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Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:42 am
by BluTuna
Hi everyone 0/*

It's time to get out of the Johannesburg rat-race and head off into the Kruger again for our second trip this year. As usual, I'll be trying to report on a daily basis with pictures from the day's game drives.

We originally had this trip booked for early October but we decided to delay it by a month when this little monster arrived in early August.

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Which has grown into this bigger monster!
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She will be staying at doggy boarding school for the two weeks we are away. The rest of the menagerie - two 13+ year old border collies and a moggie - will be staying at home with the housesitter.

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Our Itinerary is pretty similar to our other trips, staying in our usual camps :-

November
3 Skukuza
4 Mopani
5-8 Shingwedzi
9-11 Balule
12-15 Lower Sabie
16 Skukuza

We are in huts for the first two and the last night, the rest is camping. I read that RP may be considering going camping but didn't want me to find out - there goes the neighbourhood, we'll all have to be extra vigilant to stop him from appropriating our food - don't forget to practice with your catapult.

No wish list, we will see what we see. It would be nice to see something we haven't seen before, it's been several years since we saw any new species - excluding birds and even those are pretty rare.

My camera gear comprises of Nikon D5100 and D5000 bodies with the usual 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses plus the almost obligatory Bigma (Sigma 150-500mm). Since my last trip, I've added some extension tubes to my kit which allow me to get in close to the subject matter. I'm hoping to get some "up close and personal" shots of the smaller inhabitants of the park this trip. I've been out in my garden trying them out and here are some of my results :-

A Daddy Long Legs Spider
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An adult and a young Pond Skimmer
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A tiny Jumping Spider with a kill.
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And some Honey Bees on a bottle-brush bush.
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I see that we're going to be the only green ribbon in the park for the duration of our trip, unless I'm the only one who bothered to get the who's in the KNP thread updated.

So it's on the road by around 10:00 tomorrow, hoping to get to Malelane by around 15:00.

Next episode (hopefully) live from Skukuza tomorrow O/\ O/\ O/\ O/\ .

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:45 am
by Richprins
Enjoy the huts, BT!

(That is something new on your wishlist already!)

-O


Travel safe!!!

(Cold and damp here!!)

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 11:20 am
by JustN@ture
Safe travels BT and hope you have great sightings, by the looks of it the camera gear is good to go \O

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:28 pm
by Bushcraft
Enjoy BT O/\ O/\ O/\

Great pics BTW \O

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:33 pm
by harrys
Travel safe BT and may you have great sightings and enjoy \O \O

Think of us who has to stay behind O** ;-)

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:38 pm
by Sprocky
BT, I see you are heading to Mopani on Sunday. We are going to Olifants in the morning and will be having an early lunch there. Maybe you would like to pop in on your way up. I will PM you my cell number. \O

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:06 pm
by steamtrainfan
Hi B.T. Fantastic start with macro shot of goggas and bees.

Looking forward to next episode.

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 11:03 am
by Flutterby
Have a great trip BT!!! \O Love your doggies! ;-)

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:17 pm
by BluTuna
Richprins wrote:Enjoy the huts, BT!

(That is something new on your wishlist already!)

-O


Travel safe!!!

(Cold and damp here!!)
Not on my wishlist, I'm not keen on sleeping in beds that have been previously occupied by many other sweaty bodies. I prefer to be in my own bed, listening to the night noises.We use huts so that we don't have to set up camp for one night when we are entering or leaving the park.

Re: Escape from the Rat Race. Another live TT from BT.

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:24 pm
by BluTuna
JustN@ture wrote:Safe travels BT and hope you have great sightings, by the looks of it the camera gear is good to go \O
Thanks JN, The cameras have been running red-hot today. We have had an outstanding arrival!