Safari Day 2: Off grid on the banks of the Timbavati River in a "satellite" camp

Hazyview toTamboti Tented Camp (Kruger National Park, South Africa)

A perfect night's sleep snug as a bug in a rug content with thoughts of hippos grazing outside our bedroom door.

No trouble at all in marshalling the troops, @Louis had organised an early wake up call for each chalet and we assembled bright eyed with wide smiles for a buffet breakfast - seems like the hippos we could graze to our heart's content.Mind you, @Louis needed to have his patience pants on - faced with the mind boggling challenge of making all the gear fit in #Magogo AND then having to dig back in first of all for @Roz and then to retrieve @Mac's black day bag. That was three times lucky - and he still had a gracious smile.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

The action started straight away in what was another repositioning day - heading into Kruger but taking in the must dos on the way. And with seat rotation in place @Mac is the co pilot today and I have the back-seat throne - both perfect viewing and travelling lookout perches.

Here are some of the highlights:

A . Graskop Gorge Elevator: Took the ridge drive through 1500 metres elevation on Drakensberg Escarpment to the Graskopf  Gorge elevator. This elevator, with breath taking views of of the Gorge, took us in a gentle 51 metre ascent to a boardwalk . The timber board walk, steps, ramps and wobbly wobbly suspension bridges guided us through the base of the Falls. It was liberally dotted with interactive and informative signage with lots of things to see and do. But of course, @Louis had the detail and depth we needed to pop it all to life.

Not sure about others in the group, but I am finding the leisurely pace that includes time to ask questions and even to just "be" just right. We get plenty of info on the day ahead through a What's APP group - gotta love technology.

And the spot was a winner on the shopping front - bead work for @Gill and @Roz, spiffy hats for @Del and @Steve and great coffee for those who were keen to partake.

B. Majesty of the Blyde River Canyon: a beautiful panoramic drive that revealed the length and height of this canyon which is the third largest in the world and claims the title of the greenest. It is 25 kms long and 500 metres deep and has a highest peak with an elevation of 2000 m. And, @Louis' home was just 5 kms across the Gorge.  The lookouts gave grand views of the impressive Three Rondavals (we renamed them the fat Three Sisters) , the meandering emerald green Blyde River and the constant backdrop are there sheer cliffs of the wlescarpment caused by the movement of the tectonic plates and are part of the Great East African Rift Valley.

As an aside, took a picture for a fellow Aussie traveller - a blonde tanned, tall and lean with a wide bright smile, travelling BY HERSELF. WOW- we definitely all wished her safe travels.

C. Sweeping views of the Drakensberg: this drive had your eyes popping out of your head. It was a descent into the valley and the long sweeping curves gave perfectly silhouetted views of the mighty lranged covered in the green and yellow almost paint like lichen. Layer up striated layer of rocks lifted to the sky in continuous runs. Crossed rivers, traversed tunnels, climbed out last mountain for the Rio (#Magogo continues to roll on) and entered new provinces. It was a spectacular descent into Hoedspruit.

D. Interesting aside - learnt about Farm watch as we were heading to Kruger. _ private citizens have banded together to provide camera monitoring along the highway to prevent animal poaching, vehicle theft and illegal trade. They have pooled resources of cars and vehicles as local police don't even have access to a vehicle. They pursue perpetrators and then go and pick up the police.
Trees communicate - fascinating science here and more reading needed but apparently communicate chemically and adjust accordingly

E. Visiting the big smoke for supplies and cash top ups: Did a scoot around Hoedspruit for supplies. @Louis had to get fuel and food supplies for 3 nights on the park. He set us up and we had jobs to: eat lunch (no worrries); withdraw some rand as needed (50% success rate - first  bank ran out of small denominations - second bank just left @Gill in the line and ignored her and both banks didn't provide service to convert US dollars for @Del/Steve); shop for alcohol and personal snacks and water supplies (after yesterday's rookie gin error we were super stars.)

F. Welcome to Kruger: Had a smooth ride, packed to the rafters with supplies, to the gates of the park. @Louis had us on s spotters alert as we drove by the private game parks. And it was worth it - spotted giraffe (lots of yelps of excitement - we need to be much quieter tomorrow), elephants,  buffalo (most dangerous of big 5 in the early hunters days), wildebeest, warthog and Impala- just a taster.

F. Getting social: we had a few hours to kill so decided to meet up at 6.15 on our deck (overlooking the dry river bed) for predinner drinks and snacks. Employed a limited creative use of existing furniture to rustle up some seats, located the glasses and popped the ice in the freezer. @Louis was taking care of dinner while we introduced ourselves to some south African wines and gin - although @Mac stuck to a familiar spiced rum. Loads of shared stories and laughs from very happy campers. Although @Del and @Mac taking a flying leap from the balcony to the bed to test the springs was highly questionable!! We might be tempted to add one of our geotags on @Roz and @Gill because we thought we had lost them last night "in transit" between out huts. Every path looks the same in the night.

G. Dinner by @Louis: He knows stuff, he can drive like a personal chauffeur AND he can cook. This man has talent. While we were relaxing, he was braai-ing up a storm. Lamb, farmers sausage (can't remember the name of the giant curling sausage), baked veggies accompanied by mixed Greek salad and condiment choices. It was set out on a big5  tablecloth, complete with serviettes and CANDLES. Followed the main with chocolate filled baked banana. WOW. He somehow managed to add extra level of excitement by spotting a Hyena for us (on the other side of the camp fence

Dishes done, instructions for tomorrow received at 9 pm @Louis walked with the group to deliver us safely to our individual tents, reminding us to lock up to keep the honey badgers out. Piping hot showers and these travellers were pulling the zzzzs before 10.

We are all keen to be up and at em early tomorrow because @Louis has promised us an African massage.

And BTW special kudos to celebrate the magic of @Louis today - his Tetris skills produced a cleared back seat today AND he bought a little STEP  to help with access to the vehicle - 4 ft 11 1/2  @Gill and 5ft 2 1/8 Jan are loving it.

Wildlife spotting - no animal photos included because we are travelling at speed - not cruising on safari - just enjoyed the WOW moment of spotting all these creatures on the way.

In the wild: 🐒 right on the side of the road a monkey to start the day
Jackal buzzard
Congress/troop baboons - lots of them
Impala
Water buffalo
🦒 giraffe - yeah!
Zebra
Yellow billed horn bill -
🐘 elephant
Wart hog
Impala
Helmeted Guinea fowl
Wildebeest gnu
🐒 monkey
Hyena
Large spotted genet

Domestic : 🐄 (had a laugh, walking on the right side of the road facing the on coming traffic)
🐐 (crossing the road in front of vehicle - could have had fresh meat)
🐎 including some shetlands

Accommodation: Tamboti Satellite Camp - this is bloody terrific. It is a wooden highset structure set on the banks of a dry river bed.  Structure then draped with a prefab-ed canvas. Features balcony with kitchen facilities, bedroom complete with two seater lounge, walk thru storage and wardrobe space with includes full size fridge and freezer, shower and basin room and separate toilet (very handy cause it was a triple visit night.) Plenty of linen, screens and curtains everywhere, plenty of glasses (now that is important when you're hosting) power outlets on both sides of the bed (shame we have the wrong adapter plug) and loads of hot water (I drew the line at sharing, I wanted all the cubicle space to myself) If we can keep the pesky monkeys, honey badgers and baboons away, we're living the dream.

Departure 8.40 am Arrival 4.15 pm distance 220 km

Steps: 13 657

Weather: cool start then warmed upper as we made our way to the lowveld

Accommodation: Tamboti Tented Camp - the blurb says ..... These self-catered satellite camps offer a real escape in Kruger's wilderness. This overview from the Kruger National Park Service is a MUST read . Link to Camp Overview

FROM National Parks.org

Kruger National Park represents one of the largest collections of wildlife throughout the continent.  The predators of the park include lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog, and the crocodile.

The Big 5, which include the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo are all found here.  The mountain gorilla is the only one missing in the park of the Big 7.  Africa’s Big 7 include lion, leopard, elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, crocodile, and mountain gorilla.

Some of the more popular large mammals found in the park include elephant, black and white rhinoceroses, eland, giraffe, greater kudu, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, roan antelope, sable antelope, and the waterbuck.

Our Kruger Camps: Tamboti, Letaba and Punda Maria

Google Maps Day 2 Hazyview to Tamboti