Well actually it was about 0830 by the time we were on the road, it was pretty easy, two blocks, then a left turn onto the N4 which will take us three quarters of the way to our next place of residence.   The drive was quite pleasant, Sunday traffic so nothing to worry about.    We decided to avoid roadworks by taking an alternative route and the drive up through the Schumanskloof was very pretty.    Our instructions were very scant and we did make a wrong turn in Nelspruit.    We had been told that it would take us 3.5 to 4 hours, we had allowed six and after Nelspruit we were running short of time.   The park entrance is about 40 ks from our destination and it is all 50 / 40 kph limited.   Eventually we ran out of tar and were on the dirt for half an hour before we found the Lodge, the signage was dreadful and at one point we wondered where we were going.    Ultimately we were only 10 mins late, not bad really.    We were quickly transferred to Plains Camp where would spend the next three days.    Plains Camp has four ‘tents’ so a maximum of eight people.

                  It is set up very well with electricity from batteries charged by a a generator which they only run whilst the guests are not there.    Hot and cold running water for the shower and a flush toilet.    We take our meals together and soon get to know the other people, there are only three at this stage.   

The daily routine starts with afternoon tea at three followed by a trip out in the vehicle, then a walk for and hour and a half.    Sundowners, gin & tonic or white wine are provided from the vehicle and the guides, one a Afrikaner speaking South African and one tracker a black south African that speaks his own language which the guide also speaks.   The sun has now gone down and it is quite dark but we continue the tour in the vehicle with the guides searching for animals with spot lights.  

Dinner is served back at the camp with wine or beer.   The food is well cooked and interesting with an African flavour.   We are woken at 0545 for tea and at 0630 we set out on our morning walk, this lasts for about 3.5 hours.   When we get back brunch is served, fruit etc and a full ‘english’ if required.    The time is then our own until the afternoon tea and walk routine.    It works well for us and we enjoy every minute of our time at the camp.   

Here is the view from our camp when we returned from our first walking safari.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AksnrQT2cvoG0HItzs_FxDw6lUbT

Here are just a selection of the many photos.    Night photography is a specialist business and flash is not allowed, so I apologise in advance for the quality of the night sightings and also for the lack of pictures of some of the animals we did see at night, the cheater, leopard, honey badger, porcupine, etc.    The first three are taken from the front of out tent.

These are a few of our photos, the lions (two females and three cubs) were just sitting beside the track when were on our way back to camp.    They were magnificent and so clearly confident of their position at the top of the food chain.   They could so easily have just jumped through the side of open truck and killed us.   If you would like to see some more try this link.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AksnrQT2cvoG0FN5ktCitct1KYvt

For our last night we were taken to the Lodge, where the facilities were a little different but just as much fun. 

This is the view from the bathroom…

   from the shower…….    and from the bed……    

At 0630 we were sitting up in bed watching between 20 and 30 elephants passing less than 30 mtrs away, that image will stay with us for ever.