C&L South African Adventure Oct 2018 - Day 2 - Kruger self-drive

**LN89** · 27 Nov 18, 10:55 PM

Day 2

We were planning to do a self-drive in Kruger National Park today. We didn’t expect to see much doing it ourselves but we couldn’t get into our safari camp until the Tuesday so thought we’d spend a day doing it ourselves to get us excited for the camp

.

As we were shattered after the travelling we decided to not go too early, although we knew this may hinder our viewing. We got up at 6.30am and got ready, I noticed some monkeys outside

.

We left about 7, and stopped off at the Spar for some snacks and breakfast. We got two banana muffins, 2 large bottles of water, 2 smaller bottles of water, a coke and some crisps. This came to 133RN. We then stopped for some petrol, it was about £33 to fill the tank back up, we’d driven 520km so far. We also got some biltong (jerky) and some banana chips for snacks during the day, this came to 50RN.

It was about an hours drive to Phalaborwa gate where we were planning to visit. It was a great drive and we saw monkeys and zebra on route. We stopped just outside to eat our muffins as we were getting very hungry by this point.

To get into the gate it was 634RN (about £35) and 30RN for a fold out map. That was 30RN well spent as we definitely needed the map!

The map split the roads into three, red was tarmac, yellow was sometimes tarmac sometimes dirt, white you could only go down if you were in a high car/ SUV.

We initially stuck to the red and drove around for a bit, we saw a warthog at a water hole and some impala, we then started to head off the main roads and on one of the dirt tracks we saw a giraffe

. It was the first big animal we’d spotted so were very excited we actually managed to see something! We had probably been driving around for about 90 minutes by this point but were just enjoying looking out for things.

We carried on and saw some zebra, more giraffe and a buffalo skull at the edge of the road!

Zebra Crossing

We’d now been driving around for over 3 hours. On the map it said there was a toilet by an archeology centre so we tried to find it but it appeared to be a bit of a dead end. It was a tiny narrow dirt track, one point a giraffe was in the road which was quite amazing to see.

We decided to head back to the main gate as we were quite close to see if we could use the toilet there and come back in. On the way to the gate we saw 6 elephants by the same water hole the warthog had been at earlier, they were amazing and we were so excited to see elephants!

The park seemed very quiet, there were four cars watching the elephants, I’m guessing we were in the middle of the day so the game drives weren’t out. After watching the elephants for a while we went to the gate, they were fine letting us use the toilet and coming back in.

We saw the elephants again as they were still in the same spot, there was also a load of impala crossing the road. We saw some interesting looking birds (which we’ve since learnt is the endangered ground hornbull). We then saw another heard of elephants which included some baby ones

.

We carried on driving and saw guess what! More elephants - just two this time! There were also some hippos in the water, and we saw some buffalos.

We stopped at what appeared to be an open camp where people were coming and going to use the toilets and the restaurant before then leaving the park.

We liked this sign in the camp

.

We had been in the park for getting on for 6 hours! We had had a brilliant time, not bad seeing 2 of the big 5 just on our own, especially as we had no expectations!

We drove back stopping at the spar on the way home to get a bottle of wine

It was 30RN for a white SA Chenin blanc (about £1.70)!

We got back just before 5 and showered and then relaxed out on the patio with a glass of wine. It was very nice, very pleased for the price

. We covered ourselves in mosquito spray and there weren’t anymore monkeys around - the information on the lodge did say to make sure you keep doors and windows closed as monkeys do try to get into the lodges.

I’d read about this restaurant called Hat and Creek which was almost next to the lodge complex. We walked over to it, it was gorgeous with lots of fairy lights. I ordered a large glass of wine (275ml glasses for about £1.50! ) and Chris had a couple of beers.

The menu was very varied and Chris had trouble deciding between seafood or the meat. In the end he settled for the game platter and I went for the steak, cambabet and cranberry - quite an interesting combo but I love all three so thought why not!

The meal was amazing, the steak and Camembert worked so well together! Chris’ platter consisted of springbok, impala, ostrich and kodu, he absolutely loved it. I then ordered a white chocolate and fudge cake for dessert. This came to 600RN including tip. The meal was amazing and it was lovely to sit and eat in a restaurant, after all the plane food and snacking in the car!

We walked back to the lodge and went to bed, very excited to go to our camp the next day

.

Next - day 3

Melbatb · 28 Nov 18, 06:10 AM

Wow - what a fabulous day! It must have been amazing to see such a variety of wildlife!

Dinner looks great too. It seems very readonable!

Melvin Pearce · 29 Nov 18, 12:24 PM

Our daughter said that it is interesting to see the Elephants just disappear into the bush so easily for such a large animals.

The Food liked lovely

Lesley and Melvin

CrispyA · 1 Dec 18, 12:07 PM

Fabulous pictures - how cool to see those animals so close

**LN89** · 1 Dec 18, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Melbatb

Wow - what a fabulous day! It must have been amazing to see such a variety of wildlife!

Dinner looks great too. It seems very readonable!

Thank you. We couldn't believe how lucky we were seeing the animals on the drive, was such a great experience!

**LN89** · 1 Dec 18, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Melvin Pearce

Our daughter said that it is interesting to see the Elephants just disappear into the bush so easily for such a large animals.

The Food liked lovely

Lesley and Melvin

Yes we couldn't believe how they seemed to just appear from no where when they are huge! Gorgeous animals.

**LN89** · 1 Dec 18, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by CrispyA

Fabulous pictures - how cool to see those animals so close

Thank you, it was an amazing experience

27 Nov 18, 10:55 PM	#1
	27 Nov 18, 10:55 PM LN89 VIP Dibber ✓Premium Member
LN89 VIP Dibber Join Date: Jan 12	C&L South African Adventure Oct 2018 - Day 2 - Kruger self-drive Day 2 We were planning to do a self-drive in Kruger National Park today. We didn’t expect to see much doing it ourselves but we couldn’t get into our safari camp until the Tuesday so thought we’d spend a day doing it ourselves to get us excited for the camp . As we were shattered after the travelling we decided to not go too early, although we knew this may hinder our viewing. We got up at 6.30am and got ready, I noticed some monkeys outside . We left about 7, and stopped off at the Spar for some snacks and breakfast. We got two banana muffins, 2 large bottles of water, 2 smaller bottles of water, a coke and some crisps. This came to 133RN. We then stopped for some petrol, it was about £33 to fill the tank back up, we’d driven 520km so far. We also got some biltong (jerky) and some banana chips for snacks during the day, this came to 50RN. It was about an hours drive to Phalaborwa gate where we were planning to visit. It was a great drive and we saw monkeys and zebra on route. We stopped just outside to eat our muffins as we were getting very hungry by this point. To get into the gate it was 634RN (about £35) and 30RN for a fold out map. That was 30RN well spent as we definitely needed the map! The map split the roads into three, red was tarmac, yellow was sometimes tarmac sometimes dirt, white you could only go down if you were in a high car/ SUV. We initially stuck to the red and drove around for a bit, we saw a warthog at a water hole and some impala, we then started to head off the main roads and on one of the dirt tracks we saw a giraffe . It was the first big animal we’d spotted so were very excited we actually managed to see something! We had probably been driving around for about 90 minutes by this point but were just enjoying looking out for things. We carried on and saw some zebra, more giraffe and a buffalo skull at the edge of the road! Zebra Crossing We’d now been driving around for over 3 hours. On the map it said there was a toilet by an archeology centre so we tried to find it but it appeared to be a bit of a dead end. It was a tiny narrow dirt track, one point a giraffe was in the road which was quite amazing to see. We decided to head back to the main gate as we were quite close to see if we could use the toilet there and come back in. On the way to the gate we saw 6 elephants by the same water hole the warthog had been at earlier, they were amazing and we were so excited to see elephants! The park seemed very quiet, there were four cars watching the elephants, I’m guessing we were in the middle of the day so the game drives weren’t out. After watching the elephants for a while we went to the gate, they were fine letting us use the toilet and coming back in. We saw the elephants again as they were still in the same spot, there was also a load of impala crossing the road. We saw some interesting looking birds (which we’ve since learnt is the endangered ground hornbull). We then saw another heard of elephants which included some baby ones. We carried on driving and saw guess what! More elephants - just two this time! There were also some hippos in the water, and we saw some buffalos. We stopped at what appeared to be an open camp where people were coming and going to use the toilets and the restaurant before then leaving the park. We liked this sign in the camp . We had been in the park for getting on for 6 hours! We had had a brilliant time, not bad seeing 2 of the big 5 just on our own, especially as we had no expectations! We drove back stopping at the spar on the way home to get a bottle of wine It was 30RN for a white SA Chenin blanc (about £1.70)! We got back just before 5 and showered and then relaxed out on the patio with a glass of wine. It was very nice, very pleased for the price . We covered ourselves in mosquito spray and there weren’t anymore monkeys around - the information on the lodge did say to make sure you keep doors and windows closed as monkeys do try to get into the lodges. I’d read about this restaurant called Hat and Creek which was almost next to the lodge complex. We walked over to it, it was gorgeous with lots of fairy lights. I ordered a large glass of wine (275ml glasses for about £1.50! ) and Chris had a couple of beers. The menu was very varied and Chris had trouble deciding between seafood or the meat. In the end he settled for the game platter and I went for the steak, cambabet and cranberry - quite an interesting combo but I love all three so thought why not! The meal was amazing, the steak and Camembert worked so well together! Chris’ platter consisted of springbok, impala, ostrich and kodu, he absolutely loved it. I then ordered a white chocolate and fudge cake for dessert. This came to 600RN including tip. The meal was amazing and it was lovely to sit and eat in a restaurant, after all the plane food and snacking in the car! We walked back to the lodge and went to bed, very excited to go to our camp the next day . Next - day 3 __________________ Laura Disney Trippies WDW 2022 (first time with a toddler) WDW and Disney Cruise 2019 HK Disney 2017 Disneymoon 2015 Edited at 10:11 PM.

29 Nov 18, 12:24 PM	#3
	29 Nov 18, 12:24 PM Melvin Pearce Imagineer
Melvin Pearce Imagineer Click to See My Villa! Join Date: Feb 09 Melvin Pearce's Reviews Restaurant Reviews: 5	Our daughter said that it is interesting to see the Elephants just disappear into the bush so easily for such a large animals. The Food liked lovely Lesley and Melvin __________________

1 Dec 18, 12:07 PM	#4
	1 Dec 18, 12:07 PM CrispyA Imagineer
CrispyA Imagineer Join Date: Oct 11	Fabulous pictures - how cool to see those animals so close __________________ West Coast July - August 2014, Howdy Texas! August 2015, Rocking in the Rockies July - August 2016, Bier, Bratwurst und Bahnsteige: Berlin 2017, Touring Tennessee 2017, Expedition East Coast 2018, Hola! Madrid 2019, Great Lakes Grooving 2019, It's Czech, Mate, Prague 2022, Veni, Vidi, Edi, Bibi Italy 2022