Natal - November 2017

We looked forward to our upcoming trip, This time we had decided to use a ground tent for a change.

Over a few days packed the vehicle and on the morning of departure I put the car keys in my pocket. I was making sure that I did not accidentally lock the keys in the vehicle should it decide to automatically lock itself. Ready lets go - and then I could not find the vehicle keys. We hunted high and low - eventually Sylvia found them in a bag together with charging cables.

Ok happy to have found the keys.

(A few days before we set off I noticed that the radiator was not completely full and the radiator cap looked worn. To be safe I took the vehicle in to Silverton Radiators and they did a pressure test and all looked good but the cap was replaced. Over a few days after that all looked good.) After traveling for about an hour I looked down and horrors - the gauge showed three quarters - eek temperature rising. I took my foot off the accelerator and the gauge fell slightly. When I put my hoof back down it rose! After suffering a major panic I eventually realised it was the oil pressure and temperature was fine.

Lunch was enjoyed on the way.

Shortly after passing through Mkuze warning lights on the dashboard appear informing me that the automatic gearbox oil is too hot. Immediately slowed down and expected sudden loss of power. I did not stop but continued slowly and we got to park gate and switched the engine off. After making the payment the vehicle would not start. There was no reception at all using an iPhone but fortunately I had an old Nokia which worked while standing is a special place pointed out to me by the reserve staff. I phoned a mechanic and explained situation. He advised me to wait half an hour before trying to start the vehicle again. After waiting the vehicle still would not start. The gearbox oil radiator was cold to the touch - maybe a pipe had broken. Eventually a game ranger named Edward arrived followed shortly afterwards by a mechanic and his assistant. We packed as lightly as possible so we had a lack of tools - in facy practically none - not even a leatherman. Between all of us us we found various required tools. After a few exploratory trials it was found that a wire had broken. After rejoining the wire, to my great happiness, the vehicle started. (This joyous situation prevailed for the rest of our journey.)

We have a wonderful MSR stove which boils water very fast. The next morning Sylvia lit it and then it went out never to light again for the duration of the trip.. After replacing the gas bottle to no avail we managed to boil water using the electric kettle which we had fortunately brought along.

Then the windscreen washer failed.

On the third day we arrived at Ghost Mountain Inn. We arrived early. I arranged for the fridge in the vehicle to be moved to our room as they did not have external power for poor campers like us. This arranging resulted in a slight bit of lifting by me and a subsequent visit to a Chiropractor. Fortunately during the trip my back held up.

We had Room 9. The room was lovely as was the food. We can recommend Ghost Mountain Inn as a really lovely place to stay.

From there we were taken to Zimanga every day to take pictures of the animals. The carnivores had tracking devices so the game rangers could find them.

5 November
We rose at four am to board the game drive vehicle and set off.

Geordie found the lions for us this morning.

Breakfast was lovely.

Slept a bit when we got back.

Visited the lookout over the dam.

6 November

Rain forecast and although the area needs rain badly it could be unpleasant for us.

Looked for lions but could not find them.

7 November

Went to vulture hide and saw tawny eagle, woolly neck stork, starling and jackal. The light however was poor for photography.

Weather overcast with light rain all day.

Went out in the rain and found wild dogs and female lions.

Headed for Ithala. We always enjoy Ithala and to experience all of the park you need a 4x4. The animals in this park however have always appeared skittish to me.

The truth is I have too many pictures of the same thing. It has been an interesting exercise but really I think I should concentrate on taking fewer pictures as it just takes too long to sort them out.

For us this was a relatively short trip as we only drove about one thousand five hundred kilometers.

Click here to see a few pictures.