Our happy place…

Since Roger stopped flying last year we’ve travelled less, rather than more. I have also effectively retired now so we have settled into a home routine, trying to get into better, more regular sleeping, eating and exercise habits. It seems to be working but we have lately become reluctant to break away from that routine!

Be that as it may, the one thing we do not let slide is going to Marloth Park for my birthday. Besides, we had a busy, social December in Joburg and were keen to get to the bush; our happy place.

We left home in the mid-morning on the 15^th of Jan and arrived in MP around 5 pm; early enough to unpack and settle in before dark.

The veld was beautiful after the good rains. It was almost as if the plants and animals were in a race to grow and do what plants and animals are supposed to do while the bounty lasts.

You may recall the processionary caterpillars we encountered last year. Now the moths were seen everywhere. At least they are pretty and certainly not as creepy as the worms!

We entered Kruger National Park via the Crocodile Bridge Gate very early the next morning. And viol la, a mere 2 or 3 km into the Park we encountered Wild Dogs. They are my favourite predators and always such a pleasure to watch. My standard birthday wish was once again granted! They were on the hunt. The bush was extremely dense and there were many cars, so it was not easy to get a pic, but I do have proof.

We wanted to have a snack at a nearby hide but were disappointed to find it in complete disrepair; what appears to be a fallen tree had destroyed it. It was clearly not a recent occurrence, yet there was no warning at the turnoff to prevent motorists from driving the 4 km dirt road in vain!

Before having brunch at Lower Sabie we spent time at Sunset Dam. It never disappoints. The variety of bird species at this time of year is one of the reasons we love going to the Park in summer.

While driving alongside a small outcrop I said to Roger: ‘I hope we manage to see a Klipspringer today’; they are notoriously difficult to spot. And then I saw it, high up on the rock, taking a nap.

Generally, motorists are very considerate and keen to share information. One such motorist stopped and told us about lions resting next to the road, a short distance along one of the upcoming side roads. We followed his directions and found a mother and three sub-adults, two females and one male. The male seemed to have been pushed out of the family circle. He was lying quite a distance away while wistfully staring at the others. His condition was not as good as his siblings. We think it was perhaps due to an apparently damaged right eye, which could have been caused by snake venom. We will never know.

We spent the following day doing our usual maintenance at home, and as always there was an Annie Sloan project to be done.

In the late afternoon we decided to go to the Marloth Park lookout point on the Crocodile River. Much to my delight, there was a large pack of about 20 Wild Dogs! They were on the move, and they move very quickly, but I managed to get a pic.

On Saturday we joined a ‘Conservation Walk’ around Henk van Rooyen Park, facilitated by volunteers of the Marlothii Conservancy. It was a leisurely walk, with the guides discussing and explaining about the grasses and trees and anything else of interest.

We spent a considerable time watching a battle between two Plumb Dung Beetles. It was amusing and amazing! The one that was perched on top of the ball, let’s call him the ‘owner’, would flick his opponent with a force that sent him flying. The ‘opponent’ would right himself and try again, and again, and again. During the entire battle the female just clung to the ball, completely passive. Then, suddenly, the ‘opponent’ turned and ran away. To our surprise the ‘owner’ climbed off the ball, ran a short distance and promptly buried his face in the sand, backside in the air. In a flash the ‘opponent’ came running back, ascended the ball, orientated himself and started rolling with great speed. The loser never lifted his head again. It seems the individual that we thought of as the ‘owner’ had actually stolen the ball and the ‘opponent’ was the real owner, hence his persistence in getting his ball back. What a fascinating few minutes, watching the secret lives of these creatures.

The event ended with breakfast at Jabula Lodge. It was a pleasant morning and a good opportunity to meet some other Marloth Parkers.

The weather changed in the afternoon, becoming cloudy and wonderfully cool. It started raining soon after the campfire was made for our evening braai. We scurried to get our gazebo out and rigged because braai was planned and braai we would! It took some doing, in the dark, to remember how the thing worked, but we managed; eventually. It saved the day.

We went into KNP again on Monday. It was still overcast and drizzling so, very pleasant temperatures indeed.

It was a rewarding, most enjoyable day in the Park. We were back at MP in the late afternoon, in time for our evening relax in front of the fire.

We joined the Marlothii Conservancy at the Municipal offices on Tuesday morning for the launch of their Youth Education series of YouTube videos. These people really do a sterling job of informing and educating. You can watch it here:

On the drive back to our house we found lion spoor! According to Eugene it looked like a single young male. Perhaps not the best idea to be out jogging/walking before sunrise or after sunset after all…

All too soon our week had passed, and we had to return home.

Just after we passed Witbank (now called eMalahleni), we realised that we would need to refuel before we got home. Isn’t it strange how there would be no fuel station just when you need one? When the N12 Total Service station loomed in the distance we relaxed; we would be OK. However, as we took the slip road there were people standing in the road, frantically waving us down. We initially thought there was some crime in progress, but slowed down nevertheless and wound the window down. It turned out that they were stressed and panicked staff members.

‘Wind your windows up and don’t stop! There is an angry swarm of bees!! The forecourt is closed!!’

Oh, my word, now what. The bakkie’s fuel gauge is not that accurate and I imagined that we were already running on fumes; not a comfortable feeling at all. With a great sigh of relief, we made it to Boksburg and thankfully were able to refuel before running dry.

It was a good trip, and as always, it was also good to be home again; until next time.

Our projects for this trip: