We decided to do the Tree Dassie Trail in the Woody Cape Section of the Addo Elephant National Park on our way out from Ocean View campsite. It is a 7 Km circular route through sub-climax and climax coastal forest. We both enjoy forest walks and this one did not disappoint.
Tree dassies are nocturnal and arboreal creatures. While we were at Yellowwood Forest campsite in Morgan Bay we heard the most unusual and unnerving cries during the night. They started off with a guttural croaking and ended with a screeching. When we asked Robyn the next day she informed us that it was the tree dassie’s call. We sadly did not get to see any!
We were amazed at the vast number of butterflies as well as the number of butterfly species. The place was alive with activity. The only problem is that they do not sit still long enough for a photograph!
After a very pleasant walk we had lunch in the parking lot at the office before heading out in the direction of Port Elizabeth.
We stopped in at the Pearson Park Resort in Colchester which is situated on the banks of the Sundays River about 50km from P.E. A cold front had arrived so it was raining and cold. The campsites are rather small and narrow and situated about 50 meters away from the N2.
The traffic noise throughout the night, especially the trucks, was enough to have us up and moving early the next day. We were not staying more than one night; that was for sure. It was still raining. Fishing was abandoned after three casts (even though the neighbours had just landed a nice sized Cobb) and I did not even have a look at the river. Roger’s photo would have to suffice…
We decided to drive into Addo and travel through the Colchester section towards the Main Camp. There we would try our luck at getting a campsite for a day or two. On entering at the Matyholweni Gate we were advised that there were only 2 tent sites available….