Phinda

27/12/2013 – 03/01/2014

Roger started flying anti-poaching patrols on the 27^th December, accompanied by Dirk. This is something he always wanted to do. I stayed in camp, which is not something I always wanted to do! However, I did not mind too much because I needed the time to recuperate after my foot operation. The foot is showing signs of improvement on a daily basis now but still needs a lot of rest. It becomes swollen and painful very quickly and then needs to be elevated. Besides, even if I was able to drive, private vehicles are not allowed to go on game drives so I would be ‘house-bound’ anyway.

As always there is plenty to see without leaving the camp.

Just below the camp there is a waterhole and I love going there regularly to check on any visitors.

At one occasion 4 bull elephants came to have a drink and a mud wallow. They spent a long time there before moving on again.

On the way to the airport for his very first patrol flight Roger saw two cheetahs resting close to the road, totally un-phased by their presence. It rained the previous night and Buzz was once again ‘drowned’! Roger’s comment after bailing the water from the interior: “now I know why they call them bucket seats…”

The weather was initially unbearably hot but then the rain came and by the 29^th it was actually cold. So much so that we had to wear light jackets, and due to the rain there was no flying on the day either. Always a good reason to make a hot lamb curry and have a glass of red wine!

The wind was too strong to fly on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve so we went for a short drive on the road between the camp and the reserve gate (the only stretch of road where private vehicles are allowed). We were very fortunate to spot an African Crowned Eagle deep in the forest, feeding on what looked like a scrub hare.

Roger was very unimpressed when they got to Buzz on New Year’s day. The monkeys came to inspect and had a lot of fun in the process: besides footprints all over, they took out all the documentation, switched on the master switch and then for good measure “crapped on Buzz’s nose”!!! Oh well, we are in the bush I suppose

 

In the late afternoon of the 1^st I had an opportunity to accompany Roger because Dirk needed to take a break. It is a rather interesting process to take off and land when the runway is bustling with wild animals!

On our way back from the airport we saw a nightjar in the road and surprisingly he stayed around long enough for a photo!

We are flying to Sodwana tomorrow (3^rd) but more about that later!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our friends and family a wonderful and prosperous 2014, filled with fun and excitement!