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After our amazing sightings at Kruger, we settled down for our journey to Swaziland. I say settle down, Shandle drives like an F1 driver, so everything is full speed with no slowing down for pot holes etc etc (lucky he wasn't our driver in India!!). The journey was another opportunity to view the stunning scenery (albeit at a 1000 miles an hour, so no pics - at times feels like we are driving past Africa, rather than experiencing it) although, with the distances we have to travel to fit everything in, a minimum of 500k each trip, he does do an amazing job, and I must say, when we get to each stop it's always well worth it!!
After a few hours and a border crossing, the landscape changed quite dramatically, open plains giving way to huge mountain ranges. Nestled amongst these was our next stop, Malolotja Nature reserve, with a range of chalets set up in the hills. The first thing I noticed were the deer, yes more deer!! These ones are call Blessbok, and have got white faces. They are really pretty, reminded me of an old pony I had, Zavvy, so therefore my new favourite (favourite deer, let's not get carried away, this ain't no warthog)
Everything about this stop was perfect. The chalets were lovely, with actual beds (believe me a welcome break after a few nights camping), amazing views, a family cat - TC - who I wanted to take with us, and in general, just a peaceful feel about the place. Difficult to put into words, just felt very serene (would have loved to have stayed longer as they also do riding, hiking, archery and quad biking, amongst other things, so could make a real adventure out of a stay here). Managed to do a shed load of washing and left it to dry whilst we went for a walk (my legs actually do still work, hurrah!). Saw the Zavvy deer, warthog, warthog running (hehe), mountain zebra, 2 dead rock snakes and Sue walked right past a live one. They are very small so understandable she missed it. Apparently they don't kill but a bite is bloody painful and needs urgent medical attention, so a lucky miss!
Last thing we saw before returning "home" was a huge rock shaped like a bum! Dinner was a roast, another triumph, then the guys told us about Swaziland. Apparently it has huge problems with HIV and AIDS, but because the government (more specifically the King) is so corrupt, any money raised or supposed to be allocated to combat it is spent on luxury for the Royal family (planes, cars, hotels, casinos, the list goes on). There is also an annual tradition called the Reed Dance, where all girls over the age of 13 have to dance topless for the King and he choses the one he wants for himself. As a result of this he now has 13 wives (so did his father and his father before him). People have tried to stop it, including one mother, who fought really hard to protect her daughter who had been chosen, but to no avail, shocking really!
Amazing nights sleep before we left (bye bye, heavenly chalet place) for our next stop in Zululand. On the way we drove through Mbabane, which is a haven of interesting signs, most interesting being, "She cheats because he does, and she'll get HIV too", "Take out a loan and you could win 2 cows" "Keep your promises, fight HIV" - that was graffiti.....and the best one, endorsed by the King - "Sugar daddies ruin lives!!!" hmmm now what's the word.....ah yes hypocrite!!!!
Stopped at a craft market with lots of stalls selling really nice things including a massive carving of a hippo with an open mouth, if I had room I would have got it, closest I'm likely to get to a hippo that isn't either in the water or in the dark!!! Sorry Kerrie!! Bought a bag, cost about £3, so a bargain!!
We also passed Mantanga mountain, which apparently used to be used for people found guilty of a crime. Basically they were walked to the top and made to jump off (commit suicide) to repent. Sounds reasonable to me, would save a bit of space in over populated jails.....
After a couple of hours and another border crossing (complete with another wildlife sighting, this time a Rhino beetle), we got to our next campsite at Mkuzi Game Reserve. We were told to be really vigilant here, as monkeys and baboons like to come into the campsite and steal stuff!!! After setting up we had a game drive and saw Gnu (I love saying it, Gnu, can't remember the song about the Gnu though!), deer - need I mention it, really it's a given, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, warthog, and a family of rhino, where the dad put himself firmly between our truck and his family to protect them! Needless to say we were there for a while until they decided to move!!
Evening was spent round the camp fire with Shandle and Mesh telling us stories of past trips and close shaves, including lions coming into camp, tripping over huge cobras, and being confronted by a lioness protecting her cubs. We were also informed that the only thing to worry about in this camp was puff adders, "but it's ok as they make a noise to warn you they are they before they bite". Needless to say Sue and I ventured to the toilet together for double the torch power, and I didn't leave my tent all night. I must say my bladder control has improved remarkably since starting my adventures! Cold, and just not being bothered, means I can pretty much hold on until the morning now (stand me in good stead for later life, hold off the Tena lady for a bit longer if nothing else!!!)
Morning brought about new learning, did you know there is a small 5 as well as the big one? Rhino beetle, Leopard tortoise, Ant lion, Buffalo weaver and elephant shrew ( we have seen 3 so far). Also had a rather frustrating experience. We went to a hide for breakfast which was at the side of a lake. Now I know Shandle had chosen this spot as there were hippo in the lake and I still hadn't got my "open mouth" shot. For a period of time the hippo were as normal, underwater doing sod all, but then Barry spotted a mother and baby through his binoculars playing about. Not only could I barely see it but my lens couldn't pick it up either, bit annoying. What was frustrating however was the Barry decided to give me a running commentary on all the amazing things they were doing (which by all accounts was nothing short of wearing a pink tutu and performing Swan Lake!) Now I know he wasn't doing it to be intentionally mean, (probably just letting me know) and I could have looked through his binoculars, but the stroppy teenager in me decided to get the hump. To be fair, this was something I'd been trying to get a pic of all trip and due to circumstances out of my control I didn't have my telephoto lens (if I had all would have been ok). Anyway, if you know me well enough you will know a strop is basically frowning and muttering things under my breath every now and then, lasted about 20 minutes.
After breakfast, my mood lifted as we went to another hide where a South African family were already in situ, drinking wine and beer and observing the wildlife - like their style!! As this was a watering hole we saw loads of different animals coming to drink and a lot of "combos" as the guys call them, which is a few different sorts of animal together (makes a good picture, which yes I did get!!!). After a brief break and lunch we went out again, but to the same hide, which although had a few terrapins extra which had surfaced, was basically exactly the same as earlier, so was pretty bored (ok still a bit stroppy about the hippos). Good nights sleep before an early start to drive to our next stop, the Drakensburg mountains.
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Yvonne (Mum) You are a nutcase but I love these blogs, should be on the Wii but spent time reading these over again. He He.