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Man, just reading some of the posts is making me "home"-sick...

1. Arriving at the gate - no matter which gate. The smell of thatch, the smiling faces of the staff, their khaki uniforms. Living in Cape Town and trying to make the once a year trip to Kruger - one does an African dance at the entrance out of pure excitement. (And I'm not kidding, I do have a dance)
2. Walking into your bungalow - the smell, the cold tiles under your feet. Berg-&-dal being one of my favourite. I love the smell of Thatch!!
3. Early morning, birds singing! The excitement of a new day and all the posibilities it carries.
4. Night falls - in some camps the bungalow's layout forms a circle. There is not a more romantic picture than people in front of a braai. Every one whispering, too afraid they might miss the sound of an animal's cry. The excitement in identifying the particular sound. Other's sitting on the stoep with a glass of wine (or whatever) taking in all that is around them. It's beauty like this, that I wish I could bottle up.
5. This might be an odd one to some BUT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE RECEIVING MY GOODIES BOUGHT AT THE SHOP IN A BROWN PAPER BAG!!

(the smell of rain hitting the ground after a warm day, thunder decorating the night sky, just the luxury of enjoying every animals detail - big and small, the luxury of just enjoying nature and all its glorious beauty without having to rush some where)

Why stop at 5!

How very true!!!

1. The smell of the thatch
2. Sitting next to the fence in the dark listening to the bush sounds
3. The excitement of cars stopping
4. Hearing Hippo's Lions and Hyena's at night
5. Being so close to elephants you can hear them chew

My list carries on
and on
and on...
and on...

1. That welcoming KUDU Sanparks sign.
2. The quieter North of KNP
3. Kanniedood dam in the afternoon
4. Shingwedzi
5. Early morning self drive trips, the gravel crunch beneath the tyres, the smell of the bush and everything that goes with that including coffee and rusks at the dam/river.


Like MM I just sigh! Long time to go before we get there again! SIGH

Well we have only stayed a couple of time so are not yet knowlegable about some of the bird and animal sounds [apart from lions ]

So in our short experience as visitors

1. flying out of bed before dawn which we never do at home and taking our amaroula coffee to the gate queue to share with all our new South African friends while we discuss yesterdays sightings.

2. yes just getting to those entrance gates after all the hours of airports and flying

3. breakfast in the bush, again something we never do at home.

4. the views from some of the camp bungalows, especially when animals are involved

5. and of course every sighting, although now when we think of Kruger this is the vision that so often pops into our heads, having him all to ourself and all




IMG_5965 by thesandmans2012, on Flickr

1. The Kudu sign on my reservation
2. The adrenalin when you reach the entrance gate.
The frustration when someone before you are entering the park, red lights going on that giving the indication
of animals and you still waiting for the admin to be done at reception.
3. The smell of thatch.. Everywhere.. In the shop , the bungalow, bathrooms, reception
4. Brown paperbag when buying your goodies at the shop
5. The sounds of the bush.. Lion roaring at stupid'o clock, Fish Eagle when sitting at a waterhole, Hippo in the
riverbed, Hyaena calling at night. And if you're ever lucky enough the sound of a Leopard at night. The
welcoming and joyfull sound of the birds in the early morning hours.
6. The smell of the camp fires at night
7. The sound of the first car starting in camp making his way to the gate.
8. The bush traffic - Indication that this could be your cat for today
9. Sunrise and Sunset

Sorry I got carried away for a moment.

This may be a bit of a strange topic, but I'm constantly day dreaming about the park, driving south to Tshokwane or strolling along the perimeter fence at
Sirheni or the smell of the thatch and timber on a 45degreeC day
at Olifants!
What images do you guys experience Of the park in your minds to get you through up to the next magical visit?! Hope no
one thinks I'm too looney!
Regards
WTM87

Hi Wildtuinman87,

Tent No 34 at Tamboti

When its about our beloved park, we are in the same boat and I am sure no one thinks you are loony at all.

Some of my favourite images are in Here and as they say, pictures speak a thousand words and can say it so much better than I can express.

You aren't crazy just certifiably bush happy like most of us on this forum. If I think of Kruger I always picture a waterhole in the late afternoon when the bush turns into that beautiful golden colour. Only 24 days to go and I will be in KNP

Not looney at all WTM87!

I always think about the thatch smell at the gates' reception(s) - it's like I know I'm "home" when I get that smell. Also love the atmosphere in the camps when everyone settles down, makes their fire and braais!

Wildtuinman for me it is the picture of people preparing their early morning breakfast at the picnic spot and going well with that picture are the smells of the breakfast food that is being cooked and the coffee

The sight of Crocodile River Bridge as you come around the corner, the feeling of being home.

Driving at a leisurely 20km/h with all the windows open and absorbing the sounds and smell of the bush, oh dear i'm yawning now, eye lids getting heavy, what lovely sounds, whay lovely smell!

I would agree, I can smell the thatch even from 10,000kms away!!!

I also can picture a non-specific road with a large herd of Impala on the side.

Since last year I can now picture Pafuri Picnic, and that amazing drive from there to Crooks Corner!!!

47 sleeps till the taxi arrives!!!