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Old 28 Nov 18, 10:38 PM  
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LN89
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C&L South African Adventure Oct 2018 - Day 3 - Safari

Day 3

We were off to Shinzela Tented Camp today in Timbavati Game Reserve

We got up at 8 and sorted our cases out, we tried to put all our safari stuff in one case so we didn’t need to keep going into both while at the camp. I’d packed all our stuff across both cases flying out in case one went missing!

We had left our sausages from our Sunday take away for breakfast then relaxed as we didn’t need to check out until 10am. We had loved our two night stay here.





We left and stopped at the Spar, buying some water, cereal bars (in case I couldn’t eat any of the cereal/ rusks each morning as I can’t eat nuts). We also got a little bottle of Amarula (a south African liqueur) for 50RN, which we thought we might want to relax with a nightcap.

We filled the car up with petrol to make sure we had plenty and then drove to the Timbavati gate. When we booked the camp I didn’t know anything about Kruger and the private game reserves, Timbavati was recommended by a colleague so I focused much of my research there. The lodge my colleague had visited was out of our price range and I then stumbled across Shindzela which is a tented more affordable camp - which didn’t disappoint but more of that below.

Shindzela was about an hours drive from the gate so they recommended you get to the gate about 12.30 but we were there really early at about 11 as we’d had to check out of our lodge. We went through the first security gate and there was a bush pub so we stopped. I had a coffee and Chris had a soft drink. I was a little peckish so I ordered a cheese and tomato toastie which included a side of fries which Chris had. This all came to 100RN (about £5.40).







We finished about 11:45 and got back in our car to head to the next gate. It was so hot today (about 37 degrees) so the car air con felt lovely! We had to pay a 140RN vehicle fee at the gate and were given paperwork which we would need to present to get out of the game reserve on the day we left.

The drive to the camp took us about 1hr 15. The roads got smaller and smaller, we arrived at the camp about 1, we were relieved to get there as whilst it was well sign posted, there was one junction we were slightly confused by so were pleased we’d gone the right way! We had a giraffe in the way at one point .











We were met by a ranger who checked us in and we were shown to our tent - tent number 4. These were amazing, it was more like glamping as it had a front door, a bathroom and a fixed roof! We were surprised by how spacious it was. They later switched our bed to a double bed.









Lunch was at 2.30 so we had time to unpack and relax, we went into the little pool as it was so hot.



At 2.30 lunch was served, vegetable lasagne. I’m not one to usually eat veggie but this was so good! Our game drive was at 4pm so we had a little while to relax and then went and waited for the vehicle about 3.45pm.





It was an open top vehicle, we got in and left about 4. It was very bumpy but so much fun. It was still very hot so we were glad we’d brought our safari hats (we weren’t going to but found them in decathlon for £5 each so thought we’d look the part). They were definitely worthwhile too as we wore them the whole trip and it got very blowy on the truck so needed the string.

We had a ranger - Jaco and tracker - Raymond for the whole trip. They had earlier seen some lion footprints so our tracker followed these and we found a lion . He was quite shy and was hiding behind the bushes so we didn’t get the clearest of views but we couldn’t believe we got to see a lion so soon! After watching him for a while we carried on driving around and saw some hyenas.







We then saw 6 lionesses just laying around by a waterhole.







We had been tracking a leopard but had been unsuccessful so we stopped for a sundowner (they’d taken our order during lunch). I had a white wine and Chris had a beer. While we were having a drink a hyena walked past! It seemed to completely ignore us though.





We got back in the truck and went back to where they thought the leopard was, and we saw it just laying there! We couldn’t believe it as we’d heard leopards were order the hardest of the big 5 to spot.





We’d now seen 4 of the 5 from our own self drive and our first game drive - lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. The game vehicles communicated with each other and someone radioed in that they’d seen the leopard near the camp, we drove back but didn’t see the leopard.

As it was an open camp we were escorted through the camp at night. We were therefore taken back to our camp to get changed and were met 20 minutes later to be escorted for dinner. While we were waiting the leopard that had been by the camp was drinking at the waterhole in the camp!

We were taken over to the main area, where there was a bar. I had a white wine and Chris had a beer, you could have a bottle and they’d keep it for you assigned to your tent. We were sat outside by a fire for dinner. First we had a vegetable soup, followed by beef and pork kebabs and rice which we served ourselves. For dessert Chris had mint crisp and I had fruit and ice cream. I was so impressed with how they catered for my nut allergy, being somewhere like that I assumed I’d just avoid certain things, wouldn’t have dessert etc. Upon arrival they asked if we had any dietary needs and they noted my allergy, every meal I was brought a nut free alternative if the main had nuts in it! I was very impressed.

I didn’t take photos as we were sat outside and it was very dark. After dinner we went back to the tent and went to bed.

We absolutely loved our first game drive .

Next - day 4

Edited at 10:13 PM.
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Old 28 Nov 18, 11:14 PM  
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Melbatb
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Wow - what an incredible day!
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Index of my trip reports
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Old 1 Dec 18, 09:33 PM  
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Loved reading along Laura... what a day, amazing!
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Old 1 Dec 18, 10:12 PM  
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LN89
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Originally Posted by Melbatb View Post
Wow - what an incredible day!
Thank you

Originally Posted by christybell View Post
Loved reading along Laura... what a day, amazing!
Thanks for reading
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Old 1 Dec 18, 11:17 PM  
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Very impressive tent! And awesome photos - another fantastic day
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Old 2 Dec 18, 09:23 PM  
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marypoppins38
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Oh wow! I have loved reading this. Your photos are amazing, I can only imagine what a fantastic experience it was. Thank you so much for sharing.
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Old 2 Dec 18, 10:44 PM  
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Wow, wow and wow - just found your report and have read the first few days. Animal Kingdom will never be the same again for you now you've seen so many fantastic animals in their natural habitat. Look forward to reading the next few days when I have some spare time
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Old 16 Jun 19, 01:32 PM  
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