Golden Gate NP - Something different*

[harrys]

Sunday 15 November we will be on our way to a brand new destination, this will be the first time for all off us in Golden Gate NP

What makes it even better is that we are going as a family, Bookworm, Tataruka, SO and MIL and FIL we always have a wonderful time together

I have no wish list all I want is that we all enjoy the park

[harrys]

Will be leaving for Golden Gate in about a hour or so

[harrys]

Hi there, we arrived at 13:15 and the wind is trying very hard to blow us back to Gauteng have I mentioned that I don't like the wind

Camp is set up and now it's time for some

[harrys]

Just some info so far.....this is NOT Kruger

When we came in we already saw some Springboks, Eland, Blesbok and some sort of Zebra

The road to through the park is very steep and curly and my car suffered on the steep parts with the temp rising rapidly......not good

The scenery is breath takingly awesome and here at Glen Reenen we are surrounded by the mountains

The drawback is the road that runs through the park and the camp is not fenced and so there is a feeling of not feeling very safe

[harrys]

My first photo in Golden Gate

[harrys]

15 November:

We arrived at Glen Reenen camp at around 13:20 and we set up camp as we waited for FIL and MIL
The journey was really tough as my car started over heating everytime we had a steep uphill and then when we got to Golden Gate the mountains was humongus and really steap so I had to nurse it the last 18 km's .....but we made it safely( I must say I pull a huge Gypsey Regal caravan with a 2L diesel Nissan Qashqai and this is the first time we had a problem......I later found that the bonnet protector I fitted to my car was the cause of the over heating problem )

We booked in at reception and that was not a good experience but it was done and I could start enjoying the scenery although the wind was trying very hard to blow everything away

Here are some pics











This little Cape weaver entertained us for the 5 days we stayed there by fighting with the other birds, breaking his nest and then rebuilding his nest in 3 days



Some pics of what the camp looks like, camping area





The chalets



End of day 1,,,,next day 2

[harrys]

16 November:

We slept late and then went for a drive on the 2 loops(11kms ) this included the vulture restaurant, here are some pics

First Blesbok loop:





(Langtoon dam)





A Grassland Gazania (Gazania krebsiana serrulata)







Day 2 TBC....

[harrys]

Part 2 Day 2:

Zebra on Blesbok loop



Secretary bird on Oribi loop





My first Bearded Vulture(Tataruka has better photos, I will post them later)



First Bald Ibis



Then a Crow came for lunch



A Swallow



At last a Cape Vulture



Next part 3....

[harrys]

Day 2- Final part













This Cape weaver demolished this nest in a day and started a new one



You wanna fight......



Next day 3......

[harrys]

17 November - Day 3:

Early morning visitor



Today the kids decided to go for a walk up the mountain and me and FIL will go along they chose the Mushroom loop and said it will only take about 45 mins.........ja right .....it took us 90 mins and lots of when we got back to camp and I couldn't walk properly for the next day

Here are some pics

Father in law taking in the scenery











Our camp from the mountain



Beautiful mountain plant



More to follow....