SANParks.org Forums

Mel,

Been waiting for more. Thanks for keeping it coming.

Daron

Hi MM
Thank you for your lovely comments always
I can't begin to tell you how much your support and encouragement means to me

Hi hilda

Yes, every drive was filled with the anticipation of what we might see around the next corner
And the dust bathing raptors were a real surprise

Thank you for all your lovely comments every new episode

Hi Flying Cheetah

Not long to go until you will be back in Kruger
The last full day we spent in the Orpen-Satara area was one of our best of the trip - we saw so many different animals
In fact I am still trying to go through all the photos from that day there were so many!!

Hi Pumbaa

Thank you for sitting so patiently in the back seat as this TR slowly trundles along

When will you and Timon be back in your beloved Kruger?
Dad and I have to wait another 3 years!!!

Hi Mel

The trouble with going away for a week is that it then takes about 4 weeks to catch up when you get back home!

Thanks for always commenting on my TR - it is greatly appreciated

Hi Heksie

Yes, thank goodness Dad was a Big 5 veteran by then, so he wasn't quite as dazed as his daughter

Orpen showed us soooooo much while we were there
But you will have to wait a little while longer to find out what we saw
(mostly because I still have to finish going through the photos!! )

Hi Lionspoon

Thanks for that info on the dust bathing behaviour
I saw several smaller bird species doing it, but seeing that large raptor doing it was a real surprise

Not long to go for you and Spots to get over your bushsickness!!

Hi chirinda

Always wonderful to read your comments
Thanks for all your support and friendship

Yes, even if we didn't see the "big" things, Dad and I were always fascinated by the amazing variety of animal behaviours we witnessed

I didn't realise that a giraffe sighting at a water tank was that rare?

When are you heading to Kruger next?

G'day Daron!

Thanks for the encouragement
Gosh it's hard to find the time for TRs in a busy family and work life

But the next installment is coming up

Then there they were, the Orpen gates!



After watching the Orpen webcam for so many years, finally I was here!!
It was an incredible feeling and all I wanted to do was go and watch the waterhole

But first we had to check-in. This was smooth and friendly
When I met Dad back out at the car he motioned to something over on a tree.
Oh WOW, my first agama!!!


His camouflage was superb!


We drove up to Bungalow #12 and I was thrilled to find that we had a view of my beloved waterhole
I quickly unpacked and made a bee-line for the fence.
For me this was a view that made me feel warm and fuzzy all over.
Fancy seeing the Orpen cam and waterhole for real!!


But no animals were drinking so Dad and I headed to the shop for “essential” supplies
(= Black Labels and potato chips)

After that we checked the sightings board.
Oh WOW, lions had been seen close to the camp
I wondered if my dream to hear lions roaring might be fulfilled this night?

Saw this little chap in the tree next to our bungalow


Our accommodation was lovely
I really appreciated how they had left the big tree there and simply built around it


As the light began to fade Dad and I sat on the verandah sipping our cold beers and grazing on chippies, cheese and some green beans we had leftover.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to see the floodlight come on for the nightshift


What would we see??

Dad and I went and sat on the seat at the fence with our torches and camera and waited.
And waited and waited….after an hour Dad went back to the bungalow to get ready for bed.

I sat there in the dark on my own for another hour or so. Even though I knew that I was safe behind the fence, it was still rather exhilarating. Just a mesh fence between me and the animals of the night

I saw a lone kudu go past, but couldn’t get a photo. I also saw a pair of ears moving through the grass, but couldn’t identify the owner.

Finally I decided that I had better try and get some sleep
Tomorrow was our last full day in Kruger and I wanted to make the most of it

I could barely sleep that night
I kept getting up and looking out the window at the waterhole
I also hoped for a glimpse of the Orpen honey badger prowling the camp under the cover of darkness.
At some wee hour of the night I finally fell asleep….

Oh Mel I can just feel your happiness and excitement. How wonderful to see your dad again looking so content.

I do so look forward to your next visit and who knows where we might meet.

The camouflage of the Agama is really amazing
Your essential supplies sound very familiar to me, all I have to add is some biltong
I can imagine your excitement when you saw the waterhole for real. Only a few weeks now and I will stay in unit 10, which also gives you a good view to it

I can just feel your excitement when getting a glimpse of Orpen waterhole
for the first time in real! Still feel it myself! But I hope you were more lucky
with sightings at it than we were. (Although we stayed in Tamboti back then
and therefore were never able to watch the waterhole at night).

That unit you moved into looks rather new?

Only one more day in KNP... Amazing how quickly time passes when one is
enjoying herself...

Never stayed in Orpen camp by myself but it looks lovely and should in the coming future to be included in our list of camps

In BnD we stayed also in a bungalow where a huge marula tree was surrounded by the verandah it was heaven

Mel, Timon & I will be back in February 2013 and we are already counting the days