FOUR DRIFTERS18 TEDDIES DRIFTWOOD and a PEBBLE DRIFTING DOWNSTREAM

Oh dear stuck in the river bed just hope the rains don't come. We're now in the Timbavati private game reserve so locals trying to pull its out . Trying to get to our next two days in Shindzela Private Tented game reserve. The Kruger has no fences for animas which roam freely and then, where there are private concessions animal can cross but not humans.

There is no electricity or telephone or mobile etc on Kruger areas so were not in communication

We got out of the mud and had an amazing two days going on real animal hunts In large safari jeeps with.trackers guides and guns - very exciting.
Saw buffalo hippos giraffes zebras rhinos elephants impala kudu hyenas monitor lizards large spotted genet vultures scorpions and many more but not the cats Apparemtly the rains have driven them to higher grounds

Sue and Josef even did walking safaris
in the heat which were very nerve racking Josef has got over his fear of spiders!

DRIFTING Thro The Kruger listening to The RHYTHMS of the Bush

This morning we were woken by a Go Away Bird so friendly it took bread from my hand and came up close he was grey with a cockatoo very tame. So many fab birds

A day just drifting thro the bush from camp to camp. Listening to the amazing sounds and rhythms of life. A baby zebra suckling its mother. enormous elephants and buffalo and just out of this world views of the Olifants River at lunchtime
Arrived at Letaba Camp at 4 - again by a river with lots of hippos and babies and deer wondering around the camp. In rondavels again and many people were using the braais outside their units which looked fun Had dinner early overlooking the river and hippos - delightful
We went on a night drive which was interesting saw a jackal hippos and nightjars
AND we still haven't seem a lion!

In the Kruger there are 1750 lions. 1000 leopards. 120 cheetahs. 13700 elephants 35000 zebra 4500. crocodiles and so on So we hope to see lions tomorrow

It's now hot 35 deg so thankful for air con

WAKE UP CALL - ON THE MOVE AGAIN

OMG Woken at six by enormous baboons sitting on our deck upstairs and outside the kitchen-they were quite intimidating!They look for an open window and get in and wreck the lodges so glad we woke up but exciting all the same.
. Sorry Boys and Max and Connie we didn't get a photo - they made us jump and had gone by the time I got the camera. You imagine a crowd of big baboons sitting outside your back door !!

After an hour in the Bee eater hide just watching the amazing kingfishers and the hippos, we packed up and left Majuli Lodge in Marloth Park south Kruger

SO DRIFTING again slowly thro The Kruger - Four drifters 18 teddies a bit of driftwood and a pebble are on the move again


Many roads closed and rivers full but at least no rain And warm. Sue and I are really enjoying the birds so we were as much animal watching as bird

Stopping at Skukuza Camp on the way up there was a great restaurant an old tin shed. Much to our surprise it was an old station even old suit cases, the most beautiful old steam train and Pullman carriages with a bar and the platform had more tables and chairs - really different. Then the last leg of our journey had to not DRIFT as we had to be at Satara Lodge before dusk

Two cute rondavels a few gnts nice meal - great day. It's getting hot.

DRIFTING IN THE RAIN AND THE RHYTHM OF THE RAPIDS

Four Drifters. 18 teddies a piece of driftwood and a Pebble DRIFTING thro Africa - in the rain! LIstening to the RHYTHMS of the fast flowing Crocodile River now swollen and running so fast that even the hippos cant swim against if! The sounds of the rapids in front of our lodge - a very different scene to when we arrived!

All around us -water logged. It's in the mid twenties tho so warm and we can still spot rather damp and forlorn water buffalo giraffe. zebra gnus and warthogs in our garden area or sheltering under the trees as we pass by

All the animals have young so to get up close to.a baby zebra is just
magic so cute and the stripes stunning

We visited Komatipoort which is on the western border of the Lebombo mountains. This area is referred to as The Wild Frontier Only 5 kms to Mozambique!!! And 65 to Swaziland. IT was founded in 1890 as a base for the construction of the railway line thro to Maputo. Took great photos of ladies carrying goods on their heads and got the flavour of their laid back life

Sue and I enjoy bird watching here- such beautiful birds for photographs so we spent a few hours just watching quietly
- saw kingfishers herons weaver birds and hoopoe and a Gorgeous Bushstrike and White fronted Bee-eater

The heavy rains have swollen the river to such an extent that Crocodile Bridge into
the Kruger has been closed and will be for four days so we will have to go back in via another gate - oh well set to improve Wes

The photos below are of the 18 Teddies and the wild animals we see roaming around our lodge - quite different neighbours !

We're Going on a Lionhunt!!!

Four Drifters,18 teddies. a pebble and a piece of driftwood DRIFTING thro the amazing Kruger park. Four hundred miles long and 2 million hectares ,no fences so the animals roam freely - it is their country and there are strict rules for humans. We saw everything except lion and leopard, even a crocodile sunbathing - fantastic. But the most special moment was when a herd of female elephants crossed the road in front of us. Mothers with their young some only a few days old. And what was so special was the Matriarch of the herd positioned herself in the middle of the road with her back to us just like a lollipop lady and stood their till all her 30 plus girls had slowly sauntered by
It was so touching

THE RHYTHMS OF THE BUSH - the fast flowimg noises of Crocodile River, the cries of the fish eagle and the grunting of hippos.
We are now south Kruger and staying in an individual thatched house overlooking Crocodile River with an incredible view - saw a hippo and warthogs while having breakfast. This area is left totally natural a real Out of Africa feel but also can feel scruffy at the edges - loads of bugs lizards etc!!
Different again

My blogs are working out to be expensive so I have to limit them but will be back in contact if we can find wi fi

Nice to hear Robs operation went ok and that Brian is feeling a bit better this week
Love to you all from us four xx

Drifting clouds - Rhythms of the Rain & Meeting an Elephant

YES it's. raining-change of plans!! Meant to be going to Blyde River Canyon, but swirling clouds and driving rain . Visited amazing falls in full flow but Gods Window see below-and Wonder View were covered iN drifting mist but amazing all the same.
Then what else do you do on a miserable afternoon! YOU have-
AN AFTERNOON WITH AN ELEPHANT
WOW awesome experience - even got.an elephant kiss
AND THE SUN CAME OUT

From Johannesburg to Graskop

Four Drifters (Sue Josef Barry and Pam)
and 18 teddy bears (knitted by ladies in local church for African children) drift from Joburg to MIddleburg only 130min-surprisingly beautiful. Stayed by Olifants River with blue lilies,wild monkeys, stunning birds and butterflies and we each had our own house recently built so perfect for first night.

Who said Joburg was dangerous!

Now we are at Tsanana Silk Farm in log cabins with outside jacuzzies havIng driven thro spectacular scenery for three hours to Graskop. Dullstrom was a place we stopped at for coffee and Sue and I could have stayed for hours it had fantastic local craft -not the normal wooden elephant ! Lots of great sayings

Barry is now preparing a braai on our deck - great

"The secret of reaping the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from life is to live dangerously"

We're miles from anywhere so connections very difficult don't fret family if you don't hear from us!!!!! we're having a ball

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!!

So much to do - from swimming in waterfalls; walking with elephants; white water rafting; aerial cable trails; caving; silk farm tour; coffee farm tour; just to name a few.
The photos below are the silk worms cocoon which has to be soaked in water then teased out and hooked on four nails

Lisa makes a super breakfast on The Deck

The Pebble & the Driftwood

Brian selected a pebble and piece of driftwood from Climping Beach & they will find a place to rest in Africa. They must stay together. The Pebble dropped in water will send ripples across oceans and the Driftwood placed in the earth where the pebble lies depicts the tree - it's strong roots penetrating through the earth binding everything together - giving life.

Shifting Sands - Fiesta of San Juan

The summer solstice party of San Juan- the longest day, the shortest night is when the Spanish celebrate to the early hours of the morning on the beach.
The 3 symbols of this deeply pagan event are herbs, water & fire -all purifying elements that make up San Juan's heady symbolism of fertility, vitality & astral gods.  Certainly was working on all the millions of people of all ages who flocked to the beaches!


San Juan is about changes - shifting sands.  Its about night to day; its about fire to water.  Fire purifies and water recuperates, refreshes & rejuvenates.

Bonfires large and small are lit all along the Andalucian coast for miles to celebrate into the early hours of the morning.  Its common to see people jumping over the fires, which legend has it, cleanse the body and soul.  Certainly people were jumping over the smaller fires - cant image health & safety allowing that in UK!!
Jumping in the sea at midnight is also supposed to wash away evil spirits but not many did that this year.   Certainly some went in for a dip but due to a huge influx of Portugese man of war, not many wanted to wash away evil spirits and possibly get worse spirits as a result.


An amazing night, one to be remembered and certainly put in the diary for next year.

The DJs were playing the Spanish top single all the time aptly called

All Night, All Day, All Night, All Day, fiesta - What the f.....  What the f....'  quite catchy actually!!

 

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