Hey Guys
This is just a quickie TT from a 2-night weekend trip up to Imfolozi in July this year.
The Cow hit the big “50” on the 8th of July and she wanted to visit Gqoyeni bush camp in Imfolozi like I did for my 50th, but finance is an issue when one discusses Gqoyeni as it’s too expensive in my opinion, so I started dropping hints many months ago about the trip when around my boss and to my surprise the company assisted financially so it didn’t break the bank account.
It’s a mission nowadays to accommodate everyone’s calendar and the only weekend that everyone based locally could attend was 5th, 6th & 7th of July due to varsity and work commitments, so the Cow did some “special negotiations” prior to booking opening and it paid off as we managed to get the Friday and Saturday nights as planned. Hawkeyes and Bushpig’s boyfriends, Sasquatch and Turtlehead, were coming along, but Albert’s boyfriend was overseas, so it ended up only 7 of us going.
Gqoyeni bush camp is next to the Black Imfolozi river just before the turnoff to Sontuli loop and has 4 x 2 sleeper chalets interconnected via a walkway to a communal lounge/kitchen area, all unfenced. 2 units face the small Gqoyeni river, which is mostly dry in the winter months, and 2 units face the Black Imfolozi river. There is a live-in manager/guide on site who can take you on bush walks by arrangement if you want, a kitchen assistant that can help with self-catering meals if you provide the food and another assistant to clean the chalets, but we book Gqoyeni primarily for the peaceful, private and unfenced location rather than the additional staff services included in the price.
Electricity is still provided via a generator from 5am to 10am and then again from 5pm to 10pm, but they are busy installing solar at the moment and my guess is that it will be complete shortly, however I suspect this may result in another price increase.
Currently Ezemvelo aren’t doing a particularly good job at managing the reserve and certain staff, not all, seem to have very little interest in my opinion. The fences are continually cut in some areas and we confirmed that large sections of the fence line are still missing and poaching has escalated dramatically over the years, but at least I see that they/someone has started to dehorn the rhino.
I normally wouldn’t post rhino sightings, but it’s almost impossible to do to an Imfolozi travel tale without rhino pics because one spots more rhino there than anywhere else and this trip was many weeks ago, so I doubt a picture will have any impact. (I will keep locations vague just in case).
This was also a relaxed trip, so this TT will contain numerous cell phone pics and some dodgy pics as we got lazy with the cameras.
Imfolozi Browns July 2024
Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
Friday 4th July
We woke at around 5am on the Friday morning of the 5th of July, but only left home at around 6:30am as it took longer than expected to get everybody organized and into the respective cars. We didn’t rush due to the numerous road works on route and the number of trucks around due to our missing/stolen railways in KZN, so we arrived at Nyalazi gate just before 10am. (I also drove slower because Sasquatch and Hawkeyes were following us).
We could only book in for Gqoyeni at 2pm at the main Mpila camp so the plan was to cruise slowly towards Mpila camp, stop for a leg stretch/loo break and then continue on towards Sontuli picnic site for a lunchtime boerewors roll braai before returning to Mpila camp to book in. Ezemvelo also introduced a “no wood from outside the park” policy in December 2023, so the Cow had phoned to arrange for us to purchase wood at Mpila camp. She phoned ahead, which is another mission as the phone is rarely answered, because in our experience Mpila shop isn’t particularly well managed and is normally out of stock of just about everything, including wood, but she was assured that they would have wood for sale.
The 16km stretch from Nyalazi gate to Mpila camp produced most of the usual gang, including some ellies, a tower of giraffe in the distance and a gang of boons next to the road.
We stopped at Mpila camp and the Cow went to reception to see if she could con to complete the booking paperwork for Gqoyeni so that we didn’t have to return from Sontuli picnic site just to book in and I charged off with the gang to the shop to purchase the fire wood, but developed an instant pelican because there was no wood. The lethargic cashier seemed to lack enthusiasm to answer my wood related questions, but eventually I was informed that there was some wood in a garage on the other side of camp and that we must wait.
The Cow then arrived and she had been successful with her con, but now we had to wait around in the car park outside the shop for 15 minutes until the snail-paced cashier arrived with a wheel barrow. I was then given the wheel barrow and told to follow, which I duly did as we needed wood and eventually got some from a dodgy back of house garage.
The Cow has been trying to train me for many years to “be nice” in these situations and to hold my tongue at times. I mean, it was school holidays, the camp was booked out for the weekend and there’s a “no wood from outside policy”, so surely one would plan to have a stocked shop.
It was now around midday, so we decided to quickly continue on towards Sontuli picnic site, which is around 15km from Mpila camp, for our boerewors braai and stopped a few times on route for more of the locals, including a junior zebra with a faulty hairdo that gave us a laugh and a Burchell next to the road that the Cow always gets excited about.
We woke at around 5am on the Friday morning of the 5th of July, but only left home at around 6:30am as it took longer than expected to get everybody organized and into the respective cars. We didn’t rush due to the numerous road works on route and the number of trucks around due to our missing/stolen railways in KZN, so we arrived at Nyalazi gate just before 10am. (I also drove slower because Sasquatch and Hawkeyes were following us).
We could only book in for Gqoyeni at 2pm at the main Mpila camp so the plan was to cruise slowly towards Mpila camp, stop for a leg stretch/loo break and then continue on towards Sontuli picnic site for a lunchtime boerewors roll braai before returning to Mpila camp to book in. Ezemvelo also introduced a “no wood from outside the park” policy in December 2023, so the Cow had phoned to arrange for us to purchase wood at Mpila camp. She phoned ahead, which is another mission as the phone is rarely answered, because in our experience Mpila shop isn’t particularly well managed and is normally out of stock of just about everything, including wood, but she was assured that they would have wood for sale.
The 16km stretch from Nyalazi gate to Mpila camp produced most of the usual gang, including some ellies, a tower of giraffe in the distance and a gang of boons next to the road.
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We stopped at Mpila camp and the Cow went to reception to see if she could con to complete the booking paperwork for Gqoyeni so that we didn’t have to return from Sontuli picnic site just to book in and I charged off with the gang to the shop to purchase the fire wood, but developed an instant pelican because there was no wood. The lethargic cashier seemed to lack enthusiasm to answer my wood related questions, but eventually I was informed that there was some wood in a garage on the other side of camp and that we must wait.
The Cow then arrived and she had been successful with her con, but now we had to wait around in the car park outside the shop for 15 minutes until the snail-paced cashier arrived with a wheel barrow. I was then given the wheel barrow and told to follow, which I duly did as we needed wood and eventually got some from a dodgy back of house garage.
The Cow has been trying to train me for many years to “be nice” in these situations and to hold my tongue at times. I mean, it was school holidays, the camp was booked out for the weekend and there’s a “no wood from outside policy”, so surely one would plan to have a stocked shop.
It was now around midday, so we decided to quickly continue on towards Sontuli picnic site, which is around 15km from Mpila camp, for our boerewors braai and stopped a few times on route for more of the locals, including a junior zebra with a faulty hairdo that gave us a laugh and a Burchell next to the road that the Cow always gets excited about.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
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There was only one other couple at Sontuli picnic site on our arrival and we made our way to the far corner of the site so that we had a private space. I was edgy due to the time and wanted to fire up the instant lite jippo charcoal quickly so that I could feed the clan before the 2pm Gqoyeni book in time.
“Where’s the lighter!”
The Cow looked blank, but answered
“There must be 1………. somewhere”
After 10 minutes of digging through the car and impatient patrolling from me, Hawkeyes sent Sasquatch to beg a lighter from the other couple at the picnic site and fortunately they had 1 to loan us so peace returned.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
You will notice crutches in the above pic as Bushpig blew her knee out just before the trip, so getting around and in/out the car was a mission for her.
The Cow then wanted some pics with our daughters, but it’s never simple as someone is always looking the wrong direction, or complaining about the sun, or scratching their nose, etc.
Others were starting to arrive at the picnic site now and the fire was taking too long to get ready, so I blew the charcoal until I nearly passed out to hurry it along and then nuked the boerewors so that we could finish chowing before the 2pm book in time.
Gqoyeni camp is approximately 6km from Sontuli picnic site, but we decided to take the longer loop around, which effectively doubles the distance, so that we could check out view point 17 before heading to camp.
The bush on Sontuli loop is very thick in certain areas and about 3km from the picnic site a large herd of ellies ambushed us next to the road.
This wasn’t a concern initially, but then it became apparent that there were a few bulls in the mix, including 1 seriously massive frisky guy on the edge of the herd that must have been 1 of those Kruger imports.
The Cow started up straight away
“GO, please don’t stop!” “He’s massive, GO!”
I stopped “Take a picture of that massive bull, you only took a pic of the small one”
“What are you doing! GO! Stuff the picture!”
The Cow was in panic mode, so had brain freeze and had forgotten to take pictures since the ellies were on her side of the car and she had forgotten about Hawkeyes and Sasquatch following us. I looked in my rear-view mirror and I couldn’t see them behind us yet, so I jumped on the Chinese walkie talkie to Hawkeyes.
“Where are you, ellies”
“We coming!”
Another car then approached us slowly from the opposite direction and the driver had big eyes
“Careful! They have been chasing us!”
There was a smaller bull hovering around fairly close to us, but he was relaxed, however seconds later the large bull gave vehicles the hairy eyeball and started towards us.
This was enough for the Cow who pulled an ostrich move.
“GO! GO!.............. I can’t look!”
Albert then also joined in
“Dad it’s coming!”
The other driver took off forward and we did the same in the opposite direction.
I stopped down the road and got back on the walkie talkie, but the cheap things only work for about a 200m range, so Hawkeyes was breaking up initially, however after a few attempts we finally got hold of them and the ellies were chasing cars, including them down the road in the opposite direction, so there was no way past and in seconds they were out of range of the walkie talkies.
My last message on the walkie talkie was to turn around and go the other way round the loop, so I hoped that they heard the message and we continued on with the rest of the loop to view point 17 and as we were leaving 17, Hawkeyes and Sasquatch arrived from the other side of the loop with elephant war stories.
The rest of the short drive to the Gqoyeni turnoff and the 2km private road to Gqoyeni produced many locals including some buffalo, a junior zebra suckling in the road, nyala and warties.
The Cow then wanted some pics with our daughters, but it’s never simple as someone is always looking the wrong direction, or complaining about the sun, or scratching their nose, etc.
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Others were starting to arrive at the picnic site now and the fire was taking too long to get ready, so I blew the charcoal until I nearly passed out to hurry it along and then nuked the boerewors so that we could finish chowing before the 2pm book in time.
Gqoyeni camp is approximately 6km from Sontuli picnic site, but we decided to take the longer loop around, which effectively doubles the distance, so that we could check out view point 17 before heading to camp.
The bush on Sontuli loop is very thick in certain areas and about 3km from the picnic site a large herd of ellies ambushed us next to the road.
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This wasn’t a concern initially, but then it became apparent that there were a few bulls in the mix, including 1 seriously massive frisky guy on the edge of the herd that must have been 1 of those Kruger imports.
The Cow started up straight away
“GO, please don’t stop!” “He’s massive, GO!”
I stopped “Take a picture of that massive bull, you only took a pic of the small one”
“What are you doing! GO! Stuff the picture!”
The Cow was in panic mode, so had brain freeze and had forgotten to take pictures since the ellies were on her side of the car and she had forgotten about Hawkeyes and Sasquatch following us. I looked in my rear-view mirror and I couldn’t see them behind us yet, so I jumped on the Chinese walkie talkie to Hawkeyes.
“Where are you, ellies”
“We coming!”
Another car then approached us slowly from the opposite direction and the driver had big eyes
“Careful! They have been chasing us!”
There was a smaller bull hovering around fairly close to us, but he was relaxed, however seconds later the large bull gave vehicles the hairy eyeball and started towards us.
This was enough for the Cow who pulled an ostrich move.
“GO! GO!.............. I can’t look!”
Albert then also joined in
“Dad it’s coming!”
The other driver took off forward and we did the same in the opposite direction.
I stopped down the road and got back on the walkie talkie, but the cheap things only work for about a 200m range, so Hawkeyes was breaking up initially, however after a few attempts we finally got hold of them and the ellies were chasing cars, including them down the road in the opposite direction, so there was no way past and in seconds they were out of range of the walkie talkies.
My last message on the walkie talkie was to turn around and go the other way round the loop, so I hoped that they heard the message and we continued on with the rest of the loop to view point 17 and as we were leaving 17, Hawkeyes and Sasquatch arrived from the other side of the loop with elephant war stories.
The rest of the short drive to the Gqoyeni turnoff and the 2km private road to Gqoyeni produced many locals including some buffalo, a junior zebra suckling in the road, nyala and warties.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
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We pulled into Gqoyeni just before 3pm and the local manager/guide onsite then came to greet us and remembered us from our previous trip last year for my 50th. This is a larny spot for us and I think the manager is used to a few larny guests due to the price, but we aren’t used to this type of thing, so told him not to stress about anything and that we would sort ourselves out, but he still helped us offload the cars and cart all the stuff down the long walkway to the units.
We didn’t take many pics of the units or communal area this trip, but our trip from last year is on the forum if anyone wants to see more pics or detail of the camp.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
After the move in mission, we went on a little exploration around the place and spent some time in the hide that overlooks the Imfolozi river as there were some boons on the opposite bank and a heron cruising around in the river.
Just before 5pm we decided to take the short drive back down to view point 17 for sundowners and found some rhino and a bateleur on the way.
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Just before 5pm we decided to take the short drive back down to view point 17 for sundowners and found some rhino and a bateleur on the way.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
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Imfolozi is slightly different to Kruger in that one is allowed out until 6pm in winter and KNP is 5:30pm, but we left view point 17 early because it had been a long day and we have also found over the years of visiting Imfolozi during the winter months that the final half an hour in the dark is a novelty at 1st, but a waste without spotlights, etc, unless the animal is in the road.
When we arrived back at Gqoyeni I started the braai and pit fires which is part of my entertainment ritual when in the bush and the manager/guide arrived to have a beer with us.
Around 20 minutes later the Cow called me inside as there was some issue at home with the alarm system. Signal is an issue at Gqoyeni and one has to stand in 1 exact position within the communal lounge area to receive enough signal to make a call. We had a house sitter and my mom at home and they couldn’t get our outside security beams to switch on and unfortunately in Toti at the moment one will lose the garden taps, water piping, even your underpants on the wash line, to thieves in a second. Half an hour later we were still trying to slowly explain how to switch them on and thank goodness for the Cow’s patience as I threw my toys out the cot in the first 5 minutes.
Suddenly there was commotion outside and charging around for a camera which distracted me from my alarm issue tantrum.
“What’s happening!”
“RATS, a family of cane rats have just cruised past the braai area!”
The clan managed 1 semi blurred pic of a cane rat under the walkway next to the braai area, but supposedly an entire family of at least 5 rats had charged past.
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The Cow and I eventually managed to explain the alarm system functionality so I was then free to stalk the cane rats and luckily found 2 still hanging around behind the communal lounge area.
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
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Sasquatch and Turtlehead had taken over the braai duties while I was jammed up with the alarm system and then chasing rats, so chow was ready and the kitchen assistant had set the dining room table for us before knocking off at 7pm, so we cruised inside for chow and then everybody ducked off to their units to shower and get settled before power went off at 10pm.
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To be continued
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Richprins
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
Aha, another Clan story! 
Lovely stuff, Bushy, with the usual entertainment!
Looks larney there, I must say, would lo0ve a butler!
cane rats!
Lovely stuff, Bushy, with the usual entertainment!
Looks larney there, I must say, would lo0ve a butler!
cane rats!
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Lisbeth
- Site Admin
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Re: Imfolozi Browns July 2024
Where are the leopards 
I'll read it all when I return home from Denmark in a few days time
I'll read it all when I return home from Denmark in a few days time
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge