Tuesday, Election Day,
First full day in Kruger National Park
Travel was arduous but uneventful. We arrived in the Park yesterday afternoon, too tired to do much besides unpack, eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We did not try to go out at all. But sitting on the back deck, I noticed some dwarf mongoose in a patch of bush about thirty yards from the bungalow. Beyond that is the fence to the camp and just beyond that is a small, pumped water hole. I saw a tail swishing at the water hole so Gina and I walked over to see a large bull giraffe spreading his legs to drink. Which is an amazing thing to see. And as we watched the giraffe, a trio of rhino emerged from the bush to come drink. We didn’t have to go out, the animals came to us.
Our intention was to prep last night and take off early this morning, getting up at 0345 so that we can be ready when the gates open at 0430. We set the alarm and went to bed at about 1930, woke up to elephants squabbling at the waterhole, back to sleep to wake up with a shaft of beautiful golden sunlight coming into the room at 0515. Damn, somehow the alarm didn’t set.
But being the new, extra resilient me, it was not a problem…. We got up, ate granola and yogurt, made some instant coffee and headed out the gate. We drove most of the day, stopping mid-morning at Satara for a hot breakfast. The morning started out beautifully sunny but a thin layer of clouds moved in and most of the day was overcast, and we did get a nice, light rain this afternoon. Kruger is coming out of the very dry winter and heading into the wetter summer months, so it’s not unusual to have some transition of light rain in November. Rain in the bush is a beautiful thing.
Not a very strong day photographically but, again, the new super resilient me isn’t letting that bother me…. We had a reasonable day in terms of sightings, mostly the usual suspects – several very relaxed elephant family groups, the usual antelope species (impala, kudu, steenbok, nyala), zebra, wildebeest, cape buffalo, scrub hares, leopard tortoise, baboons, martial eagle, some small owl (pearl spotted owlet?), magpie shrikes, red and yellow hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers, hamerkop, grey heron, nile crocodile, dwarf mongoose, white back vulture, giant kingfisher, tawny eagle and many others I can’t remember. Not much photographically, best was probably an extended sighting with a male saddle-billed stork. Just beautiful.
After such a smooth travel experience, we hit a couple of difficulties today. After years of car rentals – dozens and dozens and dozens, especially when I was shooting racing – without ever damaging a vehicle, today I backed into a branch I didn’t see and broke rear taillight on the VW Tiguan. Damn, damn. I have full coverage but, still, damn.
And, just now I fired up the macbook pro and for the first three times, it would not load up Mac OS. Now, THAT tested new resilient Dan to the max. I was looking for an apple support phone number on my phone (try finding that number in a hurry…) when it started up on the 4th try. I’m still not confident and am thinking through back up plans (mainly to just store the cards until I can get home, which will change how I shoot).
I’m not going to try and edit any images tonight. We’re tired and we need to get dinner going. Tomorrow – up early (and this time we mean it), take a morning drive, back here by 0945 to load up and check out by 1000, and then drive south to Lower Sabie.
But now, it’s raining softly, light is dimming, Gina’s prepped the food and I’m about to light a fire to braii (cook over an open fire). I’m drinking a glass of South African cab, and just got a glimpse of a hyena at the water hole. So, it’s going to be ok for now.
Loving your stories and I am so jealous. Such a beautiful time of year in the park.I am looking forward to your photos and stories of your adventures.
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