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ROFL

Vinkie wrote:
....Joburg can be very hectic especially if you are not familiar with the South African roads ....and traffic(can be very stressful)

Even after living here for 20+ years, Joburg can be very hectic even when you are familiar with the South African roads .....and traffic ...... And getting out of the airport is not the easiest, especially in an unfamiliar vehicle.

I think you did very well to make it to MMs and at least you had a couple of days to unwind before you had to tackle the roads again.

Nice episode Mel The Joburg roads are even hectic for us, we don't live up there so when we do go up there, we also have got lost a few times

Love your pictures to match the episode

Love the beer fridge....

I got lost leaving OR Tambo a few years ago, even tho I lived in JNB for a while, so you did really well finding your way to meet MM.

I hope you managed to visit the museum at the Cradle of Mankind.

Looking forward to the rest of your adventures.

Hi melph68
I have just found your report and it seem to me it's will be 1 report not to be missed.
can't wait for the next update, don't keep us waiting for to long now.

A very entertaining episode Mel
Shame Gauteng traffic (especially Jo'burg) is not a tourists friend-I come from Pretoria and it is not even my friend
Glad you made it to MM safely!

This is a great TR.

Can't wait for the rest.

Hi LS!!

And now you've got me ROFLMAO thanks to that hilarious smiley!!!



My dear Lionspoon, after meeting several Germans during my travels, I now bow down to German beer-drinking skills
But you’ve got to give us Aussies credit for trying!!


Right back at you MM
And after spending time with you it is clear why you are such a legendary human being
I don’t think I will ever be able to thank you enough for all you did for Dad and I while we were there



Hi Hilda
I’m so glad you enjoyed that installment. At the time all I wanted to do was cry too, but now I can have a good laugh at the situation


Ah Melrockson....I too made the erroneous assumption that we Aussies were just as good at beer drinking as the Germans However, after sharing several beers with some charming Germans along the way, I learned that this is not the case and we had to concede defeat
Still, I’m proud to say that Dad and I gave it our best effort and were happy to come away with the runners-up trophy for Australia


G’day Spots!!
After playing the "getting lost" debacle over and over in my mind, I reckon I could almost find the way to MMs blindfold next time!

He promised me that Sunday he would sit down at the computer and try to register on the forum, so hopefully we will see him here soon!


Hi Tawny
You’re right, I have the most amazing memories from this trip!
And writing them up in this TR is a wonderful way to relive them
Thanks for hopping aboard


Thanks Daffy, I don’t feel so now. Getting lost in SA seems to be quite a common occurrence!


I love the cat pic too Daffy!
I think my Dad can vouch for the fact that I looked just like that crazy kitty at the wheel of our car!


Hi Pumbaa
Thanks heaps for your support here and I promise that we will make it to the park very soon!


Hi Sharifa
I’m so glad you enjoyed that episode
The image of the giant beer fridge perfectly summed up how I felt at the time


Hi PJL
Thanks so much for sharing the adventure with us

When I win the lottery I’m going to make sure I have a room set aside big enough to house that beer fridge
Hopefully this will happen before my German friends come for a visit, as my current beer fridge is not nearly large enough to satisfy the thirst of the world’s greatest beer drinkers!!

(Have I redeemed myself yet LS?)


Goodness vinkie!! I sure am glad we got lost outside of Joburg - I may still have been at MMs receiving therapy had we got lost in Joburg itself!


Gosh, the beer fridge is a real crowd-pleaser With my lottery winnings I might have to get several built for all my forum friends!


Hi chirinda
It makes me feel better to know that even the locals find driving in SA challenging
In hindsight though, I think it was that first experience getting out of the airport that taught us everything we needed to know about SA roads and from there on, nothing was ever that bad (although returning the car to OR Tambo came close!! )


Hi Meerkitty
I’m so glad you enjoyed that episode
Really appreciate your support here

G’day cheetahlady
Great to have you on board

I’ll have to arrange to get one sent to California as well!

I’m hoping to get another episode posted today, or maybe tomorrow....


Hi kwagga 1
I see you are from Pretoria I nearly went to Pretoria!!
Next time I should stop in for a visit
Hopefully not much longer...


Hi Heksie
Hey another friend I can visit in Pretoria!!
I know exactly how to get there now


Welcome Joao
I’m so glad you are enjoying this TR so far
Next installment coming up soon (ish)

HI Melph68
you are so welcome, just let me know. don't know if my frige are as big as MM, but sure will try.
also starting to count the days for our visit at end of June.
regards

kwagga1

Heeey Melphie!

I remember so well how you followed my TR last year of our trip North - central KNP. You still PM'ed me - asking me on what I thought your chances would be of seeing leopard... Well I'm glad that it seems my predictions were right - you did see some!

I'm so glad to hear that you finally came to our lovely country, saw some of our lovely parks - and that I can now read all about your experience of our country on your TR! On board and ready for more...

So glad you and dad made it back safely Mel Catching up here with your superb TR so far Mel.... and loving every minute Loved some of the insight into your trip to Zim and am still howling with laughter that between you and Ms mmmm,mmmm, yes, yes... you managed to get there ok

Loved the cat and beer fridge and MM certainly has a way of getting those floodgates to open doesn't she

Looking forward to more of this magical trip

Thanks heaps for the encouraging comments kwagga 1 and Shi and great to see you here Bushbuddies!!

Now, even my SO gave me a rev up on the weekend and said "Just get on with it will you?" So....



Kruger here we come! But not before a hearty breakfast

For the first time in my life, I was to be the “surprise guest” at a gathering Unfortunately the date for the “Breakfast in the Cradle” fundraising greet clashed with the cricket at Skukuza Nonetheless I was absolutely thrilled to be meeting 2 wonderful forumites, so I was up and dressed and eagerly awaiting their arrival. Dad and I started packing the car and most importantly, put the yellow ribbon on our trusty Terios while we were waiting


First, the incomparable Shi arrived This was at 8am, after she had already been awake at 2am to pick her brother up from the airport and still looking gorgeous!! Shi handed over a box of treats for our trip - biltong, dried boer wors, and a 6-pack of Christies!! AWESOME

Soon after the lovely chirinda arrived, also bearing a large basket full of goodies A huge batch of the most delicious cheese puffs, and a tub of crunchy cornflake cookies. Chirinda also presented me with a “lucky bag” which did indeed bring me great luck on the last day in Kruger

MM laid on an incredible breakfast, of everything imaginable. We all had such a fun time eating and chatting about Kruger and Dad and I were given lots of valuable advice

At this point I would like to acknowledge a pledge I made of R50 for every mite who turned up to the fundraising breakfast.
So that would be me, Dad, MM, Shi and chirinda. Plus I reckon Duke counts as well



All up I donate R300 for the mobile webcam project

Even though we were excited to be on our way to Kruger, the brekky seemed to end all too quickly and we had to say goodbye to our lovely new friends. Dad and I left feeling completely overwhelmed by the generosity of these 3 wonderful women

And MM even invited us back to stay on our last night in SA!


The drive to Punda Maria

After our delicious breakfast we were all set for the 6 hour road trip to Punda Maria gate
MM had suggested we travel the Giyani Rd, as it offered better scenery than the more commonly used road to the northern gate of Kruger.

And indeed, it was a very interesting route to take. We stopped at Polokwane for petrol and to answer the call of nature. It was the first time I've ever had to pay to use the restrooms! It reminded me of the old saying "Just going to spend a penny".

As we got further from the city and larger towns we started to get a real feel of rural SA
These confused goats were crossing where the cows were supposed to!


I absolutely loved the round thatched dwellings.
In fact, I asked if Dad would build me one when we got home (pretty please Dad ).


And then finally, there it was - the Punda Maria gate!!! WOW, were we excited


Dad waited in the car while I went into Reception. All went smoothly. I got the entry permit and bought a map of the park.


By this stage it was 4pm and we had a 10km drive to the Punda Camp. What would we see first??

I remembered the luck Flying Cheetah had after seeing a diderick cuckoo
We drove slowly, our eyes eagerly scanning all around us, when suddenly I yelled "Stop!!"
Our first sighting was a fork-tailed drongo. I wondered what luck this bird would bring to us?


Next thing we started to notice on the road was ellie poo
Dad and I had never seen ellie poo before so this was a very exciting sighting for us
Plus our first impala!


Next we saw our first kudu accompanied by oxpecker.


Then a cute little squirrel. We don’t get squirrels in Oz, so we stayed and watched his antics for a while.


Made it to Punda Maria camp and smoothly checked into safari tent #5.
Had a simple dinner and planned our route for the next day - our first full day in Kruger!!!

Hi Mel!

What does a person do on forum at this time of the morning?
One takes the time to enjoy Mel's Trip report!!
What an emotionally charged trip so far!

You self drove from the airport to MM's place? I've been living here all my life and with a map and a GPS I still take the wrong turn off at Gillooly's interchange (everytime! )!

This last installement brought tears to my eyes but I'm always teary if I see pics of the Kruger gates!
............. and you got to buy a map!!

Waiting for more!
Listen to your SO!

Mel, I am so enjoying your report.

I had to smile at the goats crossing. It is so typical of that area. The tent at Punda is on my wish list, can't wait.

Please, quickly, more.

Wonderful so far Melph68! What are you going to call your round thatched dwelling once your dad has built it?

Can't wait to hear about your first full day in the Punda area!

Mel,

What an awesome start to your Trip Report. I can already tell it is going to be a winner. South Africa is a beautiful country with some of the most hospitable people in the whole world. I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip. How neat to experience it with your dad!

Daron