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so........

this day would be my last full day in the kruger.........


and the day dawned bright and sunny
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and habit and conditioning (and mitsubishi) took me along to sunset dam

the morning catch was en route to the sunset tree
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and there were the usual residents going about their daily activities
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and the impala were full of the joys of summer and happy after having survived another night
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and there was another group barely

a hop and skip away from where i was parked

that let out an alarm call and their focussed attention and curiosity
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resulted in a mass exodus
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that made way for harry the hyena who was probably on his way home after a late night out with the clan
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after a while i took a short drive up towards skukuza

passing this family on the riverside
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and stopping to admire the acacias
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it was on one of the little river loops... that i spotted, what i am quite certain,

it is a buckle-head waist snake..........



(a close companion of the one eyed trouser snake)

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the only other time i recall seeing one of these (a much longer one though ) was next to the swimming pool at teba, pafuri......

so.....

after having wondered about the existence of that snake

i turned back towards lower sabie just in time to be near the front of an eloff street traffic jam


the reason for the excitement
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i got back to camp and figured i would fill my vehicle with petrol as i would be heading back to the spruit the following day

have you ever noticed the words of welcome created by the pump attendants at the filling station?
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the proud sign cultivator
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and the rest of the message.......
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with some decoration for good measure....
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some activity in the camp...
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and this has to be one of my biggest irritations in many of the rest camps......
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i think that lower sabie has to be one of the biggest users (or is that abusers?) of night time lighting east of the mbombela municipal area.........

why ???????

my last afternoon drive

and a reminder that the invaders are not just in the form of commercial enterprisers ......
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an afternoon fisherman waiting patiently ...
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then there seemed to be a discount for bulk at the elephant bronzing works
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i wonder what happened to this chaps tusk ??


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[b]it is always reassuring to see this fresh evidence on the roadside
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another roller on a branch
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and the same roller.............................

not on a branch
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a bokkie.....
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then at the mlondozi stream a swallow having a bath
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it is always fascinating to see how well the birds with the long bills manage to prepare their meals before swallowing...
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the afternoon sun on the grass
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then back at sunset for my last sunset
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but not before the egyptian crossing
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a farewell flypast
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and then back to base for my last night.......

so..........

after 4 weeks it was eventually time to go home.......

the day dawned as usual, i was all packed......

so i drove out of lower sabie and headed south for croc bridge.

once again........ good to see the tell tale signs


but then............

more tell tale signs........

someone had too much of a party the night before

and had deposited his supper on the road.



just as well i had not had too much of a farewell function the night before or else i would have deposited my supper on the road as well

because this stuff was putrid and could be smelled from a long way off.....




not wanting to contribute i headed off towards home

and had one last stop at gezanifombi

where the gnu were still sleeping,
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i took some time to reflect on my stay in kruger

and everyone that made it such a pleasure



to dorcus, at lower sabie reservations who allocated me "my" hut and all the other friendly staff at lower sabie camp and filling station

and the pleasant lady at letaba (whose name i had noted on my phone before it was re-formatted) who also allocated me "my garden cottage"

and the lady from housekeeping at letaba who ensured that i was comfortable in pristine surroundings,


and the staff at phalaborwa gate who made entry into the park on new year's morning such a pleasure,

and the staff at shingwedzi who made the stop there on new year's day such a pleasant one,

and to sprocky for showing me his leopard

and to robert t and tammy and jordan for the food and companionship

and to annie for popping in for a few days....

and to aat and elly for sharing their knowledge and experiences



and to all the animals .....
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and all the birds ....
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and all the trees .....
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and all the flowers .....
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and the grass .....
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and the moon .......
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and the stars .........
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and the sun.....
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so................
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after many pages of banter and contributions from those of you that were with me all the way.......

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and over 1300 photos
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THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it was fun..............................................................
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now,,,,,,, back to the immediate surroundings ...........
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and the impala where quite frisky here as well
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then someone started a scuffle
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so all the little ones were hurried away in a group

so as to protect them from the delinquent lads
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then i went home..................................................................