No 2816 Nyala Straat Marloth Park
Te Do Khaya is a bush house in Marloth Park, a nature reserve in the northeast of South Africa, adjoining the famous Kruger National Park. Marloth is a haven of wildlife, with giraffe, zebra, warthog, kudu, impala (of course), ostrich etc. and an amazing variety of birds. Properties in the Park have no fences. Theoretically there are no predatory carnivores although lion, leopard or cheetah occasionally get under the fence from Kruger.
The garden is bush, with the area around the house cleared. Animals will frequent this area. There is a two-car carport in which zebras are apt to sit when it is hot.
Depending on the season and the luck of the draw, the animals which live in Marloth are likely to come by sooner or later, but not necessarily every day! These include Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Zebra, Giraffe et al..
There is a large variety of birds which you are allowed to feed.
At the time of writing a bushbaby lives in a nest in the tree beyond the bird-perch. He will come out to the perch just after the sun falls below the horizon and is particularly fond of banana.
The crocodile River forms the boundary between Marloth Park and the Kruger National Park; it is about 200m from the house. You can walk along the river road or the boundary fence for about 5Km in each direction.
At the Crocodile River you will from time to time see antelope, giraffe, hippo, elephant and buffalo, and maybe lion, leopard and any of the other species in Kruger. There is a convenient viewing stand along the River Road (Seekoei St). To reach the River Road turn right out of Te Do Khaya and it is about 200m to the river. Marloth Park has its own game reserve (Lionspruit) and Te Do Khaya is conveniently placed for game drive into the Kruger National Park. Blyde River Canyon, Swaziland, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean are all within a morning's drive.
Marloth Park
.. is a unique holiday town cum 
nature conservancy, where man and animal share the same domain. That is why many rules apply in this nature conservancy. It is a holiday town situated in the natural bushveld of the Mpumalanga Lowveld, adjacent to the famous Kruger National Park. Nestled in a bend of the Crocodile River, which forms the southern boundary of Kruger, the town recently achieved the status of a nature conservancy registered with the Parks Board of Mpumalanga.
The town shares most of the plant, animal and bird species found in the southern part of the Kruger Park, save for certain dangerous species (for example the Big Five, although they can be viewed across the river from inside the town). More than 40 percent of the available land area within the town is devoted to parkland where no building activity is permitted. This further enhances the opportunity to view animals and birds in their natural state.
It is less than 20 km from the Crocodile Bridge entrance to the Kruger National Park and game drives can be undertaken at a very economical rate thanks to the so-called Wild Card. In marloth there are a number of activity providers who take visitors on an open vehicle safari into the Kruger National Park. The town has the added attraction of being only one hours drive from the beautiful tropical and sub-tropical Mozambique coastal resorts as well as one 45 minutes drive to Swaziland.
Located in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, about 20 km northwest of Komatipoort, between latitudes 25°15´ and 25° 30´ south and longitudes 31° 45´ and 31° 60´ east (grid reference 2532 AC). The property is situated in a horseshoe bend formed by the Crocodile River that forms a natural boundary with the Kruger National Park. Centre to this development is the Lionspruit Game Reserve, a natural area wedged in the development zone. The reserve fence acts as inner periphery for the southern, western and eastern boundaries. Olifants Drive, with a tarred surface, traverse the property giving access from Hectorspruit and Komatipoort, respectively. Access through Marloth Park is not restricted or controlled.
Property owners association, together with the Honorary Rangers manage Marloth Park to be as close as possible to a nature reserve, with human impact reduced to a minimum. They work with the Marlothi Conservancy, Mpumalanga Parks Board and Nkomazi Municipality towards obtaining higher conservation's status for Marloth Park and a scientific approach in mananging the fauna and flora in the park.
Land Area
Marloth Park resembles a horseshoe formation, nestled in a bend of the Crocodile River that acts as a buffer zone around the central Lionspruit Game Reserve.
Marloth Park consists of a development zone and a conservation zone; where the development zone of 1099 ha, consists of 6.9 ha utilised as municipal areas, 48 ha as road surfaces and 132 ha as road reserves. The remaining portion has been divided into approximately 4500 plots for residential development.
The residential development portion currently has a development footprint of 28 ha, and landscaped gardens that constitute 289 ha. The conservation zone consist of the remaining 528 ha, remnants of the natural vegetation that is scattered throughout the area.
Vegetation
Vegetation analysis identified five distinct plant communities, with sub-communities and variations that correspond to the initial vegetation analysis conducted on Lionspruit Game Reserve. The classification of the two additional plant communities is based on geological influence on the Spirostachys africana Balanites maughamii Low bushland, and historic land-use practice on the Dichrostachys cinerea Tragus berteronianus Low bushland.
The veld condition in all plant communities is moderate to good, with exception of the Dichrostachys cinerea Tragus berteronianus Low bushland community that is considered poor. The tree densities of the various plant communities are generally within acceptable range with an average of 1500 trees per hectare. However, the tree density in the Dichrostachys cinerea Tragus berteronianus Low bushland community again exceeds the recommended threshold of 1700 trees per hectare.
In this plant community, it is apparent from the woody vegetation analysis that tree density is not the limiting factor in available leaf biomass production, but rather tree height. As much of the woody vegetation is mature sickle bush Dichrostachys cinerea it can only be deduced that the leaf biomass produced are now out of reach of the browsing animal species. The herbaceous biomass production follows the same trend, indicating that the Dichrostachys cinerea Tragus berteronianus Low bushland community cannot sustain a fire.
Depending on the season and the luck of the draw, the animals which live in Marloth are likely to come by sooner or later, but not necessarily every day! These include Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Zebra, Giraffe et al..
There is a large variety of birds which you are allowed to feed.
At the time of writing a bushbaby lives in a nest in the tree beyond the bird-perch. He will come out to the perch just after the sun falls below the horizon and is particularly fond of banana.
At the Crocodile River you will from time to time see antelope, giraffe, hippo, elephant and buffalo, and maybe lion, leopard and any of the other species in Kruger. There is a convenient viewing stand along the River Road (Seekoei St). To reach the River Road turn right out of Te Do Khaya and it is about 200m to the river.
Feeding the wildlife
Except in times of drought, feed the local wildlife only sparingly. The following article reprinted from The Marloth Park Review, November 2005, is a good guide as to who likes what.
If residents of Marloth Park help the wildlife survive droughts, then it should be done responsibly. Do not feed them what is alien to their digestive systems.
Recently a magnificent kudu bull was found dead in the bush. The autopsy showed that his stomach content was dried mealie pips! It was obvious that someone had put down enough mealies to fill him up.
A hungry kudu will eat what is available. The usual victuals are not available in Marloth Park during the winter drought and the kudu has few options to seek further afield as there is a game fence between him and the Crocodile River, effectively cutting him off from 'greener pastures'.
What does the kudu usually eat? He eats many kinds of leaves, herbs, fallen fruits, vines, succulents and flowers, sometimes varied with a little new grass. He is described on the internet as a most discerning browser. He has more than one stomach because he is a ruminant. He will gulp food down to fill up the first stomach and will regurgitate at will when it is safe to do so. He will then chew his food and swallow it to the second stomach where it starts the process of digestion. So, the food he swallows first will sit in his stomach for a certain period of time before he is ready to regurgitate. It mixes with the special bacteria that is resident in his stomach and which is dedicated to the needs of the kudu's digestive system.
Dried maize is not suitable for ruminants as it ferments soon after coming into contact with bacteria and/or the juices of the stomach. The fermenting process produces gas which causes colic in ruminants and, in severe cases, death. Death does not come quickly and it is painful.
Experts advise that it is acceptable to give kudu tasty morsels such as cut up sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, banana, cabbage and pawpaw in small quantities.The best supplement to give kudu is the Game Tech pellets that have been developed by veterinary surgeons from Onderstepoort, says Ronelle Kemp. These pellets are made from the leaves found in acacia and mopane bushveldt, the home of the kudu. They are balanced with correct amounts of protein, starch, fat, sugar, vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, it contains the roughage that is required by game, but not available in large quantities during the present drought. The small amount of 1500 (?) gms per animal is enough to sustain it for a day.
These pellets can be bought from Willie Botha on 072 496 5773. He lives in Marloth Park and will deliver.
What about other hungry wildlife that visit our homes? The zebra has a digestive system similar to the horse. Dried maize is not suitable for the zebra as it causes colic. What is fed to the kudu will be acceptable to the zebra. Do not overfeed. Remember that wildlife is clever enough to memorise those households that put out the welcome mat and they have a circuit to complete each day. They will more than likely receive more food at their next stop.
The warthog 
is the opportunist of the bush. They will eat anything but they do have their preferences. They love the dried mealies which do not seem to have a detrimental effect on them. Warthog are grazers mainly, but will browse, eat fruit, seeds and earthworms as well. They will dig for roots, tubers and bulbs. They will occasionally chase wild dog and cheetah from a carcass for the carrion. Take care that plastic bags and polystyrene containers are not carelessly discarded as these will be eaten by warthog if it smells good enough.
The mongoose forages all day for insects which make up the greater part of its diet. They will also eat small vertebrates, fruit, berries and eggs. They roam around in groups of approximately 30 animals and make small, inquisitive noises as they forage. A little bread soaked in a mixture of egg and milk is a great favourite.
Impala are adaptable feeders. They will graze and browse whatever is available. They will also eat fruit, flowers and acacia pods. However, it is difficult to feed impala as they are too shy to approach households and any food left in the bush for them could be eaten by any opportunist. However, they have been seen recently eating the GameTech pellets when hungry enough to approach. These pellets are excellent for browsers as well as grazers.
The genet is an active hunter of mice and insects. He will kill small birds but unlike a cat will eat its catch, feathers and all. It prefers fresh food so will not scavenge. Scattering bones from the BBQ for the genet is not advisable as it will eventually attract hyena and other scavengers which are not desirable.
A well placed banana in a tree will always attract the lesser bushbaby 
and the thick-tailed bushbaby after dark. The lesser bushbaby arrives quickly after sundown and the thicktailed bushbaby 2 to 3 hours later. They spend their time foraging for gum, fruit and insects.
The myriad of birds that visit gardens will always enjoy a feast if wild bird seed is put out but take care not to scatter the seed on bare ground. It stands a good chance of growing if there is rain about. Fruit will attract the fruit- and insect-eating birds.
Trouble is on the way in the form of monkeys and baboons if food is left out for animals with no-one there to eat it. It is always a good idea to put food out only when the wildlife appears. Then you can be sure the wildlife receives the correct food. The advantage of this is you get to know the particular animal that visits you and the time it visits. Also, it is not a good idea to throw spoiled food into the garden as this could introduce alien bacteria into the stomach of an animal and thus make it sick.
September 2019
Jane writes:
This time we collected a hire car at J'burg airport and drove two thirds of the way home and put up in a b and b. The next morning we did a big shop in Woolworths (like M&S) and drove home sorting out the hire car enroute. The house was tidy and clean and mouse free!! We unpacked, fed ourselves, the genet and the bush babies, and fell gratefully into bed! The animals are all visiting as before, as we have ensured that feed has been regularly delivered. Down at the river we have seen six lions, and a big breeding herd of elephants swooshing around in the water, delightful. The new kitchen is still an absolute joy, this morning I made ice cream, soup and chicken liver pate, with pleasure! Afterwards we sat outside for coffee then lunch and the animals and birds just came to us as sat there quietly. A big herd of impala and our resident duiker. The birds were the greatest joy though, it is now spring so they mostly come two by two! Small red hornbills and bigger yellow hornbills, a crowd of red billed qauailia, delightful little birds, all drinking and bathing in our newly revamped water hole. A black headed golden oriole, little fire finches and blue wax bills all feeding at our new, hopefully monkey proof, birdfeeder. And, oh joy, the first time we have ever seen one in this garden, an African Hoopoe! I used to see these pecking away on the ground under the flame tree in our garden in Egypt and I loved them then. Google African Hoopoe if you are interested, they are gorgeous! We have also of course been happily catching up with our friends here. And Phumzile and Michael who have been loyally keeping everything going here and feeding the animals.
August 2018
Jane writes:
Well , we are back in our home in Marloth Park now, and there are a beautiful male bush buck and some kudus in the garden. It has just been raining, long may it last. The guinea fowl are very happy scratching around in the damp earth.
This morning we got up at 4am, yes that is right(!) and went lion tracking with our friend Joce. In the darkness she lost the very minimal track and quite soon I realised that we were no longer looking for lions but how to find our way out of impenetrable bush! After much clanging and bumping and scratching of paintwork and dodging huge whips of thorns as they sprang through the windows, we finally made our way out. But we never did get to see those lions this time. In spite of using radio telemetry, we knew they were really close but in the long grass............
We have not been into the Kruger yet, too much to do here, but we have seen elephant and lions down by the river. It hasbeen exceptionally hot and dry so the animals have been drawn to the river making for good viewing.
We continue to put out banana for the bush babies ,chicken for the genet and pellets for the plains animals. The animals are extremely appreciative! The warthog has again taken up his spot by the lily pond so that he can have a quick wallow when ever he gets too hot!
We have had Jenny and Tony Pask staying with us for a couple of weeks. It has been most enjoyable! We took them into the Kruger National Park for several days and we were lucky enough to have some wonderful animal sightings. We saw a lovely leopard draped over a tree branch with his tail hanging down, just how you imagine!
later ..
We did 
well in the Kruger seeing a beautiful classic leopard, lots of lions , an hyena, masses of elephants etc etc.
Another day Jenny and Jane went for an elephant ride! We were very nervous go start with but got over that and found it an amazing experience.
One day Jenny and I shared a new experience, we rode an elephant. It did look a long way down and we were both very nervous to start with but after a short while we got used and loved the interaction. The elephants were friendly and kept offering us little presents of twigs!
Our own kitchen extension starts on monday. They start outside while we are in Madagascar and then break through when we get back. Builders are like childbirth I suspect, you forget the pain in the intervening years and then you think what am I doing!
The garden is now full of courting birds and animals. We had two Hornbills very interested in our bush baby house but they were too big to get in. We enlarged the hole for them but sadly think they have moved else where. It was wonderful watching them courting, and very noisy!
2017
Jane wrote:
We have now been back here in Te do khaya, our house in Africa, for three weeks. We have settled back into our happy routine of feeding animals (and ourselves!) and seeing our friends.
When we arrived here we could hardly believe the green wonderland of five foot high grasses and the river running full. The seed that we planted, with little hope of success, is standing tall with full heads of seed! And, we are having late rains too! There have been some spectacular thunder storms and lots of lovely rain. We went out yesterday evening sheltering under an umbrella, so very british!
We have had several happy days in the Kruger. Looking back, when we left it was a bare wasteland of dry sandy earth and dead trees. Many animals had died or were looking thin and desperate and a lot of the birds had flown elsewhere. (The carnivores were all looking fat and contented of course!) Now the birds are back and the animals look so much better, even though it will take three or four years of normal rains for the grasslands to recover properly with the correct balance of grasses.
The drought was probably a result of one of the strongest El Nino events for many years overlaid by global warming.
We have had some extremely hot days of late, 38C. During this heat a twelve foot python slithered into the chilled dairy cabinet of our local supermarket! Unfortunately the chill proved too much for it and it expired. Not quite what you might expect amongst the yoghurts in Waitrose!
The baboons visited the other day and caused their usual destructive havoc. Pee and pooh everywhere and they had ripped the electric cables from the outside walls. They must have been playing in our little pool too as there was water everywhere, what a mess!
Where we live is very busy at the moment, full of Easter visitors but come Tuesday the schools go back and peace should return. Over this weekend even day visitors have to make a reservation to go into the Kruger. Our own river road is nose to tail cars!
We have just bought ourselves a bush baby house to encourage the bush babies to nest here. The Genet has not taken up residence in our roof again but she does deign to call by of an evening to eat our humble offerings! The kudu, zebra, duiker, warthog etc still enjoy their little treats.
August
Visit cancelled due to Andrew's major surgery.
September 2016 (later)
We arrived back here on Saturday after an excellent six days in the Kruger. Our first two days was in a bush camp and it was bitterly cold! We were all very surprised, especially the animals! However we still had a wonderful sighting of a leopard up a tree eating its kill, and hyenas walking up the road, and wild dogs playing up and down an ant hill. The wild dogs were very special, I had not seen them for probably ten years.
One morning we sat outside eating our breakfast, and on the back of the sofa opposite us, just a few feet away, sat a mother and baby monkey. Enchanting.
Next we drove quite a way up north seeing some very contented looking lions and various rare and beautiful antelope, (Sable,Tsessebe and Eland) on the way. We had one rather too exciting drive along a narrow dirt road beside a river. We had just been watching some elephants splashing about and creating muddy puddles and squirting muddy water all over each other, all looking blissfully happy. Then we started to drive further along the river when we realised, with some trepidation, that we were all but surrounded by elephants! Some in the road in front of us and a rather cross one behind us. All we could do was wait it out for some twenty minutes. All unbeknown to us round the corner and beyond the elephants in front of us, were two other cars also playing a rather nervous waiting game! The elephants were rather " frisky" so it was a good thing that everyone was ultra sensible!
On a more peaceful note, one evening Andrew and I were sitting by the perimeter fence drinking coffee and looking at the stars. Just before we wandered back to our hut we turned our torch on and there was a hyena walking noiselessly straight past us, quickly followed by another one. We were thrilled.
It is now verging on spring time and the birds are busy courting. We have seen a male Bateleur Eagle displaying with all his feathers fluffed up and his tail in a wonderful fan and Fish Eagles and yellow billed Kites all going two by two, not solitary as usual.
We have had some rain and therefore a tiny bit of grass is growing by the roadside, enough to encourage lots of rhinos to nibble by the roadside. It does make the drive home quite interesting! The trees will come out with new leaves anyway but the grass needs plenty of rain. We have had a tiny amount but it is still early for the proper rains. We all wait in hope.
Back home now and I am sitting on our verandah drinking tea. We have just been visited by six zebras, two of them fluffy little foals!
September 2016
We have just got back from a fascinating two days. We started early, picking up Michael and Esther (gardener and wife), first a huge amount of bags, bales of grass and many many containers of water were all crammed into the back of the Landy, then Michael looking very smart and then a very large and colourful black lady! When we came to the Kruger entrance formalities the lady on the gate was not at all happy with the grass! Eventually they stamped our exit permit with grass so that we could take it out the other side!
Reaching Michael's village was interesting, it was a poor dusty hillside with a scattering of basic huts with corrugated iron roofs. There were some shops in huts, a decent looking school and numerous mini bus taxis. We turned a corner and bumped our way up to park under a tree outside Michael's house. There the beautifully kept goats were given their lush bunches of weeds; sixteen goats, the equivalent of easy access cash!
Michael has built every bit of the house himself, breeze block roughly covered with cement. Every time another child was born he would add another room. The roof was high and there was not a lot of natural light so at that time the inside temperature was pleasant. Electric wiring trailed along the roof beams and there is pipe work,but no running water! There was running water under the apartheid regime, you can imagine how disappointed the people are in their own Govt. The kitchen looked pretty good, hand me downs from someone else's kitchen make over. Our discarded sofa and arm chair were there too!
Then, while Esther and a daughter prepared some coffee we were taken up to the next door house to meet Michaels mother, sister in law and numerous assorted children and grand children. We all sat under a mango tree, with Mother sitting on a mat weaving with a home made loom. The different colours were each attached to a stone or a battery. The sister in law, a beautiful slim young woman, was seated gracefully on a mat on the ground with her youngest (seven in all) a three-year-old, and another family toddler. Even the three-year-old solemnly shook hands with us. All the children had beautiful manners, most impressive.
When we returned for our coffee and were seated with coffee and scones the eleven year old proffered a small bowl and a jug of warm water and poured the water over our hands and then gave us a hand towel. It was very moving. During coffee the eldest son said that it was a blessing to have white people in their house and Michael said we were the first white people ever to come into his house. He had not believed that we would actually come. He said it was an honour to have us in his house, I can assure you that we were the privileged ones. I was moved almost to tears.
August
Here we are back again in our little piece of Africa. Wonderful!
All was clean and tidy and rodent free, and the animals seem to have forgiven us for leaving and not feeding them! Except for the Genet which does not like the new roof (maybe she cannot get into it). Anyway, she still calls by for chicken and left overs.
There has been very little rain since we left but the leaves have fallen and the animals are eating them. Apparently there is some nutrition in dead leaves. Enough to just get by on for some of them. But not all, two thirds of our Buffaloes have died. The lions are having a bonanza!
We are sitting outside at the moment, the sky is orange and grey and there is a considerable wind. A couple of hours ago the wind was bringing in a huge dust storm. It was coming from the south west which usually means rain so we are very hopeful. Maybe we shall have a storm, they are so exciting!
We have been into the Kruger a couple of times and had some very nice sightings. No leaves on the trees and not too many cars. The animals have been considerate enough to be within a few yards of the road too! We have seen lions mating, a lone lioness on a Buffalo kill (lone is very unusual), hyena and vultures on a kill, a cheetah mother with her kitten (all fluffy) and lots of rhino and elephant.
It has been lovely meeting up with our friends here and catching up with all the gossip. Unfortunately the politics of a completely mismanaged wild life reserve do not seem to change! We were looking through some committee notes of five and ten years ago and the same despair was being noted then as now! It is sad that a country that can produce Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and our brilliant, thoughtful and totally self taught gardener, should be so hopelessly mismanaged.
March 2016
Jane writes:
'Well, here we are back in Africa. We arrived just five days ago and we have been settling in nicely. The house was in very good order, hurrah, and no traces of rodents dead or alive!
The rains have come at last so everything looks damp and fresh which is lovely. But sadly we still have no grass as everything has been eaten, roots and all. We are trying to feed our remaining surviving animals. But, with many fewer animals and rain at last,slowly matters should improve here. The Kruger should regenerate much quicker as they have a natural balance between browsers, grazers and predators and so is not over grazed. The hippos though are hit the worst as they currently expend so much energy having to walk such great distances from river to food that they cannot take in enough and so are starving to death. Very very sad.
We have been having our usual excitements with the car, it would be so dull if everything worked all the time! Andy's garage, which so far we have visited several times in the last few days, is a source of much socialising and merriment. Arriving there the other afternoon having developed a nasty noise when driving in the Kruger, we found garage owner Andy, a client and two of their mates all sitting in an ancient Land Rover drinking beer and passing bottles out to all and sundry!! It could only happen here! There was also a group of us ladies chatting away. In the meantime yet more clients were arriving with dusty land rovers clapped out or otherwise, and complaining of unfortunate noises or other malfunctions. And all this in the stifling heat, but, amazingly, some work still gets done. We suddenly saw our vehicle being driven off with a chap hanging onto the running board listening to find out where our noise was coming from. It was all quite unreal, like some strange other world that I have fallen into ! We went home with the noise sorted and new brake pads on order feeling like we had been to a party, I hasten to say that we were absolutely sober!
Today is the start of the SA Easter holidays so Marloth has a lot of extra people. We are just relaxing quietly here, not going anywhere. And anyway it is just too hot to do anything.
The only real excitement here is that a couple of days before we got here two rhinos got through our fence and were spotted trotting along one of our roads. I am so envious of the people who saw them. They were herded back into Kruger by a helicopter.'
Later:
'Here is a heart warming story for you which happened just this morning! We were sitting on our verandah drinking our early morning tea when we heard a little thump followed by squeaking. Andrew went to investigate and found a tiny genet kitten on our balcony, with mum peering anxiously out of a hole in the the thatch up above. Nothing happened for what felt like hours but was probably only one hour. The kitten continued to squeak piteously and mum came down to a lower beam and gazed on anxiously. We could not think what to do to help, save offer water ,which we did. Eventually we had to get ready to go out and mum somehow managed to retrieve her little one and get it back up into the very apex of the roof, some nearly 20 feet up! We cannot work out how she does it, let alone with a kitten by the scruff of its neck! We were so happy with the way this all turned out, we could not stop smiling!
Easter Sunday
We had a new and rather different experience this morning, we attended the Sun Rise service at 6am. Down overlooking the river. To begin there was the sky flecked and layered with pink, and then the full sun. It was glorious, no clouds but beautifully fresh. Lots of people,mostly Afrikaans speaking but the service was in English too. You should try singing hymns in Afrikaans, not easy!'
Tuesday April 5th
The social life continues unabated! Good friday started with home-made hot-cross buns at Gillian and Neil's followed by sundowners at Joce and Geoff's in order to meet Michael Young's american and english visitors. Sharon and Andy from Andy's Automotive (carers of the Land Rover) came for drinks etc on Easter Sunday, then Joce's easter Braai on Easter Monday (postponed from Sunday as a result of our prior engagement with Sharon and Andy). On Wednesday 31st we hosted our joint birthday party at TDK with 15 people including ourselves. On Sunday Neil and Gillian came to help us drink the champagne which they had brought as a present and today Tuesday we go to Joce's for sundowners to meet her sister.
Then tomorrow April 6th we are off to Marilyn's in J'burg to stay the night before putting ourselves and the car on the Shoshaloza Express to Cape Town. More later!
Road Trip
We started our trip on Wednesday and got to Johannesburg uneventfully. It was pouring with rain and very cold to our surprise. We decided that we had no hope of finding our way to Joburg station so arranged for a taxi driver to lead us there. Well, just imagine an underpowered elderly Land Rover trying to follow a taxi driver( he took no prisoners ) through Johannesburg rush hour! We completely lost him at one stage, very hairy!
The train trip was wonderful but sadly we lost the best part of it due to a broken down goods train. We were so delayed that we arrived too late to go through the wine lands as track maintenance closed the line!! Never mind, we were bussed into Cape Town and collected our car the next morning. Then we discovered that getting a long wheel base underpowered Land Rover into a minuscule awkward underground car parking space, well it is impossible! We did eventually find a car park elsewhere.
We are staying in an amazing Art Deco apartment on the sixth floor, but every floor is just so tall that we are very high up. The apartment has various mezzanine floors. The views from the balcony are up to table mountain and over the castle and the city, incredible.
Then yesterday when we went to see the chap about getting me residency he discovered that the visa in my passport had been put in incorrectly, saying that my visa would run out in two days time, nasty shock. We had to rush to the airport and talk to the immigration people. They were very pleasant and efficient and it turns out that on the computer system my visa is correct, just wrongly written ! By the time we got home I was so exhausted I could do nothing,just drink a reviving glass of wine!
Now we are off to Franshoek via Stellenbosch. Wine lands proper !
Have arrived at our beautiful Cape Dutch Guest House, on the Rickety bridge wine estate. Franschoek is surrounded by mountains and everywhere are immaculately groomed vineyards with imposing tree lined roads through to the farm house. Visited small wineries: La Bri, Stoneybook and Glenwood, where we took an excellent lunch. We also tried some delicious wines and bought a few bottles too.
Sutherland
There is NOTHING in Sutherland, apart from the South Africa Large telescope (SALT)! It is approached by 100Km of nearly staight empty road and it is reputed to be the coldest place in South Africa. The telescopes are impressive and the SALT itself has a 9m mirror, the largest in the Southern hemisphere. In the evening they run an excellent talk during which one can view through 14" and 16" instruments the portions of the heavens which are not obscured by cloud. One of the many highlights was the trantula Nebula and it is amazing how much more can be seen with telescopes of these sizes.
Karoo National Park
This is a beautiful park and the San parks camp is excellent, professionally run and modern well-appointed chalets. The scenery is fantastic.
We are having such a lovely trip, been through spectacular scenery and seen animals new to us including the Aardwolf.
Off now to buy some maps for the next stage and to drive through the Valley of Desolation!!
Graaff Reinet, Gariep dam and Golden Gate National Park
We are having a wonderful trip, I cannot quite believe that we, yes we(!)are driving the Land Rover through endless miles of desert scrub and mountain scenery. It is most exciting. We stayed in one town, Graaff Reinet ,where less than two hundred years ago the gardener shot a rhino in the garden!
Then on to Gariep Dam where we found a delightful farmstay at BlouWartDriek.
I think I said how much we enjoyed the wine lands. Now we are staying in the Golden Gate national Park, a sort of canyon land, most impressive. We have had our funny moments though like when we went to the park "convenience" store to stock up on basics and found the shelves virtually bare except for sweets and crisps! Also the only bathroom toiletries provided was a shower cap and there was no shower! But the view from the window quite makes up for all that.
Tomorrow we plan to visit a Basutoland cultural village. Lesotho, where the Basuto come from, is a mountainous kingdom nearby, it should be very interesting. On Monday we shall get back to Marloth Park and regular wifi again.
Home again
We have now settled in back here, unpacked and sorted the laundry.
At this very moment all the shady spots in our garden are occupied by somnolent mongooses! We had a visitation of them and they fell on their offering of bread and milk with happy yum yum noises. They noisily fought off the wart hogs who were trying to muscle in ! Our cleaning lady is here and her gorgeous baby is fast asleep on our spare bed. So, all is well with our world.
6th May
It remained extremely hot and humid here for a number of days but at last it is cooler, much more what it should be for this time of the year .We have had some rain here at last ,It came with masses of thunder and lightning, we were sitting on a friend's verandah and it was a most spectacular display! So good to sit out with the rain lashing down and the storm all around us !
I have told you about the adventures of the Genet who lives in our roof. The baby Genet fell out of the roof some weeks ago and we were worried that it might ultimately have expired. However, the other day in broad day light, we saw mother and baby set out across our garden. The adult was treading softly and stealthily but the kitten was bounding joyously ahead. It was such a happy sight we smiled and smiled! The Genet gets bolder and bolder, a few evenings ago it came up on the verandah bold as brass while we ate our supper and walked straight under our table and out the other side!
At this moment we are sitting in our spare room taking cover from our cleaning lady , her baby and 8 thatchers! Old thatch, dust , dirt and debris are raining down all around the house AND inside the house! This is now the third day and you can only go shopping so much! Periodically a man does spider man stuff inside the house up poles and across poles, with v. long drops. I cannot look! There does not appear to be any regard for " health and safety" and when a man mounts a 25 foot ladder between rough ground and thatch no one holds the ladder, just looks on! Outside up on the steep high roof there is a similar care free attitude. Fine until someone falls off, and they do!
This weekend we are going into the Kruger with friends, we shall share a self catering bungalow in a bush camp and explore areas we do not often go into. We very much hope to see wild dogs, but, it is luck! All I know is we shall have great fun, red wine and good conversation!
We drove along the river just now on our way back from the shops and saw two lovely herds of elephants, a giraffe and some water buck. Andrew is now fast asleep, he has the gift of being able to just switch off!
21st July - 17th November
Arrived on own and drove to TDK.
Giles & Co arrived mid-night Saturday as a result of a flight change!
2 nights at Oliphants 27th, 28th July. 2 nights at Moholoholo 5th and 6th August, very good. Had private viewing of Brian Jones' raptor collection including martial eagle and chick.
Sasha always very busy feeding animals, making bird-feeders etc.. Altogether we/they spent 11 days in KNP getting great value out of their family wildcard. On one occasion saw two different leopards in trees on Lower Sabie - Nkulu road as well as many lion sightings.
Weds 19th Giles & Co off to cape Town on way to Qatar.
Friday 21st August Jane arrived Nelspruit - yee-ha!!
Jane writes:
"When Andrew picked me up at the airport he whisked me away on a romantic weekend complete with bubbly and strawberries dipped in chocolate, it was such fun! We had some lovely meals out with wonderful wines.
The highlight of the weekend was an elephant interaction, we got really close to some huge bull elephants. Elephants always look big but when you are really close they are enormous! One lay down right in front of us and we were able to touch its ears and different parts of skin and hair and also its tail hair and tusks. The elephants understood a great number of verbal commands, it was all quite fascinating for someone like me!
So, now we are back at the house and everything was immaculately clean and tidy, no mice bats or rats! We still have wart hogs, Impala, kudu, genets, bush bucks and Wilde beasts etc etc and monkeys of course. But in the garden!
We went out to lunch yesterday, twelve of us, and sat around drinking wine and chatting. It was so nice to see everyone again.
It is an absolutely beautiful day today. Blue skies sunshine and a light breeze, we plan to go down to the river soon to see if the elephants are around.
This weekend we are going to Swaziland, I am told the scenery is lovely and there are some excellent craft shops. We have been trying to go to Swaziland for ages but the car kept breaking down! Now the car is going very sweetly."
"We are just back from a gorgeous visit to Swaziland. It was so beautiful, wide vistas of rocky hills and broad valleys. Small rural villages with cows and goats and chickens and little children running around, delightful! Also you can buy wonderful craft work, candles, recycled glass, spectaular weaving and woven baskets. Nothing tatty, all beautifully designed and made. We came back with all sorts of lovely stuff.
Back at TDK all goes ahead with building our garage, a team of nine men so the work progresses fast in spite of there being no water for 24 hours! Never a dull moment!
We have had some rain here at last so the first green shoots should come through very soon, we already have spring flowers."
"I am just back from a lovely week in the Kruger.We stayed with friends of Andrew (Dave and Julienne Rushworth) on the way up north. They live in a completely round house on a grassy knoll and surrounded by flowering trees and palms, idyllic. I had been warned that we would be greeted on arrival by at least eight dachshunds, in the event there were ten! All very friendly and clearly living in a doggy paradise!
The friends were real characters, such kind and interesting people. Pioneering stock from Zimbabwe originally.
From there we drove on up to the very north which rather surprisingly was cooler and greener than down south. We were not on a great animal hunt just enjoying the scenery and what ever animals and birds came our way. All the usual culprits,including a group of giraffe resting under a tree, wallowing elephants and a leopard resting in the crook of a tree! We had a baby Duiker living under our tent, the mother had obviously decided it was a safe place to leave the fawn whilest she went off during the day. Enchanting.
We went one day to a beautiful picnic spot next to the Limpopo river. We had decided to have a go at cooking our brunch South African style on a gas thingy. Unfortunately we had forgotten to bring cooking implements, it is not easy to remove fried eggs with a knife and fork! It all tasted good though and was good practice for when Andrew's cousin comes out next week. We do now have picnic cooking implements!
Kruger was a good place for me to get the hang of driving the Land Rover. Our previous vehicle, the one we kept repairing, finally blew its gasket again and we gave up on it and bought an elderly but sturdy Land Rover. It is not like other cars, the gears are very soggy and there does not appear to be any synchromesh on fourth gear, I just try to avoid fourth all together! Today It is in our favourite garage, our second home (!) having all its snags fixed. The gear box will be done when we are back in UK.
It is very hot here, too hot and too soon, and still no rains. Poor animals."
18th April - 23rd June
Arrived JNB with Jane, met by Marilyn; after coffee left for Marloth. Jane drove from ALZU to Shoemanskloof where it transpired that the cylinder head gasket on one side had blown. Obtained water from Joubert Fruit Estate and managed to get to Marloth. Car towed to Fernando on Tuesday 21st April. Five weeks later car is ready so drove to Elmswood Furnitire to collect a blanket box. After 23Km engine died with a bang. Rescued by Fernando and kept his car for next 3 weeks. It turned out that the engineering workshop had fitted someone else's valves causing wreck of engine. Result: complete engine rebuild at no cost to us!
On arrival at TDK found the place in a disgusting state! Mouse dropping everywhere including cupboards, dreadful smell in front bedroom, old cushions unusable so thrown away. Also Dead rat in duvet, snakeskin in upstarirs bedroom aircon unit, mouse dropping in food cupboard. Am not impressed with the cleaning service so have organized a new lady (Phumzile) to clean on a weekly basis all the year round with Michael as keyholder.
So much for the problems!
Otherwise had super two months with many trips into KNP, much socializing with Joce and Jeff, Di and JJ, Gillian and Neil, Genie and John and Michael (Young) who was there without Dorothy and suffering from vasculitis. Also many trips to Nelspruit to sort out car repair and buy essentials for kitchen, e.g. potato masher, steamer for veggies and a new cooker! Is same as old one except made by Defy, has insulated oven handle, gas controls with readable legends, oven control graduated in temperature and it simmers! Jane now happy and is also on good terms with the halogen cooker.
KNP Trip with Genie
Many elephants, Jane happy! Black rhino on S28
A couple of lion tracking forays in Lionspruit with Joce with very good sightings. 
Bushbabies and Genets
Big success with these guys! The bushbaby swing has proved very popular; as many as five of them at a time between the rails and the swing; the bravest of them are prepared to jump onto the table and feed from a plate within inches of us.
We've had three genets visiting, one of whom sits like a real cat and waits for morsels of smoked-vienna-with-chicken.
The Veldt and the animals
The vedlt in MP is in dreadful state: there is no grass at all and little browse. As usual the Municipality has continued totally to neglect both the animals and the veldt; their only idea of conservation being to appoint contractors to capture valuable animals for sale and maybe get round to removing the excessive number of impala and warthog. As I write they have captured saleable animals but done nothing about the implala or the warthog. Instead our own rangers have disposed of 165 or more warthog. Meanwhile, we have been feeding the impala, kudu, zebra and even warthogs in an attempt to keep them alive during their last days whilst we wait for NKLM and the contractors to do something about it.
Not a good situation...
Another busy time getting ready for Giles, Julia and Sasha coming on 26th July and staying until 23rd August!
Fetched them on Sat 26th from O. R. Tambo at 5;30pm and drvoe straight to marloth, arriving around 10:00pm. Good trip as very light traffic and no hol-up at the groge roadworks.
Did everything within reasonable range: 3 days in KNP at Oliphants during firs week, Blyde River trip for three days during second week. Included stay at Trackers and 24-hr deal at Moholoholo which was excellent. Firest camp accommodation is first class as is the food. Visit to Hoedespruit Reptile Centre on way home interesting, particularly mambas in the trees above the puff-adder pit. Declined offer to have python round neck, but some of us ventured to stroke it!
A highlight was lion-tracking by radio in Lionspruit on the first Tuesday, by special permission of the official rangers. Found Fluffy and Desi at the old graveyard and Giles took good photos.
Day trips also to Swaziland and Nelspruit and many visits to Spars at Komatipoort and Malelane. Tried out the deck restaurants at Komatipoort Golf Club and Lino's in Malelane.
Giles spent many hours setting up remote control cameras and flashgun to take pics of genets and bushbabies, with good success. Also he set up a second router as a wifi relay which has much improved reception on the stoep. That required to use of the ethernet mains transducer from the webcam, so no webcam for the time being, folks! It needs replacing anyway so will ponder this for next visit.
Three further trips into Kruger and many excellent sightings from marloth at the river as well as in KNP.
Plus all the usual activities at home with plenty of animals and birds, mongoose being one of the highlights. Were entertained by Joce and penlope and returned the compliment here also with a visit by John Webb and his two gradchildren on the last night.
24th May - 14th July!
Another big gap, sorry about that, gentle readers! There has been so much to do, no time for reminisc. Have been working on websites for Conservancy and Honorary Rangers, who seem to want one each when objectives are almost identicial. But the customer is always right, or at least one has to do what he/she wants. See Marlothii Conservancy and Honorary Rangers.
Also much activity on the lion tracking project in Lionspruit, the bad news being that our old lioness is now in the happy hunting ground in the sky. But she was at least 15 years old and that is a brave age for a lioness in the wild.
The bigest excitement in my little life was at a braai the other night. We are all minding our own business when the host, who happens to be one of the Hon Rangers snake catchers, received a call from a lady who had a python lying along the top of the bookcase in her lounge. So I drew the straw to take pictures of said animal and of the capture operation. This thing was huge: at least 3m and needed two strong men to hold it. Back at the braai twenty minutes later we delighted the assembled company by opening the bucket and letting the guy slither out!
Spent all day on Saturday (Orange Day) at the Hon Rangers Winter Fair, mostly on the hot dog/burger/bacon and egg roll stall and a couple of hours on the gate taking money. one has to show willing!
20th April - 23rd May
Sorry to disappoint my few readers for the last month but have been somewhat occupied one way and another. Easter in Marloth was hectic, inundated with people and traffic to the point where the animals all disappeared for the duration. Easter Week was followed by the May Day public holiday, which in turn was followed the next week with election day. One guess as to the result!
Successful Lion Stakeout with Joce on 23rd April, all three present and good shots of each (see Fluffy: right). Mama cat not looking good. At 16 years old she is arthritic, teeth probably not good and she is thin. Bit worrying. On return to Joce's for customary 'glass of wine', we found Geoff in considerable pain having fallen and taken half-an-hour to get back onto the couch. Result: medi-clinic next day (Thursday) with broken hip and collar bone. So he was in hospital for a week having had hip-replacement on the saturday. I visited him on 30th en-route to pick Barron at airport and he looked much better although it will be some considerable time before he is back on his feet properly.
So then had Barron for three weeks, leaving Monday last, May 19th. Spent the time chilling on the stoep interspersed with various 'prior and subsequent engagments' and two three-day trips in Kruger Park. Engagements included dinner with Gillian and Neil, sundowners and braai with Penelope and Cedric, sundowners with Joce and Geoff, Dorothy and Mike's Evening Soiree, Dinner with JJ and Di, etc etc.. Plus: Monday 5th, summoned to Hon Rangers Committee meeting to discuss new website; Monday/Tuesday 12th/13th, two-day First Aid Course. Am supposed to be 'Level Two First Aider', capable of CPR, detecting various types of injuries, types of shock and all that sort of thing. Am certainly better informed..
On top of all this, had Eric Ndhuna (builder) to remove brick-bed from back bedroom, remove all tiling, re-tile with new tiles, plaster and paint the walls! Looks much better but now need new bed: either double-bed base or complete single. May go for latter as would make good bedroom for me.
So neglect of blog is perhaps not surprising..
Barron went on Monday last which gave opportunity to leave car in Nelspruit with Fernando to have air-con and heater sorted out plus two new front tyres. Involved dumping him at airport, delivering car, cadging lift back to airport, hiring cheapest car possible to drive back to Malelane and being met by Di and JJ to return to Marloth. Now have loan of their second car (Di's) for the duration which should be until next wednesday.
Weds 20th May: super Lion Stakeout with grest shots of Desi and Mama-cat. V. worried about mama. Got lost in the deep bush in the dark: one bush or tree looks much the same as any other and we couldn't see the stars or anything remotely useful like the track by which we came. Interesting experience!
Oh and by the way, Stuart Long and I are in charge of Genie's two houses whilst she is in UK on her first-ever visit outside Africa. However Stuart is in KNP this week organizing the Kruger Hon Rangers 50th Anniversary knees-up so this week I have sole responsibility. Think cleaning is organized for both houses. Yesterday had lunch at Komatipoort Deck with Joce, Geoff, Dorothy, Mike and John Webb (who is now back from Oz) and (fortunately) remembered, when John pitched up for a beer at 5:00, to give him Genie's car and her own house keys so that he can give them to her when he picks her up in J'burg in a week or so's time. Tomorrow (Saturday) have to meet her clients from Switzerland who have rented Marloth Bush Retreat for a month. Also am invited to lunch with Penelope and Cedric so I guess it will all work out altough the Swiss will probably arrive in the midde of lunch.
This morning: 'Bush Walk and Talk' by Andre Engelbrecht about the plant-animal eco-system in Marloth Park followed by braai down by the river. Since Joce unable to leave Geoff, providing breakfast and beer for Andre was delegated to Di and me. I brought bacon, eggs and beer (Windhoek draught). Seemed ok nad JJ cooked excellent meal.
That's it up-to-date, folks! It's now nearly time for sundowners..
Saturday April 19th
Easter saturday! Quel day! Started with bird walk at 07:00, then coffee with Di and JJ followed by thrill of the year - the Property owners AGM. Good news, have got JJ onto Committee. Then back home, quick glass of red and off to man Hon Rangers Stand at the Easter Fair.
Marloth is bunged, people everywhere, mostly come for 'a beer and and a braai'. Have various chores to do next week: fix fenja's TV, help Stuart backup his PC, show Peter how to de-multiplex audio from existing video files. Also have Di, JJ and Genie to lunch tomorrow. the 'Moday Clucb' meetsfor lunch on Wednesday!
Impala have got the idea that there might be treats going here, but are very skittish. Bush still green, plenty for them to eat.
Past week has been busy busy, no time to update blog and can't rememeber what happened each day xcpt for Monday: alien plant extermination, spent hot stickly hours chopping and spraying lantana. Tuesday: spent day in Kruger with Joce: saw cheetah in first 5 mins, then nothing beyond usual suspects until the end when had super sighting of leopard. But several good birds inc. african harrier hawk (Gymnogene), dark chanting goshawk, sand grouse, martial eagle, vultures etc.. Wednesday: shopped in Komatipoort and dinner at Di and JJ's. Thursday:??. Friday: hot-cross buns with Neil and Gillian and spent afternoon with Genie.
Thursday 4th April
Arrived from London 1 hour late and my bags were the last off! Met by Marilyn, coffee and bacon and eggs at her house, then drove to Marloth. Made Nelspruit in 3 hrs 10 mins (Woolworth's for grocery shopping), then stuck at the stop/go at the head of the gorge for 90 minutes (they are widening it!). Only amusement a severe electrical storm with continuous lightning. Eventually arrived at house 8:30pm. Bit tired...
Friday 5th April
Organized house: drinks with Joce and Geoff and Genie in evening. Good crac..
Saturday April 6th
Arose 5:30 am to be in time for 7:00 bird walk and 10:00 Conservancy AGM.
But: only the merest trickle from any hot tap. Checked emails: computer has died overnight. Looks like power supply has given up. And it is raining.
Oh well, bash on. These things happen.
Went to bird walk, met old mates, told of these disasters. Keith says hot water problem probably pressure reducer to geyser, try giving it a thump. Di says can borrow her computer. So back home, gave pressure thingy a thump, and lo und behold, we have hot water! Back to Jabula Lodge to meet mob for breakfast. Talked to Mike who has spent time in Qatar setting up College of Technology.
Then Conservancy AGM. Shouldn't have gone as am now on committee without the option.
Coffee with DI and Jay, and home with their old laptop.
After lunch went to Komatipoort for odds and ends of shopping (need wine to take to Penelope's tomorrow lunchtime), decided would take dead PC to the indian guy who fixes same just in case he would be there on a sat afternoon when rest of shops are closed (except Spar).
Wow, PC guy is there, has suitable power supply, discovers that DVD drive has gone up in flames causing power supply to do likewise. Half an hour later am back on road home with working PC having spent GBP40! You couldn't do that in Ballymena!
Sunday April 7th
Excellent lunch and much crac at Penelope and Cedric's. Am nearly up-to-date with the news and the politics!
Monday April 8th
Spent most of day changing lighting control modeules for LED versions. Works after a fashion. Have got Field on the case re the alarm system and have explained not paying for all their visits failing to fix fuse-blowing problem. They are waiting for the 'top tech' to arrive back in Marloth to find out what is problem. Don't think they would bother had I not complained.
Animal report:
Have been here 4 days now. First day warthogs were the only visitors: I knew you could count on these guys! 2nd day: warthogs, Guinea fowl and vervet monkeys; one got in and nicked the bananas. Third day: impala, warthogs, monkeys and bushbaby at night. Put chicken out to lure genet; didn't see but chicken gone by morning. 4th day: all the above + zebras at 6:30pm. Word is obviously getting around so guess I'd better buy pellets. Saw genet v. briefly at 9:00pm, chicken all gone.
Tuesday April 9th
Can't remember what happened!
Wednesday April 10th
Lunch at Joce's, with Stuart, Dorothy and Mike.
Thursday April 11th
Continued lighting project, Stuart came with long ladder to help change bulbs.
Friday April 12th
Bush walk along river; learnt about water and why golf-balls go straight and far.
Bush Braai after at Two Trees, then Di and Jay came for coffee. Just after they left, checked phone for messages and found invitation to dinner tonight with neil and Gillian. What a life!
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The Cell Phone
Everyone in South Africa is wedded to a cell phone. Answering a call on it, or reading and responding to an SMS (text) beats everything. I mean everything.
You can be in conversation at the dinner table, or being served in a shop. If someone rings, the owner of the phone answers it no matter what.
This is irrating a best, but infuriating in a shop. The person serving you will answer the phone and deal with the query completely before returning to you.
Moral of story: if you want something from a shop - call them! Don't be silly and visit in person: they will have to order what you want anyway.
Why is it a mission to get anything done in this country? Consider the recent car service.
At least three weeks ago I put the car into service with one of the best mechanics in marloth. Fine, I get the car back with the comment that
a) the front shocks are leaking and ought to be replaced
b) the rear brake pads are close to done
c) there is a nick in the air-con belt.
So I authorize these parts to be ordered.
Two weeks later they are in at Autozone, Malelane and I fetch them. Don will fit them on Thursday last, so I deliver the car to him at 7.15am as requested. It then rains all day, nothwithstanding that it is mid-winter and should not rain until at least September.
Early afternoon I get the car back with no progress due rain. It will be done possibly the next afternoon failing which Satuday morning.
So deliver car on Sat morning7.15am, missing bird-walk but am expecting electrician to replace failed load-dump relay and also the air-con service man. Electrician comes with new load-dump relay and fits it: no change, it is the timer. So refit old (and OK) load-dump relay and frantic phone call to Impala Elctrical, Malelane, to obtain new timer. It will be delivered to the electrician on Sunday morning and he will come after I have cooked lunch for Penelope and Cedric. Meanwhile, there has been no hot water since Friday...
About 2.00pm Don comes back with car: new shocks are the wrong size, new brake pads are thicker one end that the other and won't fit and the air-con belt can't be fitted because the nut on the pulley has rounded corners and no available wrench will fit. But the new fuel filter was correct and is installed.
So on Monday back to Malelane to change shocks and brake pads. No problem, new brake pads will be supplied and I get money back on the shocks pending ordering the correct ones. Neither brake pads nor shocks are in stock so Autozone will advise when available so I can make yet another trip to malelane to collect.
Oh well, forward in faith ...
By the way, what about the hot water, you ask? Well, Sunday came and went, no electrician. But Monday morning he pitches up with new timer, fits it and all is well. At least that is one thing sorted. Straight in the shower!
It's a mission ..
Why is it a mission to get anything done in this country? Consider the recent car service.
At least three weeks ago I put the car into service with one of the best mechanics in marloth. Fine, I get the car back with the comment that
a) the front shocks are leaking and ought to be replaced
b) the rear brake pads are close to done
c) there is a nick in the air-con belt.
So I authorize these parts to be ordered.
Two weeks later they are in at Autozone, Malelane and I fetch them. Don will fit them on Thursday last, so I deliver the car to him at 7.15am as requested. It then rains all day, nothwithstanding that it is mid-winter and should not rain until at least September.
Early afternoon I get the car back with no progress due rain. It will be done possibly the next afternoon failing which Satuday morning.
So deliver car on Sat morning7.15am, missing bird-walk but am expecting electrician to replace failed load-dump relay and also the air-con service man. Electrician comes with new load-dump relay and fits it: no change, it is the timer. So refit old (and OK) load-dump relay and frantic phone call to Impala Elctrical, Malelane, to obtain new timer. It will be delivered to the electrician on Sunday morning and he will come after I have cooked lunch for Penelope and Cedric. Meanwhile, there has been no hot water since Friday...
About 2.00pm Don comes back with car: new shocks are the wrong size, new brake pads are thicker one end that the other and won't fit and the air-con belt can't be fitted because the nut on the pulley has rounded corners and no available wrench will fit. But the new fuel filter was correct and is installed.
So on Monday back to Malelane to change shocks and brake pads. No problem, new brake pads will be supplied and I get money back on the shocks pending ordering the correct ones. Neither brake pads nor shocks are in stock so Autozone will advise when available so I can make yet another trip to malelane to collect.
Oh well, forward in faith ...
By the way, what about the hot water, you ask? Well, Sunday came and went, no electrician. But Monday morning he pitches up with new timer, fits it and all is well. At least that is one thing sorted. Straight in the shower!
Intro: a seven month trip!
April 21st: Arrived after 22 hour flight delay due sewage flood in 747's hold. Accompanied by Heather Stephens who lives next door to Pamela Green's house in Nelspruit. Will be here (dv) until November 7th!
Blog, latest first:
2nd October onwards
Sunday 13th: John Martin's 75th birthday Bring-and-Braai. Present his daughter and husband, Keith and Dot, Pat Wilmans and husband, John and Jen Webber and others. Quite a bit of politics talked, am not happy with some of it.
10th September - 1st October with G
G arrived safely 10th September.
Weds 11th: chill day
Thursday 12th: lunch at Komati Deck, where met JJ and Di by chance. Staff on strike so scratch lunch by the managment.
Friday 13th: forewent the bushwalk with Andre Englebracht but managed to get to braai brunch. G met the gang! Resting after lunch, phone call from Joce to report on fire at rubbish dump. On arrival, commandeered by Joce to go into Lionspruit and figth fire which had leapt the fence and was raging alarmingly in the high winds, jumping firebreaks and roads. Lionspruit, Jacalberry Ridge and animals at risk. Spent afternoon fighting with beaters, many of which broke. Paid rangers and Field personnel not in park so Hon Rangers and friends had to manage alone until quite late in the proceedings. Day saved by passing digger (TLB) being flagged down to help by cutting new fire-breaks. Eventually water tank arrived and paid rangers also. Exhausted!
Saturday: Bird walk at 7.00 with breakfast at jabula after. G met rest of gang.
Sunday: to Foresters Arms in Swazi for two nights. Excellent, and were upgraded to best room thanks Stuart and barbara Long who are friends of Ruth the owner.
Monday: shopping in Mbabane and the malkerns.
Tuesday - Wednesday: to Fugitives Drift for zulu battle fields tours. Superb lodge, very expensive but having booked their cheap cottage were upgraded to the main lodge (normal rate £200 per person per night). Tours are excellent, and we are now better informed regarding the british rout at Isandlwana (presented by a zulu whose grandfather and great-grandfather fought there0 and the british success at Rourke's Drift (presenrted by white SA guy). Both lectures extremely well-presented and very dramatic.
Thursday: Vis it Liz Gray's sister Shirley and bro-in-law Eric in Howick, then Nottingham Road B & B, dinner at Sapore along with lani boys on exeat from Michaelhouse School!
Friday: Midlands Meander for shopping at Piggly Wiggly, visit Mandela Memoral at Howick and thence to Pamela Green's new establishment for the night.
Saturday: left Pamela amd Edwin's at 08:00 and drove home via R33 in the rain and cloud all the way excpt the last bit from Kaapmuiden. Took 10 hours including stop at Glencoe for lunch.
Sunday: chill day!
Monday: summoned to Soeni St to witness rescue of bushbuck and baby which had become trapped in a fenced off area and couldn't escape. Successfully liberated by Elfas and the rangers: animals very distressed, particularly the lamb, but all well in the end.
Tuesday: Lion tracking at 7:00 with Joce. Eventually traced but not visible. Interesting sightings at gravel pit etc.
Wednesday: day in KNP in spite of it being school holidays! TWO GOOD LEOPARD SIGHTINGS! And much else.
Thursday: Hon Rangers meeting.
Friday: ?
Saturday: Bird walk and MPPOA meeting.
Sunday: Di and JJ to lunch. Haloumi starter was great success.
Monday:
Tuesday: piloted next bushwalk from Crocodile Road then visited Penelope and Cedric on way to Nelspruit and airport. Lunch at Ocean Basket and quick visit to Botanical gardens before delivering G to airport to fly home.
Wednesday: am on own again! Ostrich appeared in garden at 07:45!
1st - 9th September: a typical normal week!
Have borrowed Di's car until mine is fixed with warning that cooling fan is unreliable and that if met by blast of hot air in driving position it means engine is overheating and will shortly cook. Should this happen, wiggle a lead under bonnet until fan resumes normal duties.
Monday - Tuesday: game count at 6.30am! Went on Rob Melville's vehicle along Seekoi St (River road) with Joce, Neil and Gillian. Reasonable numbers, e.g. 80 impala. Rob came back for a beer and bread and cheese lunch. In afternoon went to Trish Rayne's place to deliver new front door key. She lives next to JJ and Di and passing their driveway was met by blast of hot air! Drove into JJ's and several attempts to wiggle the sensor lead produced little success. So, new plan - we will both travel to Conrad's workshop on Tues morning a) to collect my car and b) to get Di's fixed, hoping it will not cook irretrievably on the way. This we do and Conrad says can fix in an hour or so.
We go shopping and return, JJ and Di set off in their car (presumed fixed) and I set off in mine. Back home I get call from JJ to say their car managed about 2Km before starting to cook! So I go back to K. to collect them and take them home. Their car will now take 4-5 days to fix. Fortunately they have 2 cars.
Wednesday: drinks and pies at Joce and Geoff's with Genie to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Or was that tuesday?
Thursday: Genie to supper, cooked prawns and avocado starter and spag bol. Good chat.
Friday: Explained to Postmistree Pat that I have given everyone the wrong PO Box Number (60104) so if anyone sends to that number can she kindly put it in the correct box (61064). Yes, no prob. Then lunch with Joce, Geoff and Genie at Komatipoort deck.
Saturday: Bird walk and breakfast at Jabula Lodge with Rob, John Martin, Denise, Joce, JJ and Di. 
And best lion stakeout ever with all three lions coming almost immediately and feeding on dead warthog.
Sunday: best giraffe sighting at TDK!
Lunch with JJ and Di, Penelope and Cedric will also be there.
Monday: dinner with Gilian and Neil, Rob Melville also invited.
19th August - 31st August
Georgina, Rob, Abbie, Josie and Izzie all arrived safely at KMIA and transferred to TDK in hired Combi. Animals all pitched up including Genet and bushbabies. Rob has good shots of same. Spent 2 days chilling before trip to KNP with 2 days at Letaba and notable sightings included leopard, baby rhino, many elephants, lions (although none very near). Then spent night at Dave and Julienne's followed by trip round Canyon and home. Greeted by 10 (!) dachshunds at Dave's, presenting a challenge to Josie who is iffy about dogs.
Sunday -Tuesday 25th -27th August. Jumped in Pajero to go to shop only to discover alternator belt has come off. No charging, water pump or power steering. Rang Conrad who sent mechanic on Monday morning who fixed it. Tried to go to shop and belt came off again as we approached the Bush Centre. This time belt is shredded. Called Conrad and Pajero loaded onto tow truck and back to Komatipoort. Fortunately John Webb appeared by chance and took Rob to see extraction of legavaan (rock monitor lizard) from someone's roof and subsequently take me home.
Now what? Will need six-seater hire-car for rest of week so we can have another day in KNP, a day in Swaziland and Elephant Encounter at Kwa Madwala.
Tuesday 27th August: John Webb kindly agreed to take us to Nelspruit to collect hire-car, followed by lunch for all at Komatipoort Deck.
Wednesday 28th August: day in KNP in 6-seater Toyota from Budget Nelspruit. Sighting of the day: a serval on S28! Many other good sightings.
The bad news: phone call at 4:30pm to say baboons had broken in at 1:00pm and trashed house. Called Don Rayne to have look who reported significant damage. On arrival home it is true. Called Chris Swart who couldn't come till the next afternoon to look at door repairs so Don recommended his builder Eric Nduna to have a look in the morning. So Georgina and Rob pitched in and we cleaned up. Fortunately damage inside not as bad as feared and we were soon back to normal except for no front door.
Thursday 29th August: Eric Nduna came at 8:00am, examined door, sucked teeth and tutted, eventually decided to take both doors to Nelspruit, rebuild and refit later that day, which he did! Yee-ha, but ZAR6500!
So that means we are back on track but have lost our proposed day in Swaziland and are still working with hire-car as Conrad has by now fixed engine in the Pajero but is waiting for the right sized alternator belt: this is the third try to get the right belt.
Friday 30th August: Elephant-riding at Kwa Madwala followed by lunch at Piggs Peak Craft Centre in Swaziland followed by river drive along Seekoi where we saw A LIONESS and huge-huge herd of buffalo. Finally braai at home with Izzie, Josie and Abbie all helping cook at the same time as feeding bush-babies, Zebra, warthog and duiker! Was a good day altogether, Georgina and Co having all bought souvenirs at PP Craft centre.
Saturday 31st: all went on bird walk, then back to TDK for cadac breakfast, badly cooked by me, feed mongooses, pack etc and Georgina and Co left for J'burg around 12:30pm. It has been a great fortnight and the kids have been fun. And talkative!
28th July - 18th August
This is a catch-up! have been busy as always and can't remember all that has happened. 31st: Tree walk to map out future bush-walk. Bush very dense and not suitable for public. Friday 2nd August: lunch at Komatipoort Deck with Joce, John, Geoff, Genie. Saturay 3rd: braai at Jackie and Steppes'.
Sunday 4th August: Paul Harden arrived with two kidney trasnplantees and one girl-friend who had been competing in the World Transplant Games in Durban with three silver medals to their credit. Picture shows Chloe, Matt, paul and Jamie. Took them into Kruger for the day on Tuesday.
Weds 6th August: Neil and Gillian invited us all to dinner. Neil did pizzas in the webber, very good. Their house guest vanessa is a viola player in the RPO, makes a change! Good crack.
Thursday 7th August: Another day in Kruger except that the car died on S25. Patients and Chloe rescued by Kruger Rangers, car rescued by Komati Towing Servicies which turned out to be PC Autobody who fixed the head gasket last year.
Sunday 11th: paul and co left for UK.
Monday 12th August: Car now has engine in pieces! Have grave doubts about chances of having it for next week when Georgina et al come, so spent the morning trying to hire Combi; Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz all sold out. Panic! Eventually found DriveSouthAfrica who could provide one via Hertz. Braai at Daphne's with D., Bev and Reg
Weds 14th August: Surprise! Retrived car with new camshaft sproket fitted, welded exhaust on Thursday at Hi-Tec and fitted reground brake pads Saturday. Meanwhile still have hired Combi from Hertz as insurance policy. and will use for KNP trip as more reliable and more space.
Neil, Gillian and John Webb have been huge support tooing and froing, fetching temporary hire car, visiting workshop etc..
Friday 16th August: Neil and Gillian to supper.
Saturday 17th August: Bird walk followed by Michael to plant poles for new feeder and get brakes fitted and car cleaned and sort out house and go to drinks and snacks at Joce's to say goodbye to her guest Helen who is returning to Cairo to continue teaching in primary school. Egypt sounds bad news at present..
Phew!
18th August - 31st August
Georgina, Rob, Abbiem Josie and Izzy arrive this afternoon at KMIA. Have just made bol and will depart about 11:00 for KMIA via Woolworth's Food Hall in Nelspruit.
21st - 27th July
21st: Penelope and Cedric to lunch for trial run of new convection oven roasting a chicken and use of hateful gas oven to roast potatoes. Chicken was overdone but ok (next time lower temp and shorter time) and par-bioled spuds fell to pices and were overdone in gas oven. Apart from that, all was excellent!
23rd: called to Peter Craig-Cooper to sort out multiple installations of Pinnacle video editor on his PC and fix absence of sound when playing back videos through the TV. All sorted. Then Joce's to investigate failure of upstairs TV to produce signal from downstairs Satellite doecoder. Also sorted. Then Lion tracking with Joce, genie and John W. Lions were right on top of use according to radio track but just out ofsight in long grass. They do it deliberately.
24th: To Neil and Gillian for supper.
25th: H.R. Meeting at 8.00 and trial of new hot-wheel doing fillet steak flambe. Joce, geoff and genie to come. Joce will bring salad and genie the pudding.
9th - 20th July
Have been v. remiss in updating the blog and now as at 20th July can't remember what's happened. Lion tracking on 11th produced excellent sighting of Fluffy at about 4.30pm.
Day in nelspruit with genie who neede3d to visit the Master of the High Court to sort executorship. Managed to fulfill entire shopping list including new hot-wheel braai, rugs etc.. Spent far too much money one way and theother.
Various social engagements including Penelope and Cedric's 158th brithday party, a visit to Kruger with Joce, John Webb and Tess and Rex from Oz resulting in me giving scratch dinner party for John and the aussies. Aussie farewell braai at John's on 18th.
2nd- 8th July
Engagements this coming week:Monday lunch at Joce's for 'blackened fish'. Wednesday evening Di and JJ to supper. Thurdsay to Nelspruit with Genie. Friday: Bush walk and Talk and lion tracking in the evening plus wine with Joce and Geoff. Saturday: Bird walk and then is Penelope and Cedric's 158th birthday party: they share the same birth-date!
1st - 7th July
A bits-and-pices week. First few days the main excitement was the splash pool job which is now tiled, painted and ready for test with water. Pump needs to be securely mounted as sitting on a brick but otherwise free to roam is not acceptable. Asssume Afrikeet will be back Mndayto finalise. Did a bit more alien plant stuff, re-organized the Festival website for easy (!) syllabus creation by other officers.
Wednesday evening: attended Hon Rangers Wine tasting and Dinner at Phumela Lodge with Genie. Five different wines offered to accompany the five courses, sponsored by VanLouveren. Good evening!
On Friday spent a couple of hours supervising Working for Water team in Lionspruit and amused myself putting cochineal bug on prickly pear. Probably got tick bites and certainly got thorns in sleeves of jacket, takes for ever to remove with tweezers. Saturday was the dreaded Winter Fair! left house 6.30am for Bird Walk, then on gate Duty 9:00 - 11:00 followed by 'Food activities' for rest of day, including cooking burowors on braai for an hour or so. Eventually left at 5.30pm. Neill and Gillian to dinner tonigh, Sunday: will do chicken casserole. Bettina wants to see the MP video.
24th - 30th June
Another non-relaxing week! Did a river patrol on Sunday, then spent 4 hours walking through bush in Lionspruit with Working for Water team on Monday. Main target: lantana. Think I can now recognize it. Then supper with JJ and Di in Wildgoose St. Also sorted car service with Don who lives next door to them. Builders came on Weds morning and started installing water circulation system to splash pool. Ongoing: should finish next week. Lunch with Joce and Geoff at the Country Club Deck in Komatipoort. Thursday: Rangers meeting in morning which went on for 3 hours due two first -time visitors asking all the usual questions and making all the usual suggestions, many of which are good.
Lion tracking Thursday night: 5.5hrs sitting in back of buckie looking at dead impala and listening to lions roaring just out of sight. Pesky animals will not appear until we leave, so gave up at 10.45pm. Joce visited carcase at 6.00am next day to find it all eaten!
Friday: Working for Water again but left them to it and went to Malelane to get tiles for pool and collect oil etc for car service due on Tueasday coming.
Saturday: typical relaxing day. Bird Walk at 7.00am followed by coffee at JJ and Di's. Property Owners meeting at 10.00am. Lunch at Penelope and Cedric's. Dinner at Gillian and Neil's where met their german visitor Bettina, their sometime au-pair.
17th -23 June:
A bits and pieces week!
Managed to get Johan (Afrikeet) builder to quote for circulating pump for pool and propose design for new Boma next to braai area. Pool work could start Thursday: one guess, it didn't. As of Friday morning am still waiting for price on Boma. Vic was supposed to come this week to re-route domestic hot water from main geyser (rather than the existing push-thru) to upstairs bathroom; he eventually turned up on Thursday to 'have a look' at the job and will go to Nelspruit on Friday to get the bits.
Further attempts at lion-tracking on Tuesday afternoon: easy to locate by raio-collar but no luck visually. Pesky lions! On thursday evening found myself perched in the back of municipal rangers' pickup with a dead warthog. Am always prepared for something new. Spent evening till around 9.30pm watching said warthog hung in a tree and waiting for lions to turn up. Ye-haa! All three of them. This is Fluffy, our splendid male enjoying his dinner.
Tuesday mrning spent a couple of hours trashing alien plants with Lynette and Keith, and Thurdsay morning a couple of hours planning a bush-walk with Joce, keith and Lynette.
Weds afternoon entertained the Chief Hon Ranger, Peter Crag-Coope and his wife Kay to sundowners - much chat about M. P. politics etc..
Rangers have organized a wine-tasting and dinner for July 3rd. Was not keen as don't really like that type of function on my own. Genie is in similar boat so have suggested we go together as the thing ought to be supported and will be a good evening.
The school holidays start this weekend so Marloth will be heaving and Hon. Rangers have to do Gate Duty. Am on this afternoon for an hour with John Webber who fortunately has some afrikaans.
29th May - 2nd June
29th May: River walk 07:00 with Joan, Di and Doug. 1 buffalo! 10:30 went to help Genie with computer but no network coverage, thanks Vodacom!
Dinner at Brian and Joan's with Di and Doug.
30th May: Rangers Meeting. More hassle re website not up-to-date. have offered to help.
31st May:
1st June: Bird Walk
2nd June:
3rd June:
4th June: Alien plant eradication with Lynette and keith, digging-up Queeen of the Night, Donkeys Ears, Prickly Pear etc. Left-over dinner tonight with Brian and Joan.
5th June: day in KNP with Penelope and Cedric. Highlight was a group of 5 rhino. Didn't see much else!
7th June: Shopping day in Nelspruit followed by stay night with Heather (next door to Pamela's house).
8th June: Citybug to J'burg Int Airport, then Gautrain to Santon where met by Joan and brian to stay 2 nights at their daughter's house. Gautrain is really impressive.
10th -14th June: to Backubung Lodge, Pilanesberg Reserve, next to Sun City. Pilanesberg is a small game park in an extinct volcano crater. Scenery superb. Usual plains animals plus elephant and rhino. Hartebeeste, springbok, eland and tsessebe were novel as not seen (or not often seen) in KNP. J'burg and Pilanesberg v. cold as on high veldt. The time-share chalets are very well appointed and the lodge well managed.
15th June: survived Gautrain Santon - O. R.tambo, Citybug O.R.Tambo - Nelspruit, met by heather and drove home, arr. 5.30pm
16th June: unacked etc...
21st - 28th May
21st May: Vic called to discuss connecting upstairs bathroom hot water to the main geyser. He can do during June; I suggested 10th - 15th while I'm in Pilenesberg with Brian and Joan. Must call him to confirm and make sure he has my number.
Am struggling with tree identification, but have managed the white-leaf rasin near the marula tree.
23rd May: Rangers' meeting: 08:00. 16:00: Genie bought her computer to see why won't connect to Internet.
24th May: Joan, Brian, Pam and Noel to dinner. Did fillet steak al la Gordon: delicious.
25th May: 07:00: Bird walk. 10:00: MPPOA Meeting, very well run by Pat.
26th May: lunch at Penelope and Cedric's. Much philosophy and political talk!
27th May: More tree identification: am beginning to get hang of the system!
28th May: spent the morning helping Keith and Lynnette eradicate aliens from hot-spots. Keith came to coffee and beer. 17:00 Lion tracking with Joce, Genie and Peter. Sat in dark waiting for lions until they finally appeared at 22:30! Took dead impala and mama cat sat near it and looked at us. Back home 23:30 after 6-hour sit, no food or water fortunately as not safe to get out of car.
Have identified 2 x zebra-wood trees in the garden.
13th - 20th May
13th May: KNP with Joce and Genie. Superb elephant herds, no cats, good raptor sightings inc Hawk eagle, snake eagle, bateleur, tawny eagle and vultures. One vulture unidentified, Genie thought might be an Egyptian Vulture although not supposed to be here. Subsequently agreed by rare bird Assn as first sighting in KNP since 1994!
18th May: Bird walk at 07:00: 30 birds and 1 leopard (spotted by Barbara). 12::00 Joce, Geoff and Genie to lunch. Much wine consumed and fillet steak cooked to perfection on red-hot cadac by Geoff. Now know how to do it, provided you like ii medium-rare. If you don't, then just leave it on longer.
Photo of the week: Vervet monkey on roof giving off to assembled company!
20th May: 12:00 - 16:50: eating pizzas at Joan and Brian's, with their friends Noel and Pam. Much rubbish talked and a modicum of vino consumed!
6th -12th May
6th May: lion tracking at 6:00am! same result as last night Genet at 7:00pm + bushbay.
7th May: 8:20am: 8 Kudu + 7 zabra + warthog
8th - 11th May: zebras, warthogs, kudus etc.. Bushbabes each night. genet probably in that ham titbits have gone but didn't catch him at it.
12th May: bushbabies at 5:50pm, Genet at 6:10pm. Genet likes wors, stayed 7 minutes on log and cleaned up banana as well.
29th April - 5th May:
29th April: Day in KNP with John Webb and Joce. Good lion sightings incl. mating pair. Also Jackals, martial eagle, Secretary bird, pair of Kori bustards.
30th April: Yee-ha! got webcam working! And first zebra visitors. Braai at John's prior to his leaving for Oz on Thursday. Toasted Alison and dan in Glenmorangie. Present: Joce and Geoff Gordon, Penelope and Cedric Mayson, Jan and Fenja, Jeannie, Barbara and Stuart Long, John Webb, Andrew, Rob Melville
1st May - 3rd May: Nespruit visit to see Builders Warehouse Kitchen stuff: not impressed with quality or colours. Will have to look further. Animals: impala are about, the odd Kudu (10 of them on 2nd May). Also five zebra. 3rd May, 7:00am, a pair of bushbuck. Looks like we might expect a baby come the spring. Genet comes most evenings.
4th May: 10 x kudu + 20 x vervet monkeys at the same time today. Genet came again this evening, seems to come between 6.00pm and 7.00pm for banana, wors or chicken.
5th May: lion tracking at night with joce and Graham and Judy Johnson. got them on radio but no visual. Bush too thick and new moon not ideal.
21-28th April:
Lunch at Joce's, Braai at John's. Animals gradually coming. Dan and Alison Lonsdale staying Thursday thru' Saturday as the last part of their honeymoon, having spent a week in Zanzibar followed by a 3-day safari package at Tim's lodge, Bushwise Safaris. Tried Lionspruit with no luck. Lunch at Komati Deck on Friday with John, Rob, Dan and Alison. Sat morning Alison, Dan and I on bird-walk.
August 2012
29th August: arrived with Marilyn and Charmaine. Kudu and bushbabies pitched up to say hi.
31st August: day trip to KNP. Big five and wondeful sight of hyena cubs playing around den
1st - 2nd September: messed about. Jackie and Steppes to braai Sat night. 
3rd - 5th September: Weather has been strange. Saturday:40 deg, Sunday 20 deg, Monday 35 deg, Tuesday 19 deg, Wednesday raining. Quick trip into KNP to Lower Sabie and back via S28 and tar. Saw big five. Excellent leopard in tree 5 Km up road to Tshockwane. called at Vodacom shop with Andrew Jones and sorted out (hopefully) internet arrangements. Monthly contract for 2GBytes reduced to R149. Changes on B683 router will be refunded. Also a credit for the modem which ought to be supplied with new contract but which we dont need. Original contract cancelled. Will have to activate new sim card and get unrestricted APN re-established (A Jones will action when Sims card number known). Also will place R100 limit on data usage over 2Gig.
6th - 7th September: Having rained all day Weds 5th, it rained all day Thursday 6th as well, temp typically 15 deg G, v. cold! Impala, bushbuck, kudu and zebras all seem to have decided to camp nearby as there are few other visitors in the park. Friday 7th seems to be clearing a bit, no rain since early morning although forecast says rain will be around until tomorrow. In addition to all the animals, have had good bird visits this morning, incl. thick-billed weaver, red-headed weaver, bulbuls, starlings, thrush, yellow weaver, black-collared barbet, blue waxbill, purple-crested lourie, african hoopoe, wood-hoopoe, doves, orange-billed oxpecker. Rick and Daphne are expected later on.
Annalise at Vodacom shop has not rung yet re activation of new sim-card as she is waiting for concellation of old contract before implementing new one. It is about time this happenned as the new contract was approved on Tuesday. Will give it today and weekend then on Monday will start complaining.
Rick and Daphne arrived 1.00pm. Braai here.
9th September: Jan and Brian called to say hello
10th September: coffee with Joan and Brian and Rosemary and Alan. Invited to breakfast 7.30am on Thursday.
12th September: lion-tracking 3.30pm
14th September: Braai at Dutch Reformed Church, Komatipoort (!?)
15th September: Breakfast with Joan and Brian
16th September: Lunch with Penelope and Cedric
17th September: lunch with Brian and Joan. Sundowners with Joce and Geoff.
18th september: lion tracking 6.00am
19th September: collect Chris and Edna at KMIA 12.35pm. Visit Pamela and Edwin on way,
take cushions to Valencia for covering.
21st September: Bush talk at Frikkes Dam, 9.00am. take cadac, egss bacon, booze etc. Braai at Joan and Brian's.
22nd September: Bird walk 7.00am. 7.00pm Ann and Andy Bytheway arrived. 
23rd September: Andy not feeling well.
24th September: Andy to doctor: pulse rate 212. Must take pdq to nelspruit mediclinic.
24th -28th September: Andy in Cardiac ICU. Stabilised successfully and allowed to return to Cape Town. Meanwhile Chris, edna, Ann and I messed about and had good day in KNP on 26th. Saw big 5, inc leopard in tree.
28th September: Gwen and John arrived 2.30pm from KMIA.
29th September: Bird walk with H. Rangers. Walk along Kruger fence. Bushbay came.
30th September: Andrew, Chris and Edna went to Blyde River Canyon. watched Joseph in the evening.
1st October: saw giraffe's legs through bush towards river. John's leg shows signs of cellulitis. Brian and Joan's for lunch. Watched Invictus in evening.
2nd October: John's leg to Doctor Maree as Strongkhorst practice all away!! Took Edna and Chris to airport.
3rd October: Petrol strike so went to Komatipoort to fill up.
4th October: Lion tracking in Lionspruit with Joce; strong signals but no visual. Joan and Brian came for lunch. Rangers meeting and tree planting. Several bushbabies.
5th October: KNP.
6th October: Bird walk again. very hot, 38 C. Brian and Joan came back for coffee and discussed next year's visit to Bacbaan. Watched uCarmen Khalayitisha.
7th October: walk by fence at 7.00am. Phone call from Alison to say exepcting 3rd child. 38 deg by 10.30am.
9th October: trip to Drakensburg for choir concert via Swazi, breakfast at Piggs Peak. Took road from Mbabane to Neston: v. poor condition! petrol available. Stayed at Butterfly Cottage B & B (Liz and Gerald Kohlmeyer) nr Paulpietersburg. Very nice. gerald is choirmaster at local Lutheran Church.
10th October: arrived Little Acres B & B at 2.00pm. Excellent concert and dinner afterwards at Thokozisa.
11th October: touristy shopping at Scrumpy Jack's, Thokozisa etc. had haircut. Lunch at Waffle Hut. Back to Butterfly Cottage where raining.
12th October: back home 4.00pm. Lunch at Cradle of Life.
13th October: back home messing about. Coffee with Daphne, Bev, Reg, Marilyn, Rick. Watched Woman in Black.
15th October: Liin tracking in Lionspruit 6.00am. Located by radio but no visual. 1.30pm Gwen and John departed from KMIA.
19th October: Bush Walk led by Andre followed by braai brunch with Joce, Albrect, Andrew and John Webb. Huge electricl satrtom in evening which persisted all night into following morning. No electricity!
20th october: Bird Walk presumably cancelled. John Webb to lunch: is interested in webcam setup.
21st october: lunch invitation with penelope and Cedric.
OCTOBER ANIMALS. Animals are somewhat scarcer than in winter due early rains and bush so verdant. However Kudus ( 3 bulls and Josephine and family) come regularly as do zebras, impala and mongoose. Duiker pair visit most days, presumably breeding as duiker normally solitary. Occasional bushbuck. Plentry bushbabies most nights. Genet has appeared a couple of times but must come every night as any meat placed on log is gone by morning.
22nd October:
23rd October: Shopping at Komatipoort with John Webb and lunch at the Country Club. Superb location, must visit in future.
24th october: Team Leading 2 'Working for Water' teams: Thomas' teasm and Mumsie's team. Both teams turned up without masma (herbicide for spraying aliens). Much to-ing and fro-ing with Joce but suplies eventually obtained. Followed by KFC and pap lunch at depot.
25th October: Hon Rangers meeting. Peter is in hospital and Graham A. is away so chaired by Graham Johnson. Am told by Joce and confirmed by Graham that i have joined! Have hat but nothing formalk done as yet. Await signatiure from Municipality but apparently is a formality. Lunch at joce's where met david (geoff's son) who is expeert at cooking fillet steak on Braai.
26th October: John Webb called 4.20pm having caught spitting cobra at house at top of Njala St. Cobra is in bucket in his truck and is still spitting! Unfortunately John caught a spit in his right eye so much rinsing with water plus a beer seemed to fix it. Declined John's offer to release cobra on my property! Then Rob Melville came to supper.
27th October: Bird walk at 7.00am followed by MPPOA meeting. Not sure if can face the latter. Later: Bird walk rained off so went to MPPOA meeting. Excellent chariman and very interesting.
5.00pm-ish: five shots heard nearby (in Tarantaal). Rang Joce, then game ranger. Apparently it was him putting an injured warthog down (five shots?). Thought it might be Harry as he had a damaged eye the other day but he turned up later so has escaped: for the time being. 
28th Ocrober: Penelope, Cedric and John coming to lunch.
29th October: Joce coming 4.30pm to sort out which sickelbos to remove
30th October: 8.30am. Bush hack to clear access for Vodacom to build new cellphone tower.
1st November: Day trip with John Webb to KNP. Good cheetah sighting and Honey Badger. Super elephant hers and excellent water birds nesting with chicks at lake Panic.
Lion tracking at night. In dense bush, no visual bit fun!
2nd November: lunch at Komatipoort Country Club
3rd November: Bird walk 6.00am, wp. Help!
5th November (Mon): Dinner with Gillian and Neil, 5.30pm. Mike young also there.
6th November (Tues): Dinner with Maurice et al at Mjejane. Maurice not keen on travel: couldn't sleep and the system crunched his suitcase.
7th November (Weds): Maurice & Co here for the day, back at 3.45pm for Mjejane game drive. Animals deserted TDK xcpt for warthogs: Mum + two brand-new babies. However saw zebs, kudu, impala in MP and plenty birds on river walk.
8th November (Thurs): Mike Young for coffee. Braai at John Webb's, 5.00pm
9th Nov (Friday): Joce and Geoff for light lunch and video.
10th Nov (Sat): Took Maurice et al to Kruger. Good sightings, particulatly lion. Dinner at Mjejanem very pleasant
11th Nov (Sunday): Gillian and Neil to lunch.
March 2012 Visit with Jill and Geoff Cory followed by Barron, Kayla and Peggy
24th March
Arrived 3.30pm after night with Marilyn and Rick. No animals in Park or at property. Where are they all?
25th March
7.00am 5 warthog, birds singing but not settling. Impala at waterhole. 1 tame lady kudu, hand-feedable. Zebs sheltering under trees and in carport. Temp at 12.30pm is 34 C.
No electricity all day as Eskom fitting transformers to power line to avoid electrocuting giraffe: about time too.
Genet stayed on step for 15 minutes during evening. Likes cheese.
26th - 28th March
Zebra, tame lady kudu, warthog. Major shopping. New road to Croc Bridge and Komati is progressing well.
29th March
Day trip to KNP: fewer animals than usual (bush very thick). Jackal and two male Nyala near Skukuza (v. unusual).
30th March - 1st April
Messed about. 4 fish eagles at Rec ground
2nd April
Swaziland day out to Glass Fctory and back
4th April
Bush walk in Lionspruit + lion tracking with Joce. Located lions but no visual.
5th April
Day trip to 'Cradle of Life'. Buffet lunch as snack menu not available after 12 noon. 90 min game drive supposedly to feed cats but wasn't a feeding day. Sable, blesbok, springbok, black wildebeeste, waterbuck and giraffe in wild. Cats in cages: caracal, mountain lion (!), tigers (!), tiger cubs (!), jaguar (!), white lions and cubs.
1.40am car alarm went off. Passenger door was open. Field called and pitched up in 4 minutes. Impressive. Looks like we left the door open and it seems that you can 'lock' the vehicle with a door open!
8th - 11th April
8th: 7.00am 2 bushbuck. etc.
9th: dinner at Watergat: Jill had best cheeseburger ever.
10th: Lionspruit in morning. Rhino, bufflo, giraffe, waterbuck. Steak braai in evening with Fridge Tart from Boskambois and Fleur de Cape dessert wine: v. good.
11th: deliver Geoff and Jill to KMIA. 9 giraffe on tar road!. On return 7 zebra awaiting at TDK.
12th April onwards
On own for 4/5 weeks until Barron et al turn up.
12th: lunch at Joce's, met Michael and Dorothy Young from UK (nr Barrow) who visit twice a year. Invitation to sundowners on Saturday
Friday 13th: Engine boiled (again) en route Komatipoort. Called Conrad for tow to his workshop and lift to home. No car and have mislaid SA phone so communications difficult.
14th: bad night's sleep worrying about it all and booked Avis car from Malelane TSB for Sat morning. Rang Vic Jansen 8.15am to cadge lift at 10.30.
6.15am Usual guines fowl + 3 DUIKER! Seems to be courtship going on but could tell sexes as horns hidden but hair tufts. Later had the male on his own.
Very pleasant evening at Dorothy and Michael Young's house for sundowners etc.. Also present were John Webb, Neil and Gillian ? (3313) and Alan and Ann. Alan is writing a book about how the world seems to him. He is ex-methodist minister turned atheist (cf Cedirc Mayson)
15th - 18th April
Messed about, worried about car. Conraad had stripped it by Tuesday night, so visited him Weds morning to agree what to do. Only needs neads skimmed + whatever the engineering shop say: apparently there is no other damage. So authorized sending to engineering shop for quotation, which should be available Thursday. Decided not to approach Union Motors re guarantee as probably a long row to hoe and I need the vehicle fixed.
Animals: Big male kudu and also injured kudu several times. Hopalong Kudu appears to be slightly better and walking on all four but tentatively. Tuesday evening, 6 kudu, 3 mums + 3 babies. Wonderful! Also what appears to be the lone impala but with a baby!
Internet: much too-ing and fro-ing with Andrew Jones of Vodacom HQ Network Deprt, resulting in a loan router, establishment of unrestricted APN and finally setting up the router by remoted control of me! As of 1015am Weds 18th, remote access to webcam now works.
19th April
Dorothy and Michael Young to coffee. Kudus turned up in force to greet them. Giles saw Kudus on webcam, so it works!
20th April -30th April: on my tod during various jobs and nothing much else (apart from worrying about car). Attended HR meeting 27th, quite interesting. Some of them attended a 'culling meeting' immediately afterwards to discuss the planned cull taking place in May. I wonder whether this is really necessary: have they done a rigourous game-count? What can the veld support? How can we improve the veld so that it can support more?
27th: excellent braai at Jackie and Steppes House. Invited them back for 29th.
29th: Braai here attended by Rick, Marilyn, Jackie, Steppes, Kyle and new girl-friend Claire. Rick did the cooking, Jackie and Marilyn did salad and 'pap and souce'.
Attended bird-walk on 28th led by Rob Melville, followed by coffee at Jabula. Rick and mariln came too.
30th: called at PC Autobody to check progress on car. Conraad on leave for whole week (these 'long weekends are a nightmare), but the guy who appears to be in charge confirms that heads will be back on Wednesday (Conraad said Thursday) so car will be ready Monday or Tuesday next week. Barron arrives Wednesday so have made point that Tuesday is 'drop-dead' day but not sure it makes any difference. Africa seems to go at own speed whatever you do or say. Then to Malelane to upholsterer for new cushion fills. I've (possibly mistakenly) chosen a rather dense filling which may be too hard. One cushion done for trial, and will watch movie from it tonight to see if any good. If not, have wasted my money.
2nd May: called on-spec at neil and Gillian's. Was welcomed , had coffee, inspected Neil's woodworking shop etc.. Invited to dinner Tuesday evening coming at 5.30pm.
3rd May: Up at 5.30am prior to meeting Joce at the Depot to accompany here on management of 'Working for Water' teams. there are three teams who comb the bush looking for alien invasive plants. They dig, cut and spray any they find, with or wothout the property owner's permission! Out in the bush for 5 and a half hours!
Home, guess what? Baboons have been. Mess not too bad but am knackered and don't feel like cleaning up, however must, so do. They've eaten the remains of the game pellets so will buy more this pm in Komati (had hoped not to need to until big car back and Barron to hand to help lift).
Then went to Komati to check on progress with car. Surprise: they have the heads back, Heine (the guy in harge whilst Conraaad is on leave) says they have all parts, will start rebuild tomorrow. They will replace the leaking gasket at the themostat housing, and will also sort the petrol gauge. Maybe finish Monday (bet Tuesday at best).
Back 4.30pm. Bit early, but a glass of red is definitely called for!
5th May: Bird walk at 7.00am. Spotted a leopard on opposite bank. Gollowed him for 30mins as he walked along the bank in clear view, marking as he went. All agreed best leopard sighting from marloth that anyone had ever had.
Called at Daphne's, met Joan and Maureen. Joan is having house rethatched, so went with her to meet Brian and inspect the thatching.
6th May: Daphne and mandy came for sundowners, later followed by Derek, Audrey's husband.
7th May: Message from Joce to come lion tracking at 3.30pm today. Must take camera; on other hand, seeing lions depends on not tacking camera.
Malelane in morning for shopping and fetch re-stuffed cushions. puncture in Spar car park. Nice man helped chage wheel, thence to Toyota to re3pair puncture, found part of jack missing, presumed left in car park, so couldn't refit correct wheel. Back to Spar and Tops to enquire whether handed in. One guess. Elderly black lady said a man had picked it up and taken it away. So rang Avis, explained situation nad agreed meet at TSB Office where they would swap car. Which they did.
3.30 pm. Tracked lions towithin probably 30m, but no visual! Arrived back at gate at 5.45pm to find we arelocked in! joce v. cross, rang Senior game ranger to come and let us out.
8th May: Invitation to dinner at Neil and Gillian's, 5.30pm. Very enjoyable, Rob melville there also.
9th May: Called on Daphne with black bags; Audrey and Gary there. They are leaving tomorrow but Daphne wants to stay on for a couple of days pending Bev and Reg coming to fetch her, so she will stay with me Thursday night. Took Dapne to Joan and Brian's (Berghan St just past Zebra) where they were preparing breakfast. Couldn't refuse invitation to join in! Conraad phoned to say engine is now running but tests and timing still to do so will advise on Thursday.
10th May: met Barron at KMIA.
11th May: 11 kudus! day trip in KNP, didn't anything much. Nobody else seems to have seen much in KNP lately.
12th May: Bird walk at 7.00am. 50 guinea fowl at TDK. Braai at Daphne's with Bev and Reg.
14th May: Lion tracking:meet at 6.00am at Lionspruit Gate! Postponed till Thursday...
17th May: Successful lion tracking: after two hours found all three: lafies crossingroad plus excellent sighting of Fluffy/
18th May: Breakfast with Joan and Brian
19th May: Bird walk in Hank Van Rooyen Park. Joan and Brian to braai in evening.
20th May: collected car from Conraad, driove home. Engine is not running well, sounds and feels like running on about 4 cylinders out of six. this is a nightmare. Phoned Conraad after dumping hire car, plan is to bring in on Tuesday to sort out. 7.00pm: electricity failed, came back mid-morning next day.
21st May: Komati for shopping as have invited Gillian and Neil to supper on Tuesday evening. Car still not running well. Joan called after lunch to invite us to brunch on Wednesday.
22nd May: Gillian and Neil to supper: spaghetti blog.
23rd May: At Joan and brian's for Brunch
25th May: car returned pm, now firing on all cylinders. returned hire car to TSB
With Kayla and Peggy
29th May - 2nd June: Kruger Park and Blyde River. Biyamati, Satara, Letaba, Trackers. Big herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra + usual suspects. 2 lion sightings, inc. special one against skyline of mating pair. Kayla appointed Official Photographer and tool great pics of everything.
July -Aug 2007 with Duncan & Co, Paul Harden and Co and Jake and Linda
4th July. Arrived 5.00pm, all well. Grey duiker and flock of guinea fowl. Supper with daphne and Chummy. Weather awful: cold, rainly, most unusual for July.
5th July. Up at 4.45am! Sun about 6.30am. Grey duiker a couple of times, seems still to be resident. Then 3 impala bulls. Few birds yet. Broken cloud and weak sun. Night min. 14C. 7 warthogs + several solitaries. More impala passed by.
6th July with Duncan, Harriet, Jemima and Amelia. Weather looks better! Baboons at 7.00am. Impala at 7.15am. Warthogs and impala at various times. Kudu at 2.00pm. 2 bushbabies at 5.50pm
7th July. 2 duiker, 2 warthog 7.20am. 4 warthogs at 8.00am. Impala and warthogs at 10.00am. young kudu cow at 10.2am. 4 impala, 1 kudu, 1 warthog at 10.35am. 6 kudu at 11.30am. Bushbabies at 5.40pm. Grey duiker. Hadeda Ibis.
8th July. Guinea fowl at 7.00am. Many warthog, impala, hornbills, barbets. Splash pool a great sucess!
9th July. warthogs.
10th July. Warthogs. elephant riding at Kwa Madwala (book 4 days in advance, not wednesdays). V. good.
11th July. Horse riding, also v. good. Kudu and zebra down the road. V. little at house.
12th - 14th July. Chill out. (ed: nothing in ms log until 15th July)
15th July. Kruger. B'fast at Lower Sabie. Lion pride on way (S28) inc. mother playing with cubs. Lunch at tschwokane where Harriet paniced about the birds. Then to pretoriuskop Doherty Guest House (Boma: excellent. Braai and campfire. Serval! Klipspringer.
16th July. Home via malelane Gate. Plenty rhino, elephant, hippo, buffalo. Some lion. No leopard!
17th July. Chill-out day.
18th - 19th July. trip to macaneta Island, Mozambique. Camp is excellent - super beach.
With Janet and Zack, and G & Arthur
Awoke 5.00 am. Cramps have gone! 8 Kudu at around 8am. Took apple. Bush buck (mother and baby). A few impala. Eventually a couple of warthogs figured out that I'm here. So tried game pellets on top of (dry) fountain so warthogs couldn't reach. Unfortunately baboons arrived in early afternoon and scoffed the lot, in spite of having been shouted off repeatedly. They just kep coming back! Baboons went around 4.30pm so replaced pellets on fountain. Implala and kudu soon sussed it and thought it good idea. Warthogs knew food was on top of water feature but couldn't reach it. Very frustrated warthogs. Bushbuck and duiker during evening. No bushbabies whilst I was watching but banana went overnight.
Impala and duiker come throughtout the evening. Bushbaby at 6.30pm and also at 9.45pm.
16th October
Thunder most of the night but very little rain. Appeared to be over Mozambique.
Replenished water-feature 'feeder'. No kudu. However warthogs soon on case and attempting to grow six inches so as to readh the food. Altogether 10 Warthogs.
Later 7 impala who have this new fedding arrangement sorted.
17th October:
A Day in Nelspruit
18th October
6.00am is dull and there has been a little rain during the night. Yard has about 40 Guinea Fowl scrathing around, so provided bird seed. Happy guinea fowl.
Impala arrive soon after so fed them. By 6.30am have about a dozen impala, 7 kudu, 2 warthogs and guinea fowl
19th october
A typical day in the bush!
Nothing much happenning at home so went look for ostrich and giraffe. Ostrich found where expected in Moldervis (last turn left off Renoster). Then inspected the Park and was pleaa\sed to see the dam in water. Was observed by 4 widlebeeste. Otherwise much as ever.
7 giraffe round in Geelsslang, including two babies. Very good news.
20th October
Up rather early this am: 4.30am. Coffee on veranda, birds tweeting but couldn't see them. 5.00am, three zerbra and the lady duiker.
21st October
Zebra at 6.00am + warthogs.
10.30am two superb kudu bulls.
10.45am Impala
Saturday 22nd: a typical day. Brief visit to Komatipoort for milk, butter and stuff.
Kudus came, zebras came plus the usual suspects. Also a very fine Grey Hornbill and the first Blue Waxbill. Very hot today: 36 deg C.
Sunday 23rd: Kudus came at 7.00am plus the big old warthog. Zebras ran through as if spooked. Wonder why? Marilyn says she and Daphne are on their way.
24th October
Usual suspects attended. Left for Nelspruit 7.00am to get car seat upholstered (split at side of driver's seat). Pamela picked me up whilst I waited and Edwin took me back an hour or so later. Good job at R140. Back home.
Marilyn, Daphne and Jackie came to braai 6.00pm. 3 magnifico kudu bulls came later on.
25th October
Guinea fowl decided time I arose at 5.20am! Impala shortly thereafter decided time ofr breakfast.
7.00am Mongooses arrived, said how about eggs!
What a busy day! Bennett turned up with 3 helpers to treat the balcony and the handrails, followed by Petro and Yvonne to clean the house, followed by Michael to do the garden. Planted Cape Honeysuckle present from Marilyn.
Kudus and zebra seem to have decided to live close by.
Dinner with Daphne, Mariln, Jackie and Bob who has five weeks time-share at a house nearby.
26th October
Been busy last few days one way and another. Can't remember what happened on Weds 26th.
27th October. Attended Hon Rangers meeting at 8.00am. Quite interesting. Attended Bio-Control talk at 5.00pm. Helped with setting up projection for that and took my PJ as the spare as they were worried that the one borrowed from the municipality might either not work or fail half-way thru.
28th October. Malelane for shopping pending Janet and Zack coming on Sunday.Supported by Kudu, Zebra, Warthog, Impala.
Saturday 29th October: lunch at Joce and Geoof's house on Bosbok st. Also present: Jo and John. Good crack.
30th October
Janet and Zack arrived. J. has twisted her back on the plane, maybe getting luggage down. Otherwise all is well. Zack in good form.
AS week progresses, J.'s back gets worse requiing tw visists to Adel Strydom, Phsiotherapist in Malelane.
Weds visited Cultural village at Jeppes Reef. Not sure it is worth it as place has burt down and looks a mess but they still operate.
Thursday visited Kruger for day trip. Cheetah and three cubs, oloads of rhino, elephants and usual suspects but no lions. Car coughs and splutters towards end of drive.
Saturday 5th Nov. We are supposed to be going on bird-walk at 7.00am but J is flat on bakc in bed, can't move. I need to get to Malelane and try and get fuel system on car looked at, but we are beseiged by baboons. Can't go on bird trip as can't lewave Janet and Zack alone with baboons all over everywhere including roof. So eventually got rid of baboons and went to Malelane. ACD are fantastic, changed fule filter, cjecked engine over and all now well.
Sunday 6th Nov. Delivered Janet and Zack to airport, stayed with Pam and Edwin for night in preparation for G and Arthur.
7th November -23rd November
G & Arthur arrived10.55 am
October - November 2011
Shopped at Spar Malelane, dined at Marula Lapa, back at house around 4.00pm.
Around 6.00pm, G fell dwn stairs, serious injuries, possiblye broken rubs, also bruising etc., severe pain. Rsuhed her to Medi Clinic in Nelspruit. Xrays etc and finishes up on morphine drip. Midnight, back at Pam's for emergency scrambled eggs.
Next morning back at Clinic for results and advice. Nothing broken, thank goodness but will take weeks rather than days to mend and become pain free. Get drugs, anti-inlam patches etc and get on with the week.
Thursday - Saturday in Kruger! G coping well, improving all time. Saw most things, including lions twice at least. No leapard.
Saturday drive out of Phalaborwa Gate towards Trackers. Coffe at Garden of Eden, visit to BlydePoort dam then to trackers. Big welcome as usual.
Sunday back home via the viewpoints; Springbok shank for lunch at Wild FIg Tree, Sabie.
Sunday 19th November: Michael came and he and Arthur built low fence around planted area.
Monday 20th November: Joce and Geoff and Penelope and Cedric came to lunch.
G & Arthur arrived 10.55 am
Shopped at Spar Malelane, dined at Marula Lapa, back at house around 4.00pm.
Around 6.00pm, G fell dwn stairs, serious injuries, possiblye broken rubs, also bruising etc., severe pain. Rsuhed her to Medi Clinic in Nelspruit. Xrays etc and finishes up on morphine drip. Midnight, back at Pam's for emergency scrambled eggs.
Next morning back at Clinic for results and advice. Nothing broken, thank goodness but will take weeks rather than days to mend and become pain free. Get drugs, anti-inlam patches etc and get on with the week.
Thursday - Saturday in Kruger! G coping well, improving all time. Saw most things, including lions twice at least. No leapard.
Saturday drive out of Phalaborwa Gate towards Trackers. Coffe at Garden of Eden, visit to BlydePoort dam then to trackers. Big welcome as usual.
Sunday back home via the viewpoints; Springbok shank for lunch at Wild FIg Tree, Sabie.
Janet and Zack arrived. J. has twisted her back on the plane, maybe getting luggage down. Otherwise all is well. Zack in good form.
AS week progresses, J.'s back gets worse requiing tw visists to Adel Strydom, Phsiotherapist in Malelane.
Weds visited Cultural village at Jeppes Reef. Not sure it is worth it as place has burt down and looks a mess but they still operate.
Thursday visited Kruger for day trip. Cheetah and three cubs, oloads of rhino, elephants and usual suspects but no lions. Car coughs and splutters towards end of drive.
Saturday 5th Nov. We are supposed to be going on bird-walk at 7.00am but J is flat on bakc in bed, can't move. I need to get to Malelane and try and get fuel system on car looked at, but we are beseiged by baboons. Can't go on bird trip as can't lewave Janet and Zack alone with baboons all over everywhere including roof. So eventually got rid of baboons and went to Malelane. ACD are fantastic, changed fule filter, cjecked engine over and all now well.
Sunday 6th Nov. Delivered Janet and Zack to airport, stayed with Pam and Edwin for night in preparation for G and Arthur.
Friday 28th October: domestic day: shopping at Malelane, joba around house. Supported by Kudu, Zebra, Warthog, Impala.
Saturday 29th October: lunch at Joce and Geoof's house on Bosbok st. Also present: Jo and John. Good crack.
Been busy last few days one way and another. Can't remember what happened on Weds 26th.
27th October. Attended Hon Rangers meeting at 8.00am. Quite interesting. Attended Bio-Control talk at 5.00pm. Helped with setting up projection for that and took my PJ as the spare as they were worried that the one borrowed from the municipality might either not work or fail half-way thru.
28th October. Malelane for shopping pending Janet and Zack coming on Sunday.
Daily Log
Besieged by zebra and kudu today, including one very new baby!
Guinea fowl decided time I arose at 5.20am! Impala shortly thereafter decided time ofr breakfast.
7.00am Mongooses arrived, said how about eggs!
What a busy day! Bennett turned up with 3 helpers to treat the balcony and the handrails, followed by Petro and Yvonne to clean the house, followed by Michael to do the garden. Planted Cape Honeysuckle present from Marilyn.
Kudus and zebra seem to have decided to live close by.
Dinner with Daphne, Mariln, Jackie and Bob who has five weeks time-share at a house nearby.
Usual suspects attended. Left for Nelspruit 7.00am to get car seat upholstered (split at side of driver's seat). Pamela picked me up whilst I waited and Edwin took me back an hour or so later. Good job at R140. Back home.
Marilyn, Daphne and Jackie came to braai 6.00pm. 3 magnifico kudu bulls came later on.
Saturday 22nd: a typical day. Brief visit to Komatipoort for milk, butter and stuff.
Kudus came, zebras came plus the usual suspects. Also a very fine Grey Hornbill and the first Blue Waxbill. Very hot today: 36 deg C.
Sunday 23rd: Kudus came at 7.00am plus the big old warthog. Zebras ran through as if spooked. Wonder why? Marilyn says she and Daphne are on their way.
Zebra at 6.00am + warthogs.
10.30am two superb kudu bulls.
10.45am Impala
Up rather early this am: 4.30am. Coffee on veranda, birds tweeting but couldn't see them. 5.00am, three zerbra and the lady duiker.
A typical day in the bush!
Nothing much happenning at home so went look for ostrich and giraffe. Ostrich found where expected in Moldervis (last turn left off Renoster). Then inspected the Park and was pleased to see the dam in water. Was observed by 4 widlebeeste. Otherwise much as ever.
7 giraffe round in Geelsslang, including two babies. Very good news.
6.00am is dull and there has been a little rain during the night. Yard has about 40 Guinea Fowl scrathing around, so provided bird seed. Happy guinea fowl.
Impala arrive soon after so fed them. By 6.30am have about a dozen impala, 7 kudu, 2 warthogs and guinea fowl.
5.00am 7 impala wanting breakfast.
6.30am 2 banded mongoose: offered eggs but they disappeared.
Am off to Nelspruit for oil change, fit car radio etc..
A Good Day! Mike at Deltek changed the oil and filters and washed the car. 'Andre's Car Installations' fitted Rick's spare radio and a new antenna. HiQ fixed the exhaust and Outdoor Warehouse provided new spotlight. The Car Seat upholstery firm next to Andre's will fix the split in the driver's car seat next Monday.
Thunder most of the night but very little rain. Appeared to be over Mozambique.
Replenished water-feature 'feeder'. No kudu. However warthogs soon on case and attempting to grow six inches so as to readh the food. Altogether 10 Warthogs.
Later 7 impala who have this new fedding arrangement sorted.
Awoke 5.00 am. Cramps have gone! 8 Kudu at around 8am. Took apple. Bush buck (mother and baby). A few impala. Eventually a couple of warthogs figured out that I'm here. So tried game pellets on top of (dry) fountain so warthogs couldn't reach. Unfortunately baboons arrived in early afternoon and scoffed the lot, in spite of having been shouted off repeatedly. They just kep coming back! Baboons went around 4.30pm so replaced pellets on fountain. Implala and kudu soon sussed it and thought it good idea. Warthogs knew food was on top of water feature but couldn't reach it. Very frustrated warthogs. Bushbuck and duiker during evening. No bushbabies whilst I was watching but banana went overnight.
Impala and duiker come throughtout the evening. Bushbaby at 6.30pm and also at 9.45pm.
Peter Eves, Feakes family, John Pusey, Pam and Edwin Green
12th Oct: arrived J'burg 9where else?) with Peter. marilyn has brken her ankle! Shopping for capital goods.
13th Oct: arr marloth. Freezing cold and heavy rain for 2 days.
14th Oct: KNP. 4 rhino, some elephant, giraffe.
15th Oct: weather slightly better?
October 16th: Feakes party arrived: carole, gavin, Jasmyn, Jonathon, Aaron.
Oct 17th: Chill-out day. Komatipoort!
18th -20th Oct: KNP. Skukuza in ABSA Guest House. Tamboti tented camp. xcllt lion kill: giraffe in middle of road, male to one side, femal to other. Saw most things xcpt leopard. 4 lion sightings in all. lake panic v. successful.
Oct 21st: chill-out day.
Oct 22nd - 23rd: Blyde river canyon, at Trackers again
Oct 24th: chill-out day
Oct 25 - 26th: Mkhaya, 24 hr deal. Rhino tried to upset game-drive vehicle by hooking horn under front bumper! Mkhaya - Mananga taeks 2 hrs, btw.
Oct 28th: party departed
Animal show at TDK spasmodic. Good sightings at river inc fine breeding herd of elephant. Buffalo, crocs, fish eagle, saddle-bill etc. Am now on my own until John Pusey turns up. Weather ver ychangeable, max temp 41 C, typical 22 - 35 C. electric sotrm on 27th.
Oct 29th - 31st: at home on my own! Bit boring but managed several small jobs. 31st overcast all day, thunderstorms around most of the time. 5.30pm raining steadily, might do some good. Sat 30th: no electricity 5.00am - 6.30pm. rather limiting! Sun 31st rang Marilyn who is recovering well from her broken ankle. 29th: visited D & C. Chummy not well butcan hold brief conversation before wandering off into a realm of his own. They are in KNP for 3 days so I may see them on Thursday.
RED-HEADED WEAVER + WIFE!
1st Nov: various chores, not too hot. partial success sorting out Opal screw-up on Festival website. 5.30pm At last! 10 kudu + zebra +bushbaby.
2nd Nov: John Pusey visiting
Barron
24th March: arr. via BA055, met barron at J'burg, hired car, drove Nelspruit, lunch with Pam and edwin, on to TDK via Spar, arr. 5.00pm. All well xcpt front bedroom not made up and alram not set (message to petro via daphne obviously miscarried, ignored or misunderstod). All very green and dense.
25th March: 4 zebra in morning; impla and grey duiker went by. Malelane for shopping. called on D & C in afternoon and gate-crashed braai. Rick and Marilyn there and offered garage in J'burg. Very gratefully accepted!
26th March: Malelane for bank, electrical stuff etc
27th March: Still v. hot: 37 C! few animals, mainly impala.
28th March: My birthday! Cool (26 C), heavy overcast. Warthog family in morning, otherwise nothing much. MP very quiet, no doubt will perk up for Easter ne3xt week.
29th March - 8th April: based at TDk doing jobs, struggling with webcam, fixing timer to immersion heater etc.. Bought new furniture for stoep. A week or more of hot sticky weather with some thunderstorms and much rain. The bush is so green!.
Animals: mainly impala, pigs, zebra, duiker, often singly.
9th April : put fruit out at 6.30am which brought 3 purple-crested louries + red-billed woodhoopoes.
10th - 13th April: based at house, various jobs sorted out
14th -17th April: KNP: Satara, Oliphants, satara. Animals rather scarce, but had glimpse of serval and 3 lions on road on last day. Good elephant sightings, several rhino, masrtial eagle twice.
18th -21st April: back at house. genet came 3 nights running. Andrew Jones (vodacom) came to sort out webcam, went away pizzled. Petro and Yvonne came and we sorted out linen. Car to dawie (corner of seekoi and Geelslang) to have brakes and (hopefully) sixth cylinder fixed.
22nd April: CB until car available.
October - November 2009
Gwen & John, Janet, Bob and Zack, Gillian
8th october: arrived with Gwen and John. Marloth is very dry and car wouldn'tstart:remote control problem.
9th October: early morning, 2 kudu, 2 warthog, bushbuck, many birds inc finches, 26 mongoose, read-headed weaver. At river: VULTURES, JACKANA, DARTER, BUFFALO .
10th October: John has inflammation of legs, same as lasy yime, so off to Dr Stronghorst in Komati.
11th onwards: visit Mkahya (24 hr version), Blyde River (stayed at Trackers), doing trip anti-clockwise. Think this is best way.
18th October - 2nd November
Janet, Bob and Zack.
Elephant riding at kwa madwala, failed horse riding in Komati (girl couldn't find the horses!). 2 days in KNP yielded big 5, many hyenas and a tick bite for janet (maybe from the previous elephant episode). Skukuza doctor treated her and advised pack up malarone, buy smarties instead.
2nd November
Gillian
4th Nov: KNP with daphne and Chummy: xcllt day, cheetah and 14 rhino!
8th Nov: off to Trackers then KNP from Punda Maria downwards. Trackers v. good.
9th Nov: Shiluveni Laakeside Lodge: superb
10th Nov: Shinhwezi Camp (via Punda maria, Crooks corner etc)
11th Nov: G. fell at Mopani camp, dislocated finger, black eye from spectacles, various bruises and sprains. To Phalaborwa for doctor with escort provided by KNP Gate staff. No fractures, so back into KNP for quick drive to Oliphants to resume trip. Gate staff had arranged for us to arrive late without penalty but we made it in time anyway,
12th Nov: home via Lower Sabie.
13th - 15th Nov: 3 visits to physio at malelane3: Adele Strydom.
16th Nov: 18 deg C at 8.00am, as against 39 a weeka ago, Some rain, so veld is now green. 10 monkeys.
daphne has given up house minding so Petro Jansen engaged. george Matthews has had stroke and is very ill. Wendy says planning to take him to UK permanently as he will need huge amount of nursing care, ongoing. (Not sure UK will actually provide this).
Animals this trip:
April 2009 Barron and Frances
15th April: arrive cape Town
16th April: interview with Home Affairs re permanent residence
17th - 23rd April: Garden Route etc
17th: Franschouck (Auberge Blighy)
18th: Calizdorp (Portwine Lodge). organ recital in local church.
19th: Oudshoern
20th: Knysna (River Mouth camp: oceanette: 4*)
21st: P. E (stayed with Mandy)
23rd: flew to J'burg, hire car to Nelspruit
At Marloth
Animal visitors generally lower although warthogs all the time, several zebra and kudu. Long impala ram, 3 duikers. Viasited Ngwenya Glass factory and Blyde River (stayed at Blyde River Canyon Lodge: family cottage)
5th May: barron and Frances left.
7th May: 13 kudu, 7 warthogs, n baboons. Zebs visit from time to time, esp. at hight. Electric storms 6yh and 7th May, about 10mm rain in total. veld in poor condition due no rain: animals will struggle this winter.
12th May: Vic will
curtains as soon as I leave
overflow pipe in upstarts bathroom
termites
rebuild pond
sort lock to front door
build fire-pit
reseal toilet
fix bathroom lights
Veld is dry as a bone and animals are struggling. Impala, Warthog and zebra are visiting and additional feed is needed. Bought settee and chairs and tripod and window bracket for cameras.
Oct 29th Overcast, some rain last night and electric storm. Some interference with lighting controls.
Oct 30th v. small amt of rain last night; there has been none worth mentioning for months and we have severe drought. There is no grass and the animals have big problem. The authorities are putting out bulk feed and we are doing our best too but are losing impala. Warthogs and zebra seem ok. Fed small herd of impala who seem ok but not the best. Interesting talk with gardener Michael re politics in Zim: he says RM is big problem!
Oct 31st visit to KNP with Daphne and Chummy. Big 5 + super sighting of cheetah male and a leopard kill in a tree.
Impala are v. hungry.
Nov 1st Vic called and said will replace curtain lining where paint spilled (wish he hadn't as lining is wrong colour), a pressure valve is coming (it never did), has to drill upstairs bathroom for pressure relief and is waiting for diamond cutter, didn't replace door to bedroom but made new plates instead.
Nov 2nd all-day visit to KNP. Super sighting of male cheetah, managed big 5 but v. few elephants.
Nov 3rd car service
Nov 5th Am feeding animals big time in accordance with official advice. Condition of impala is improving but they are always hundgry and have taken up permanent residence in surrounding bush. 5 kudu this morning, good birds inc. paradise flycatcher
Nov 6th - 8th First serious rains, about 15mm?
Nov 9th - 11th 2 days at Satara with D & C.. Excellent trip. Notable sightings: cheetahs on kill, lions on kill, more cheetahs on another kill, all big 5 xcpt leopard. Bateleur, snake eagle, tawny eagle, martial eagle. Black mamba!
Nov 12th It has rained all night and should be enough to get things going. Henry air-con man should come today to fit 18kBTU unitl in upstairs snug. New furniture should come tomorrow.
and here the written log finishes until April 2009! The furniture came as did the air-con unit: Ed.
With Chris and Edna
Handwritten log is sparse for this visit! - Ed.
Main activities: visit to Umfolozi via Swaziland. Stayed at Reilly' Peak near Ezulweni where saw sable breeding. Umfolozi scenery good but only saw plains animals and was threatened by an elephant so backed off rapidly!. Also tried Blyde River but completely overcast.
April 2nd - May 14th: Barron and G
Met Barron talking to Irish lady at JNB doemstic. Met at KMIA by Edwin who took us home, arrived TDK 4.00pm.
Spent 1st two weeks organizing various things & visiting KNP. Balcony guys came for 4 days.
Tried 3 different modems for 3G connection; called Vodacom re booster
Purchased desktop PC + monitor (531 ZAR) and finished up with Linksys wireless router and datacard.
Day visit to KNP with Daphne & Chummy: didn't see much but found Gymnogyne.
20th - 25 April
Visit to Limpopo and KNP
20th: Stayed at Fleur-de-Lys
21st: B'fast at Garden of Eden. D, B & B at Mountain Lodge nr Louis Trichart
22nd: Into KNP at Punda Maria where stayed night. Saw Civet, Sharp's Grysbok etc
23rd: checked out Parfuri (v. nice) and Border Post. D, B & B at Shingwedzi
24th: via Mopani (lovely camp) to Satara. Jackals, and lions at Eskom line.
25th: home via Croc. Bridge. Lions at bridge near Satara (and hyena)
26th April
Braai at D & C's with Marilyn and Rick
wriiten log now silent until May 1st: Ed
Barron departed May 1st, met G at KMIA: Ed
May 1st with G
May 2nd
Elephants, crocs, rhino, buffalo at River road + goliath heron, great white egret, saddlebill stork, giant kingfisher
May 3rd
8.35am at house: birds. Black-collared barbet, bulbuls, starlings, blue waxbill, Jameson's firefinch, hornbill, kurricane thrush, fork-tailed drongo, red-billed hoopoe, scimitarbill
May 4th
Visits to Nelspruit to sort bathroom tiles and fittings & try choose upstairs curtains. G made curtains for landing, downstairs bathroom and back bedroom.
May 9th - 11th
Trip to Moloholoholo. Excellent bushwalk in morning. Camp cat adopted us for the duration (he/she is half wildcat). Then Garden of Eden, Echo Caves (excellent guide) and night at Misty Mountain. Home via White River where bought prawns from fish deli (since moved to Nelspruit: Ed)
May 12th - 14th
Finished curtains, discussed door and bathroom project with Vic Jansen.
Usual animals came throughout this visit inc. bushbabies both sides. Temp max 36 C, typically 30 -32 C.
With Eleanor and Byron
10th October
Arrived but bags were not loaded at J'burg. Pam Green on case and got them to Nelspruit for Friday afternoon.
11th October
Day trip to KNP having abandoned stay at Tamboti due need to get luggage tomorrow. BIG 5 BEFORE BREAKFAST ON S28! Pride of 7 lions just after turning onto S28. Then buffalo. Then leopard on a tree-stump near road in full clear view. 2 x rhino. Finally 1 elephnt just before regaining tar road to Lower Sabie.
12th October
Lunch at Ocean Basket with Pam and Edwin: collect bags, drive to Hazyview and into KNP to stay at Pretoriouskop. Byron made superb Braai fire.
13th October
Wonderful sighting of wild dog (20+) on S12 near river bridge. Rangers were tryingto dart one fopr DNA sample 'family research'.
14th October
Relaxing day at home.
15th - 18th October
Visit to Ponta Mamoli. Lembomo - Moamba - Boane - Bella Vista - Zitundo. From Salamanga to Zitundo road is dreadful: soft sand and v. difficult. Byron managed it well. Weather coldish most of time, overcast, a typical. E & B had good snorkel trip with dolphins, also horse ride. Ponto Mamoli nice for beach hol, diving and fishing if the weather is ok. Otherwise nothing to do xcpt beach.
19th October
Dentist to fix tooth where bridge hd fallen out. E & B did Lionspruit. Still cool and overcast. Weather has been disappointing. Posibility of tiger-fishing on Sunday afternoon if weather improves, which it didn't.
20th October
Still overcast. 1 impala, 1 warthog. Duiker passed by.
Written log stops at this point - Ed.
Visit with G
With Eleanor and Byron
10th October
Arrived but bags were not loaded at J'burg. Pam Green on case and got them to Nelspruit for Friday afternoon.
11th October
Day trip to KNP having abandoned stay at Tamboti due need to get luggage tomorrow. BIG 5 BEFORE BREAKFAST ON S28! Pride of 7 lions just after turning onto S28. Then buffalo. Then leopard on a tree-stump near road in full clear view. 2 x rhino. Finally 1 elephant just before regaining tar road to Lower Sabie.
12th October
Lunch at Ocean Basket with Pam and Edwin: collect bags, drive to Hazyview and into KNP to stay at Pretoriouskop. Byron made superb Braai fire.
13th October
Wonderful sighting of wild dog (20+) on S12 near river bridge. Rangers were tryingto dart one fopr DNA sample 'family research'.
14th October
Relaxing day at home.
15th - 18th October
Visit to Ponta Mamoli. Lembomo - Moamba - Boane - Bella Vista - Zitundo. From Salamanga to Zitundo road is dreadful: soft sand and v. difficult. Byron managed it well. Weather coldish most of time, overcast, a typical. E & B had good snorkel trip with dolphins, also horse ride. Ponto Mamoli nice for beach hol, diving and fishing if the weather is ok. Otherwise nothing to do xcpt beach.
19th October
Dentist to fix tooth where bridge hd fallen out. E & B did Lionspruit. Still cool and overcast. Weather has been disappointing. Posibility of tiger-fishing on Sunday afternoon if weather improves, which it didn't.
20th October
Still overcast. 1 impala, 1 warthog. Duiker passed by.
Written log stops at this point - Ed.
Visit with G
July - Aug 2007 Duncan & Co, Paul Harden & Co, Jake and Linda
4th July. Arrived 5.00pm, all well. Grey duiker and flock of guinea fowl. Supper with daphne and Chummy. Weather awful: cold, rainly, most unusual for July.
5th July. Up at 4.45am! Sun about 6.30am. Grey duiker a couple of times, seems still to be resident. Then 3 impala bulls. Few birds yet. Broken cloud and weak sun. Night min. 14C. 7 warthogs + several solitaries. More impala passed by.
6th July with Duncan, harriet, jemima and Amelia. Weather looks better! Baboons at 7.00am. Impala at 7.15am. Warthogs and impala at various times. Kudu at 2.00pm. 2 bushbabies at 5.50pm
7th July. 2 duiker, 2 warthog 7.20am. 4 warthogs at 8.00am. Impala and warthogs at 10.00am. young kudu cow at 10.2am. 4 impala, 1 kudu, 1 warthog at 10.35am. 6 kudu at 11.30am. Bushbabies at 5.40pm. Grey duiker. Hadeda Ibis.
8th July. Guinea fowl at 7.00am. many warthog, impala, hornbills, barbets. Splash pool a great sucess!
9th July. warthogs.
10th July. Warthogs. elephant riding at Kwa Madwala (book 4 days in advance, not wednesdays). V. good.
11th July. Horse riding, also v. good. Kudu and zebra down the road. V. little at house.
12th - 14th July. Chill out. (ed: nothing in ms log until 15th July)
15th July. Kruger. B'fast at Lower Sabie. Lion pride on way (S28) inc. mother playing with cubs. Lunch at tschwokane where Harriet paniced about the birds. Then to pretoriuskop Doherty Guest House (Boma): excellent. Braai and campfire. Serval! Klipspringer.
16th July. Home via malelane Gate. Plenty rhino, elephant, hippo, buffalo. Some lion. No leopard!
17th July. Chill-out day.
18th - 19th July. trip to macaneta Island, Mozambique. Camp is excellent - super beach.
22nd July. Kruger river road trip followed by horse riding in the afternoon and dinner at Ngwenya.
23rd July. Swaziland as far as Piggs Peak for lunch. D & H bought good quality curios and H bought table mats for TDK.
24th July. D, H, J and A all go home. V. sad!
25th - 28th July. messing about, odd jobs, slept at Chummy's. 14 kudu at 6.45am 28th.Went MPPOA meeting, interesting, met Tony newey (chairman) and one ortwo others. replaced kitchen taps.
29th July. day trip to Kruger with daphne and Chummy. Ground hornbills, 7 rhino, mating pair of lions, serval, pyton in hole etc..
30th July. Shopping in K. for provisions. 5.00pm 4 zebra, 2 + 2 warthog, 1 mongoose (!).
31st July. Judy, james, Sarah, Catherine and Thomas arrived.
3rd August. Paul and the rest arrived. Dinner at Bushwise safaris. Paul and Clare slept at daphne's, the rest here at TDK.
4th August. Paul & co leave and jake and Linda arrive.
6th August. Swaziland to Ngwenya and back.
7th August. Lost handbell peal due to Zebra and bushbuck perring through door!
8th - 9th August. Kruger trip. 3 cheetah, 3 lion sights, leopard,rhino, elephant and buffalo.
10th August. Handbell peal! 2hr 2min. Double, kent, Oxford and Plain. Linda, Jake, Andrew.
11th August. sabie and Lydenberg. stayed at sabie Town House. V. nice people.
12th August. Blyde River; lunch at Aventura Blyde River. Night at Blyde River Wilderness Lodge; excellent (book thru B. R. canyon Lodge)
13th August. Cheetah project (hoedespruit) and home via townships!
14th August. relaxing day. Willem quoted for balcony. Nico took details and will quote by email. Dinner at Ngwenya.
15th August. All go home.
April 2007 with Gwen, John and Barron
16th April. arrived J'burg 6.10am, Nelsprui 9.50am, house 12.50pm. 2 warthogs, 6 zebra, 1 yellow hornbill
17th April. Resident male hogwart called for lunch and had a good wallow. Furniture arrive 2.45pm without mattresses. Will come again tomorrow.
Tonight: John's birthday at Ngwenya with elephant in river. John ate a jalapeno!
18th April. Mattresses came. Packed up documents for courier to collect from Tom Hanekom. Visited Municipality and drove along river road. Goliath hero, yellow-billed stork, egrets, egyptian geese, waterbuck, wildebeeste etc..
Mongoose came (20+0, preying mantis and fruit bats. Mum + 7 warthogs then family of 4 and two large males. Everyone had a wallow.
Large insect landed on Gwen's pillow.
17th April. At sunrise:impla, hammerkop, duiker, guinea fowl.
Trip to Malelane + lunch at Lino's. 2 nice bushbuck on river, aslo pied-kingfisher and Little bee-eater.
John has severe rash on leg near two insect bites.
Superb electric storm in evening and 60mm rain.
20th April. Trip to Komatipoort for John to see doctor: has streptococcyl infection. 3 sets pills. game pellets from AFGRI
22nd - 25th April. Visit to Kruger: satara, Oliphants, Satara.
Satara Wells Guest House is nice, sleeps 6 as 2,2,2 all single beds. productive trip but no leopard!
Excellent hide at SWENI, just uof N'wanetsi, which is good picnic area, as is Timbavati.
26th April. At home. many warthogs, guinea fowl. Duiker passed by, as did impala.
September 2006
29th september
Arrived 3.00pm. i kurricane thrush! concrete apron and steps done. Upstairs floor done. new gas locker. Posts to galley removed and floor now supported by cantilever beam and is flat. Skirting boards not replaced. electrics nearly finished! Mess round site, particularly garage. Hole in top of septic tank.
Saturday 30th September. messed with lights. took Daphne to Hectorspruit for fruit and veg and to Malelane for various things. Impala in garden on return, then 5 kudu bulls.
Sunday 1st October. 2 kudu ewes, 1 warthog (hermione). Later, different male warthog + impala.
(ed: that is all entered in the ms log)
May 5th - 26th 2006 with Eleanor, Byron and Barron
5th May. Arrived with Tom, Barron, Edwin and Pamela Green at airport.
PM. 21x vervet monkey at house whilst A & barron at shop. E & Byron surprised!
6th May. Giraffe, zebra etc on road. Lost all E & B's pictures due to Hma card reader. Elephant and Hippo at rec. grd.
7th May. Visit to swaziland. 'taste of Africa' is a good high-quality lunch stop. Could be a good place to stary for a night for high-altitiude horse-riding, quad-biking etc.
Phophyne (!) Falls has good walks and walterfall.
V few animal or bird visitors at TDK! Occasional warthogs and duikers. Highlight so far is the vervet monkeys! Unfortunately we have lost the pictures.
8th may. Byron's birthday but no tiger fishing!
10th - 13th May. To Kruger. B'fast at Lower Sabie. Hippos.
Satara. Nice - go for 2 bedroom Guest Cottage. Cafe very poor: food not hot.
Oliphants. Superb location. Bungalows have no facilities but you can hire crockery. best take own tools, crocks etc. (Ed or book bungalow fully equipped!)
Sightings
14th May. recovered.
16th May. Kruger again: Croc Bridge to Malelane. 1 elephant, 1 buffalo
Malelane gate has loos and coke machine only. Camp not available to day visitors.
Shukuza - Croc Bridge via S28
Big big elepnat held up roceedings standing in middle of road threatening everyone. Same again on S28.
17th May. barron unwell. has body aches, fever, disturbed stomach. Suspect malaria. Call Dr Stronghorst at 12.15. Appt for 2.15. Called daphne. met in Komatipoort at 1.00pm. Had blood test. saw doctor: says not malaria - infection, bacteriological. Antibiotice, pain-killer, anit-inflammatory, probiotic. \prescription charge + visit to Dr cost $70. Whole thing took 2 hours.
Pajero died on Ngwenya Road: hole in radiaotr. Called Tom, he called Chris, got us home.
19th May. Tom towed Pajero + ASH to malelane. Fixed radiator, taking most of day. Orgnaised switch for reversing lights, pickup Mon or Tues.
20th May. Barron feeling better.
21st May. B. says is now well and has slept properly. Lone warthog re-appeared without stick in shoulder and walking better. Looks ok.
Braai with Daphne and Chummy.
Also Kudu, zebra and other warthogs.
(Ed. nothing in ms log from Sunday until Thursday 25th)
25th May. Left for home.
2005/1 October - Set-up visit
25th October arrive with Linda and David and found impala in the garden. Looks promising. Daphne called to check all is well and has provided survival kit of crockery etc.
5.00pm Welcome champagne at Daphne and Chummy's, wathcing herd of elephant with tiny baby at river.
Dined at Watergat. Large gekko at TDK - Linda's!
26th October: visit to Nelspruit to investigate Mr Pirce Home and Valencia. Bought 1 plate, I green glass and samples of fabric. Good steak at Watergat.
Banded mongoose came.
27th October: Nelspruit again. Bought 40 pcs china. Dined at Phumula.
29th October: Malalane for new fridge in Tom Hanekom's pickup. LInda interviewed street market stallholder and bought handbag. David bought leather sandals for R100. On return found letter stuck in door from young Swazi offering information re 'Paradise'.
30th October. Rob Lambert and Johan Harmse called re re-wiring. Discussed malaria which Johan had had.
31st October. Lady warthog and gent duiker at b'fast time. Florence arrive requiring rescue and bodyguard and use of cellphone to call her employer because she was being stalked by a 'bad man'. stood guard in my pyjamas on the road whilstemployer arrived in backie.
8 kudu turned up.
1.30pm off to Nelspruit again for curtains and bedding. Auntie Pauline in Valencia took us in hand and decided we must have ready-made because cheaper. It then turns out they will make to measure at the ready-made price. Collection arranged for Thursday.
Lunch in Spar then off the KMIA to collect Giles. Back at TDK 4.30pm. Giraffe at side of house when we get back. Thunderstorm and first rain that evening.