eagle is definitely majestic


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At this time I crave breakfast but resist. The ntanda nyathi bird hide is not far away but it lasts another ½ hour because giraffes, wildebeasts and warthogs arrive from everywhere



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and after this one



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finally breakfast. with view of hippo, at least I think so, it moved!


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and a weaver's nest


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Before entering Lower Sabie, a little trip to Sunset Dam with little things


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and some big things on the other side of the river


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At Lower Sabie Rest Camp we get a bungalow that urgently needs a fix ( apart from the fridge which looks brand new and takes up half of the space inside!): the A/C is dripping and making an awful noise and not adjustable; the windows in the bathroom and one in the room do not close; Nowhere to hang or put clothes. In order to forget those “minor details” we go and have a look at the famous Deck.
Nice place, nice view, nice lizzard, and a cool drink makes us once again pacify with all Mankind.



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At 17:30 we say hello to Martjie and go un a sunset drive with one of the other guides. He is looking for Cheetahs ( some of Tiny’s I bet ) and he finds them, but they are too far away. Even with the binoculars they are two something moving; they could have been lions for all I know!
We meet a couple of elephants and see a rhino in the distance. By now it is twilight and we stop to stretch our legs. All of a sudden a big elephant appears, moving fast and waving his ears. The guide hurries us up in the car, with the pachyderm getting closer and closer sticking out against the darkening sky. The car does start up and we move slowly away only to stop shortly after. This is going to be interesting, I thought, but no! It was only the guide playing hide and seek with a furious elephant and after a couple of stop and gos we leave the ellie and his big ears behind.
Back at the camp we go to the restaurant where we eat some bad food,get terrible service and it is even expensive!
To be continued..........................................

An "in between" one - Canon Powershot SX10IS - and I still have to study a lot. I do not know the basics!

Next morning the first sighting is a beautiful, this time nicely comed and made up for show off,


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Wahlberg’s Eagle, right?

and after a short drive, the highlight of the day, a
herd of hundreds and hundreds buffalos. A sea of brown backs, enormous horns and little evil eyes


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crossing the road for at least 10 min.


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All this movement in order to get to their private natural SPA.


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A short stop at


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yes, Mlondozi picnic site. There are people cleaning, so I hope for a cup of coffee, but there is only hot water, which thinking about it is quite something in the middle of the bush.

A short ride and a darling elephant


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scratching himself all over, even behind the ears (laughing I forget to take a photo) against a poor tree watched by family or friends


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Even Rhinos get thirsty; impressing! Not that it gets thirsty but the size.

I am so glad that the park has signposted this fantastic tree.



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The Majestic Baobab is a delight for the eyes. Happy that we saw it.
A pastoral lunch among not quite similars



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After having tried to look through water to see what they really look like finally a hippo grassing peacefullyalong the river. Is’nt he/she a beauty



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This one puts down the diaper while he gets something to eat before arriving at destination!



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Does the stork bring the babies also in SA?



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and those two, apart from the looks , what are they good at?



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The warthogs are very common but I have never seen one coming out of a hole with the whole family (big, smaller & 4 tiny ones) running after him, they are so fast!

Just one more photo of His Majesty, I could almost touch him.



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and a couple of smallies



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All things come to an end. This has been a wonderful experience – ARRIVEDERCI a very soon.



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Wishes do come true now and again, especially if you help them a bit!

Yes Dotty.