South Africa 2013

Part 1

We were up about 4AM to have a quick breakfast and cup of

coffee before heading out to catch the bus to JFK.

We picked up the rest of the group at Rowan and off we went.

Over 2 hours to the airport and some time waiting to board but we took off on time sitting in the back of the airplane.

A mere fifteen hours later we landed at the Tambo Airport near Johannesburg.

Got our vans, programmed the GPS and we are off toward Kruger National Park.

Driving on the left and on back roads we viewed a lot of flat land initially.

Housing was sparse in this region and these were only the first of many shacks we were to see.

They did all have electricity though and a nearby government-supplied outhouse.

We saw many examples of fields being burnt free of old growth to make way for new crops.

Lots of CO2 generated using this clearing method.

We began to see more signs of civilization (government condom ads, shops)

and in the distance were the foot hills.

We stopped here to get some Rand and lunch (fish and chips).

I am pretty sure we were the only white folks there.

It was at this mall we learned how people got around without cars.

We saw these types of vans everywhere carrying people to all sorts of places.

There were vendors like these all through the country.

We did buy some oranges to squeeze for juice.

We spotted nicer houses although the large village behind this one was made up of more shacks.

Mountains came into view.

After many hours on the road we stopped in Graskop, near our first lodge.

Dinner was wonderful.

Our first room was very nice. Nice and warm in bed but the morning was cool.

The view from the lodge the next morning was impressive.

We packed up the van and were off to breakfast back in Graskop.

Breakfast was at the Silverspoon Pancake House. Then we did some shopping in Graskop.

We drove to Blyde River Canyon.

Superb view.

Many vendors in the parking area.

Some items were very nice.

Then we went to the nearby God’s Window overlook.

And on to Lisbon Falls where we had a picnic lunch.

We saw many tree farms in the region. Some pine and some like this one were eucalyptus trees.

We entered Kruger Park at the Phabeni Gate.

The first big animal we saw was this giraffe.

Soon we saw our first impala. This male was the first of thousands of impala we would see in the park.

We spotted this kudu male having lunch.

The first large bird was this Black Egret seen at a watering hole.

These hippos were playing in the water at the same watering hole.

The watering hole was a beautiful spot to sit quietly and watch.

Mom and baby were entering the water. Many more hippos were on the banks and in the water.

The sunset at the end our first day in Kruger Park