While doing the booking, I repeatedly asked confirmation that this was not an ‘old age’ tour and there would be tourists of my own age. 8)
Day 1
I was so excited when the morning broke for us to depart. We boarded the bus in Kempton and I met my fellow tourists.
I was immediately fed-up. :(
The only peeps on the bus thusfar were ‘old’ ladies.
I got myself a single seat in the front and sat moping all the way to Pretoria for the next pick-up. At least it was something to look forward to.
The guests in Pretoria were more elder ladies and one had a walking frame.
That’s it. I was grobeling and being miserable as I sat in my front single seat. I didn’t even look backwards. When the tour guide made any announcements, I closed my ears. I didn’t want to be hear anything.
We covered the distance to Pelgrims Rest and stopped for a drink. One of the ladies came and sat with me and we had some wine and talked. A pleasant person, and we decided that we would share a room.
Graskop was beautiful as ever. All the mountains and gorges and greenery seemed to say a hearty welcome.
Day 2
The next day was Christmas and my family fetched me for the day, as the group decided on a hotel lunch. On the way to Sabie, my son and I sat watching an eagle enjoying his meal in the middle of the road. - Camera at the hotel!
Day 3
At five the next morning we were up and going and in the rush,I forgot my camera in the room – off to see and experience what the park had for us.
By this time I had started making friends with the ladies, and the guide.
I took a front seat. I was feeling spoilt as the front seats were higher than the back seats.
We entered at Kruger Gate and travelled a while without seeing anything. Then a sudden stop.
We all looked around for the huge animal. The guide showed us a ‘bloukop koggelmander’ against a tree, panting of the heat.
He reminded us that the park was not just the big five.
We then started identifying birds, whilst perched in a tree and in flight and listening to their calls.
We identified different grasses and trees.
A great calmness came over me and I knew that this would be my best trip ever.
By the time we saw our first Buffalo, we already had a long list of small sightings. :)
We travelled via Skukuza to Croc Bridge.
I learnt so much on this trip and was amazed that even though I had been to Kruger before, we never took the time to learn.
I learnt what the sighting board at the main camps were for. Are you shocked – I was.
We identified hoof marks, and the different droppings. And how the Rhino mark their territory.
We sat watching Impalas playing and jumping for joy, chasing each other. I tried to not think of my camera.
We stopped at a hide and I was overwhelmed once again that I never knew that these even existed.
I cannot tell you where or which hide, because I honestly did not know that the road names were of any significance for the tourist or for that matter any dam name either. :oops:
From Croc Bridge we continued to Berg en Dal with many sightings.
From time to time I just filled up and had to do a lot of swallowing to keep back and hide my tears.
How blessed I felt. I knew that this trip was set aside for me, for healing and also to show compassion . I turned in my seat and started chatting with the ladies and sharing the excitement of the sightings. All my moodiness gone.
At Berg en Dal I noticed the tannie had left her walking frame in the bus and she walking all on her own.
This trip was presenting healing to more than one person. We never offloaded the frame again.
We left the park via Kruger in the nick of time before closing.
It went all quiet as we were all busy with our own thoughts.
The guide then took out his ‘bekfluitjie’ and started off with well-known traditional Afrikaans tunes and then played 60’s and 70’s music.
We joined in and had a happy sing and clap-a-long all the way to Graskop.
What a glorious day – felt like I had been home.
Day 4 to follow (with pics)
